Got a meeting recording that needs transcribing? A podcast episode? Voice memos? Whisperer handles audio and video files entirely on your Mac. No upload, no subscription, no internet needed.
Related: File Transcription Feature, Offline Transcription Engines, Whisperer vs MacWhisper. See pricing and all features.
Ready to try voice dictation on your Mac?
Free download. No account required. 100% offline.
Download on the Mac App StoreThe Interface#
File Transcription
Transcribe audio and video files offline
Drop your files here
or choose a file to transcribe
Drop a file onto the interface. Whisperer transcribes it using the same Whisper models as live dictation.
Supported Formats#
Audio
MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, AIFF. No conversion needed.
Video
MP4 and MOV. Audio track gets extracted automatically.
How It Works#
Open File Transcription
Click the Whisperer icon in your menu bar and select File Transcription from the sidebar.
Drop your file
Drag and drop a file onto the drop zone, or click Choose File to browse your Mac. You can transcribe files of any length.
Processing happens locally
Whisperer runs the file through your selected Whisper model. Everything stays on your Mac.
Get your text
Once complete, the full transcription appears below the drop zone. Copy it to your clipboard or save it to your transcription history.
Speed depends on your model. Turbo is often faster than real-time on Apple Silicon. Large V3 is slower but better for difficult audio.
Use Cases#
Meetings#
Record your Zoom or in-person meetings, transcribe them locally. No one else sees the audio.
Podcasts and Interviews#
Turn episodes and interview recordings into searchable text.
Voice Memos#
iPhone Voice Memos sync via iCloud. Transcribe them on your Mac.
Lectures#
Record lectures, transcribe them for study notes. Add field-specific terms to your dictionary for better accuracy.
Why Offline#
Privacy
Audio stays on your Mac. Matters for confidential meetings, legal recordings, medical content.
No Subscription
Cloud services charge per minute. Whisperer is $14.99 one-time.
Works Anywhere
No internet needed. Planes, remote locations, restricted networks.
Fast
No upload, no queue. Processing starts immediately.
Accuracy#
Same Whisper models as live dictation. Results depend on:
- Model size — Large V3 is most accurate, Turbo is fastest
- Audio quality — clear recordings work best
- Language — 100+ languages, accuracy varies
- Dictionary — add custom terms for specialized vocabulary
For technical content: Large V3 model plus domain terms in your personal dictionary.
vs. Cloud Transcription Services#
| Feature | Whisperer | Cloud Services (Otter, Rev, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 one-time | $8–25/month subscription |
| Privacy | 100% offline, on-device | Audio uploaded to cloud |
| Internet required | No | Yes |
| File length limit | Unlimited | Often capped per plan |
| Processing speed | Real-time or faster (Apple Silicon) | Depends on server load |
| Languages | 100+ | Varies by service |
Related: File Transcription Feature, Offline Transcription Engines, Whisperer vs MacWhisper. See pricing and all features.
Ready to try voice dictation on your Mac?
Free download. No account required. 100% offline.
Download on the Mac App Store