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Your First Transcription

A step-by-step guide to your first voice-to-text experience

You’ve installed Yapper and granted permissions—now let’s turn your voice into text for the first time.

Before You Start

Make sure:

  • Yapper is running (look for the icon in your menu bar)
  • Microphone and Accessibility permissions are granted (green checkmarks in Settings → Preferences)
  • A speech model is loaded (check Settings → Transcription)

If no model is loaded yet, Yapper will download one automatically when you first try to record. The default model is Parakeet TDT v3—it offers excellent accuracy with very fast processing.

Step 1: Click Where You Want Text

First, click in any text field where you want your transcription to appear:

  • An email draft
  • A document
  • A text message
  • A search bar
  • A code editor
  • Any app with a text input

The cursor should be blinking in the text field.

Step 2: Start Recording

Press the recording shortcut:

⌥ Space (Option + Space)

You’ll see a small overlay appear near your cursor, showing a red recording indicator with a waveform animation. This confirms Yapper is listening.

Step 3: Speak Naturally

Start talking. Don’t worry about:

  • Speaking perfectly
  • Avoiding “um” and “uh”
  • Punctuation (the speech model handles it)

Just speak as you would to a colleague.

Tip: Speak at a natural pace. Speaking too slowly can actually reduce accuracy because the model expects natural speech patterns.

Step 4: Stop Recording

When you’re done speaking, press the shortcut again:

⌥ Space

Or, if you held the keys down for more than 0.3 seconds (hold-to-record mode), simply release them.

Step 5: Watch the Magic

After you stop recording, you’ll see the overlay change:

  1. Blue — Processing your speech
  2. Purple — AI is working (if using AI Transform or Q&A)
  3. Green — Success!

Your transcribed text appears in the text field, typed out character by character.

Two Recording Modes

Yapper intelligently detects how you use the shortcut:

Toggle Mode (Quick Press)

  • Press and quickly release the shortcut (under 0.3 seconds)
  • Recording starts and continues until you press the shortcut again
  • Best for longer dictations

Hold-to-Record Mode (Press and Hold)

  • Press and hold the shortcut for more than 0.3 seconds
  • Recording continues while you hold the keys
  • Release to stop recording
  • Best for quick phrases or sentences

Try both and see which feels more natural for your workflow.

Canceling a Recording

Changed your mind? Press Escape to cancel at any point—during recording, processing, or AI enhancement. The recording will be discarded and no text will be typed.

Tips for Better Results

Improve Accuracy

  • Use the right model — Parakeet TDT v3 (default) or Large v3 Turbo offer the best balance of speed and accuracy
  • Select your language — Make sure Settings → Transcription → Language matches the language you’re speaking
  • Add custom vocabulary — Add names, technical terms, and acronyms in Settings → Transcription → Custom Vocabulary

Reduce Background Noise

  • Use a quiet environment when possible
  • Position your microphone close to your mouth
  • Consider using a headset microphone for noisy environments

Try AI Features

Yapper includes two optional AI-powered modes:

  • AI Transform — Select text, record a voice instruction, and the AI rewrites it
  • AI Q&A — Say “Hey Yapper” + a question to get an instant answer

Set up an AI provider in Settings → AI to get started. Learn more about AI Features.

What’s Next

Now that you’ve made your first transcription, explore: