Why avoid cloud transcription?
Many transcription services ask you to upload your recording, wait for processing, then download the text. That can be fine for low-risk content. It feels wrong for sensitive interviews, legal disputes, medical notes, client calls, family recordings, or research data.
Local transcription apps using Whisper solve a different problem: the model runs on your computer. The file is read locally, the transcript is produced locally, and you decide what gets exported or shared.
Simple rule: if you would not email the raw recording to a stranger, use a local transcription workflow first.
What stays on your Mac?
With SaidVault, transcription happens on your Apple Silicon Mac using downloaded Whisper models. During transcription, your audio, video, transcript, speaker labels, voice notes, and export metadata are not sent to SaidVault servers.
- The Whisper model is downloaded once and stored locally.
- Files are processed on-device.
- Voice notes are saved in a local library.
- Exports are written wherever you choose.
- Licence checks do not upload your recordings.
A private local transcription workflow
Install a local Whisper app
Download SaidVault, open it, and download a Whisper model from the model manager. Small is usually a good starting point for clear recordings; Medium can help with noisy recordings and unclear voices.
Drop an audio or video file
Drag an MP3, M4A, MP4, MOV, WAV, WEBM, OGG, or AVI file into the app. SaidVault prepares the file locally and displays progress while it transcribes.
Review and correct the transcript
Whisper is strong, but names, addresses, muffled speech, and specialist vocabulary still need human review. Use playback, search, and segment editing to clean the final text.
Export only what you need
Export TXT for plain text, Markdown for notes and documentation, PDF for sharing, or SRT/VTT for subtitles. PDF exports can include metadata such as file size, SHA-256, duration, model, language, and reference date/time.
Local dictation is different too
File transcription is only half the story. SaidVault also includes push-to-talk dictation: hold the configured shortcut, speak, release, and the text goes to your clipboard. It is useful for messages, notes, prompts, and writing inside other apps.
Because the dictation path also uses local transcription, it avoids sending short voice snippets to a cloud dictation service during normal use.
When cloud transcription can still make sense
Cloud tools can be useful when you need team collaboration, automatic summaries, shared workspaces, human review, or very heavy batch processing. The tradeoff is that the recording leaves your machine.
SaidVault is intentionally narrower: a polished desktop app for people who want the core transcription workflow, local privacy, clean exports, and a one-time price.
FAQ
Is local transcription slower than cloud transcription?
It depends on your Mac and model. Apple Silicon Macs are fast enough for practical daily work, especially with Small and Medium models.
Can I transcribe YouTube videos?
SaidVault can fetch direct media URLs. If a site blocks direct access, download the media legally first and drop the file into the app.
Does SaidVault translate audio?
No. SaidVault is built for transcription. Auto-detect should preserve the spoken language rather than translating it.
Try local transcription before uploading another recording.
SaidVault is free to download. The trial includes every feature and only caps the length of each transcription.