NotchLiveStart from the field that matters
Place the cursor in Mail, Messages, Slack, a browser, a document, or another standard Mac text field, then hold your shortcut.
Private voice typing for Mac
Say it once. Put it where you are already working.
Hold a shortcut, speak naturally, and release. NotchLive inserts the finished text into the Mac app where you started, with recognition handled locally after model download.
Dictation requires Pro · $24.99 once · macOS 14 or later
Local recognitionYour audio is not sent to a NotchLive transcription service.
Up to 20 minutesLong thoughts are inserted, not erased, when the session reaches its limit.
Mac-wide insertionWorks with standard usable text fields after Accessibility permission is granted.
A small surface that stays out of the writing.
NotchLive remembers the field where you began. The bar confirms that it is listening, then gets out of the way after insertion.
Speak in your microphone language
NotchLive uses the same explicit language or Auto setting as microphone captions, so one language choice stays consistent across the app.
Release to finish the thought
The final transcript is normalized for insertion, including sensible spacing around surrounding text. Secure fields remain off limits.
Your vocabularyKnownWithout rewriting your voice
Teach spellings. Define exact replacements.
Personal Dictionary keeps two ideas separate. Preferred spellings are short vocabulary hints for the speech model. Replacements are deterministic local edits applied after transcription.
| Preferred spelling | Bias recognition toward names and terms such as NotchLive. |
|---|---|
| Replacement | Turn an exact spoken result into the exact written form you choose. |
| Storage | Keep dictionary entries and dictation history locally on your Mac. |
| Translation | Apply replacements before Translated Dictation begins. |
Built for ordinary writing, with ordinary boundaries.
Off until you enable it
NotchLive does not reserve a global shortcut or request Accessibility access for Dictation until a Pro user turns the feature on.
Turning Dictation off, losing Pro entitlement, or quitting the app unregisters its shortcuts.
No hidden rewrite model
The release focuses on fast local transcription, punctuation, insertion, spellings, and exact replacements.
It does not pretend to remember your whole document or silently rewrite your tone.
Recovery stays close
Completed dictations are available in the Dictations tab, including text that could not be inserted into the original field.
Copy the result when an app exposes an unusual or inaccessible editor.
Dictation is one part of the same speech-to-text app.
Use the microphone when you want to write. Use app audio when you want to read. NotchLive also provides private live captions, real-time translated captions, saved sessions, Voice Notes, and Meeting Intelligence.
DictationTranslated DictationLive captionsReal-time translationVoice NotesMeeting Intelligence
Mac Dictation FAQ
Does NotchLive Dictation run locally?
Yes. After the selected speech model is downloaded, recognition runs on your Mac. NotchLive does not send your audio to a NotchLive transcription service.
Does Dictation work in every Mac app?
It works in standard usable text fields exposed through macOS Accessibility. Secure fields, unusual custom editors, and fields an app does not expose can reject insertion; the completed text remains available in local Dictation history.
How long can one dictation be?
Up to 20 minutes. NotchLive warns at 19 minutes and inserts the completed text when the limit is reached.
Can I change the keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. Hold to Dictate and Hold to Translate are configurable in Settings after Dictation is enabled.
Can I dictate in languages other than English?
Yes. Dictation uses the microphone language setting, including Auto. Recognition quality and punctuation vary by language, accent, model, microphone, and room.
Is Dictation free?
Dictation is included in NotchLive Pro, a $24.99 one-time purchase. Live captions remain free.
Use your voice without moving your writing into a cloud workspace.
Start with free live captions. Upgrade once when you want Dictation, Translated Dictation, saved sessions, Voice Notes, exports, and Meeting Intelligence.