01 · THE CORE LOOP
Speak where the work already lives.
No special editor. No recording tab. Stay in the app you were using.
Talk naturally. Include the detail you would cut from a typed prompt.
The finished text returns to the original field and remains on your clipboard.
For longer thoughts, double-tap Fn to record hands-free. Press Fn once more when you are done.
02 · CLEAN OR VERBATIM
You choose how much AI touches the words.
Clean
Removes fillers, fixes punctuation, and resolves obvious self-corrections while preserving your wording and meaning.
Verbatim
Returns direct transcription without the cleanup model. Useful for exact phrasing, quotations, and quick capture.
A deliberate transform is different. When a note deserves more, you can turn it into an email, brief, task list, script, or your own reusable workflow.
See speech to finished work ↗03 · FAILURE WITHOUT LOSS
Your best thought should survive bad Wi-Fi.
Audio is captured on your Mac.
A recovery copy is written before upload.
It is removed only after the thought is safely stored.
If your connection or transcription fails, the menu bar offers the saved recording for retry. The audio also remains in a standard local file you control.
04 · MAC PERMISSIONS, EXPLAINED
Three permissions. Three narrow jobs.
AudioArcher’s setup screen reports the live status of each permission and opens the exact System Settings panel when something needs attention.
Read the setup and recovery guide ↗05 · AFTER DICTATION
Every useful thought can become Memory.
Dictation is the front door. Your notes can remain searchable across days and apps, connect to related thoughts, and become saved outputs without overwriting the original words.
06 · COMMON QUESTIONS
AI dictation for Mac FAQ
How do I use AI dictation on a Mac?
Install AudioArcher, grant Microphone, Input Monitoring, and Accessibility permission, then put your cursor in any text field. Hold Fn while speaking and release it to transcribe and paste.
Why does a dictation app need Accessibility permission?
Accessibility lets AudioArcher return finished text to the field where your cursor was placed. The completed text is also copied to your clipboard as a fallback.
What happens if transcription or my connection fails?
AudioArcher writes a recoverable local recording before the network request. A failed recording remains on your Mac and can be retried from the menu bar.
Does AI rewrite everything I say?
No. Clean mode removes fillers and resolves obvious self-corrections without changing your meaning. Verbatim mode returns direct transcription without the cleanup step.
Can I dictate for longer without holding Fn?
Yes. Double-tap Fn to enter hands-free recording, then press Fn again when you are finished.
Which Macs does AudioArcher support?
The current beta supports macOS 13 or later on Apple silicon Macs.