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Overview

This guide will walk you through launching VoiceTypr, granting permissions, downloading your first AI model, and completing your first voice transcription. By the end, you’ll be ready to dictate text anywhere on your system.
Already installed? If you haven’t installed VoiceTypr yet, start with the Installation Guide.

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Your First Transcription

1

Launch VoiceTypr

Open VoiceTypr from your Applications folder (macOS) or Start Menu (Windows).
  • macOS: The VoiceTypr icon appears in your menu bar (top-right)
  • Windows: The VoiceTypr icon appears in your system tray (bottom-right)
Click the icon to open the main window.
2

Grant Microphone Permission

VoiceTypr needs microphone access to record your voice.
When prompted, click OK to grant microphone access.If you missed the prompt:
  1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
  2. Find Voicetypr in the list
  3. Enable the toggle
  4. Restart VoiceTypr
Without microphone permission, VoiceTypr cannot record. This permission is required.
3

Grant Accessibility Permission (macOS only)

On macOS, VoiceTypr needs accessibility access to automatically insert text at your cursor.
  1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility
  2. Click the lock icon and enter your password
  3. Click the + button
  4. Navigate to Applications and select Voicetypr
  5. Enable the toggle for Voicetypr
Why this permission? Accessibility access allows VoiceTypr to automatically paste transcribed text at your cursor position in any app. Without it, transcriptions will be copied to your clipboard instead (you’ll need to paste manually with Cmd+V).
4

Download Your First Model

VoiceTypr uses local AI models for offline transcription. Let’s download one.
  1. In the VoiceTypr window, navigate to the Models tab
  2. Browse the Available to Set Up section
  3. Find the base model (recommended for most users)
  4. Click Download
  5. Wait for the download and verification to complete (~1 minute)
ModelSizeSpeedAccuracyBest For
tiny39MBFastBasicTesting, quick notes
base74MBFastGoodMost users (recommended)
small244MBMediumBetterBalanced performance
medium769MBSlowHighImportant content
large1.5GBVery SlowExcellentProfessional use
Start with base and upgrade later if you need better accuracy.
Once downloaded, the model will move to Available to Use and be automatically selected.
5

Verify Readiness

Check the Overview tab to ensure everything is ready:
  • Green “Ready” status - You’re all set!
  • Hotkey displayed - Default is Cmd+Shift+Space (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+Space (Windows)
  • Model selected - Your downloaded model appears
If you see warning indicators, hover over them to see what’s missing (likely a permission or model).
6

Make Your First Recording

Time to test it out! Open any text editor or application.
  1. Click into a text field (Notes, Slack, VS Code, etc.)
  2. Press and hold Cmd + Shift + Space
  3. Speak clearly: “This is my first VoiceTypr transcription.”
  4. Release the keys to stop recording
  5. Wait a few seconds for transcription
  6. Your text appears at the cursor!
The recording indicator (pill) appears on your screen while recording. Double-tap ESC to cancel if you make a mistake.
Congratulations! You’ve completed your first transcription.

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Understanding Recording Modes

VoiceTypr supports two recording modes. The default is Toggle Mode, but you can switch to Push-to-Talk Mode in Settings.
Press the hotkey once to start, press again to stop.How to use:
  1. Press Cmd+Shift+Space (or your hotkey) → Recording starts
  2. Speak your content
  3. Press the hotkey again → Recording stops
Best for:
  • Longer dictations
  • Hands-free operation after starting
  • Less physically demanding on your hands
This mode is recommended for most users, especially for dictating longer content like emails or documentation.

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Essential Tips & Shortcuts

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Quick Cancel (Double ESC)

Made a mistake while recording? Cancel immediately without waiting for transcription. 
Press ESC twice quickly while recording
→ Recording cancelled
→ Audio deleted
→ Returns to idle
When to use:
  • You misspoke or need to start over
  • Background noise interrupted your recording
  • You changed your mind mid-recording

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Customize Your Hotkey

The default hotkey works for most users, but you can customize it:
  1. Open VoiceTypr > Settings tab
  2. Click the Recording section
  3. Click the edit (pencil) icon next to your hotkey
  4. Press your desired key combination
  5. Click the checkmark (✓) to save
Avoid system-reserved hotkeys like Cmd+Q (Quit) or Cmd+Space (Spotlight). VoiceTypr will warn you about conflicts.
Recommended alternatives:
  • Cmd+Option+Space (macOS)
  • Ctrl+Alt+Space (Windows)
  • Cmd+Shift+R (macOS) - “R” for Record
  • Ctrl+Alt+V (Windows) - “V” for Voice

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Multi-Language Support

VoiceTypr automatically detects 99+ languages. To set a preferred language:
  1. Open VoiceTypr > Settings tab
  2. Find Language dropdown
  3. Select your language (e.g., English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese)
  4. Transcriptions will be in that language
Whisper AI auto-detects language if you leave it on Auto. Only change this if you want to force a specific language.

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View Transcription History

All your transcriptions are saved automatically for easy access:
  1. Open VoiceTypr
  2. Navigate to Recordings tab
  3. View up to 50 recent transcriptions
  4. Click any transcription to copy it to your clipboard
Use the history to retrieve transcriptions you forgot to paste or want to reuse.

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Troubleshooting Your First Recording

macOS:
  • Ensure you granted Accessibility Permission (see Step 3 above)
  • Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility
  • Verify Voicetypr is enabled
  • Restart VoiceTypr after granting permission
Windows:
  • Text insertion should work automatically
  • If not, check your clipboard - the text may be there
  • Paste manually with Ctrl+V if needed
Check these:
  1. Verify you have microphone permission
  2. Ensure a model is downloaded and selected
  3. Try the hotkey in different applications
  4. Check for conflicts with other apps’ hotkeys
  5. Restart VoiceTypr
Still not working?
  • On macOS, verify Accessibility permission is granted
  • Try changing the hotkey in Settings
  • Check the Overview tab for “Ready” status
Solutions:
  1. Check your microphone is connected and working
  2. Verify microphone permission is granted
  3. Test microphone in another app (Voice Memos, Discord, etc.)
  4. In Settings, confirm the correct microphone is selected
  5. Speak louder or closer to the microphone
  6. Reduce background noise
Improve accuracy:
  • Speak clearly and at a moderate pace
  • Reduce background noise
  • Use a better quality microphone
  • Try a larger model (small, medium, or large)
  • Enable AI Enhancement for grammar and punctuation fixes
Note: The base model has good accuracy for most use cases. Upgrade to small or medium for better results.
Solutions:
  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Ensure you have 3-4 GB free disk space
  3. Cancel and restart the download
  4. Try downloading a smaller model first (tiny or base)
  5. Check GitHub Issues for known problems
Parakeet models: Progress may not show during download. Wait patiently - it’s still downloading.
Speed improvements:macOS:
  • Use a smaller model (tiny or base)
  • Ensure you have an Apple Silicon Mac for best performance
  • Try Parakeet models (optimized for Apple Neural Engine)
Windows:
  • Update your graphics drivers for GPU acceleration (5-10x faster):
  • Use a smaller model (tiny or base)
  • VoiceTypr auto-detects GPU but falls back to CPU if unavailable

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Next Steps

Now that you’ve completed your first transcription, explore these features:

AI Enhancement

Transform transcriptions with AI for grammar fixes, email formatting, and more

Model Management

Download additional models and optimize for speed vs accuracy

Hotkey Customization

Configure custom hotkeys and recording modes

Configuration Guide

Customize VoiceTypr settings to fit your workflow

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Pro Tips for Power Users

Transform raw transcriptions into polished text with AI:
  1. Get a free API key from Groq or Google AI Studio
  2. Open VoiceTypr > Enhancements tab
  3. Connect your provider and enter the API key
  4. Enable AI Enhancement toggle
  5. Choose a preset (Default, Prompts, Email, or Commit)
Use cases:
  • Default: Clean up grammar and punctuation
  • Prompts: Format voice into clear AI prompts for ChatGPT/Claude
  • Email: Generate professional email drafts with subject lines
  • Commit: Create conventional commit messages for Git
Learn more in AI Enhancement.
Keep multiple models downloaded and switch based on your needs:Strategy:
  • tiny/base: Fast transcription for quick notes and messages
  • small/medium: Important content where accuracy matters
  • large: Professional transcription, podcasts, interviews
Switch models anytime in the Models tab - just click the model you want to use.
Customize how VoiceTypr provides feedback:In Settings tab:
  • Pill Indicator Position: Choose where the recording indicator appears
  • Play Sound on Recording: Audio feedback when recording starts
  • Play Sound on Recording End: Audio feedback when recording stops
  • Pill Indicator Mode: Never, Always, or When Recording
Adjust these settings to match your preferences and workflow.
Launch VoiceTypr automatically when you log in:
  1. Open VoiceTypr > Settings tab
  2. Find Launch at startup option
  3. Toggle it ON
Now VoiceTypr will be ready whenever you start your computer.
Master these shortcuts to maximize productivity:
  • Double ESC: Cancel recording immediately
  • Cmd/Ctrl + Q: Quit VoiceTypr
  • Click menu bar icon: Open/close main window
  • Click transcription in history: Copy to clipboard
Combine with your custom hotkey for a seamless voice dictation workflow.

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Platform-Specific Tips

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macOS Optimization

Apple Silicon Users (M1/M2/M3):
  • You get automatic Metal GPU acceleration for Whisper models
  • Consider trying Parakeet models - optimized for Apple Neural Engine
  • Expect faster transcription than Intel Macs
Permissions Troubleshooting:
  • Both Microphone AND Accessibility permissions are required
  • Check System Settings > Privacy & Security if something doesn’t work
  • You may need to remove and re-add VoiceTypr in Accessibility settings
Integration Tips:
  • Works great with Spotlight, Alfred, Raycast workflows
  • Use in Terminal, VS Code, Xcode, Notes, Mail, Messages
  • Compatible with dictation-friendly apps like Notion, Obsidian
Performance:
  • Close memory-intensive apps before long transcriptions
  • Larger models (medium/large) work best with 16GB+ RAM

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Common Use Cases

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For Developers

// Dictate code comments
/* Press hotkey and speak:
   "This function validates user input and returns a sanitized string.
   It handles edge cases like null values and empty strings."
*/

// Dictate commit messages (with AI Enhancement - Commit preset)
// Speak: "Fixed the authentication bug in the login flow"
// AI Output: "fix(auth): resolve login flow authentication issue"

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For Writers

Press hotkey and speak naturally:
"Today I want to discuss the importance of voice dictation tools 
in modern productivity workflows. Many professionals are discovering 
that speaking is faster and more natural than typing."

VoiceTypr transcribes it perfectly with punctuation and capitalization.

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For Communication

Slack/Teams Messages:
  1. Click in the message field
  2. Press hotkey and speak your message
  3. Text appears ready to send
  4. Quick and efficient communication
Email Drafting (with AI Enhancement - Email preset):
  1. Enable Email preset in Enhancements
  2. Speak: “Hey Sarah, just checking if you received the files I sent yesterday. We need them for Friday’s meeting. Thanks.”
  3. AI formats it as a professional email with subject line and greeting

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Getting Help

If you run into issues not covered in this guide:

Troubleshooting Guide

Comprehensive solutions for common problems

FAQ

Frequently asked questions and answers

GitHub Issues

Report bugs or request features

Platform Guides

Platform-specific documentation (macOS/Windows)
You’re all set! VoiceTypr is ready to transform how you input text. Press your hotkey anywhere, speak your thoughts, and watch them appear instantly.