Voice
Talk to your bots instead of typing. Dictate into the message box, send a voice message, record a meeting for notes, choose a dictation engine, and set up your microphone.
You can talk to your bots instead of typing. There are two ways, and they work differently:
| Dictate (microphone icon) | Voice message (sound-wave icon) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Turns your speech into text in the message box. | Records you and sends the recording. |
| Before sending | You see the text and can fix it. | It's sent straight away. |
| The bot gets | Your words, as text. | The recording and a written transcript. |
| Best for | Writing messages faster. | Talking something through at length. |
Both buttons show only when the message box is empty and the bot isn't working.
Before you start
The first time, your computer needs to let Machine Desktop use the microphone.
- Mac: macOS asks the first time. Click OK. If you said no, open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and turn on Machine Desktop.
- Windows: open Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone and make sure Let desktop apps access your microphone is on.
The welcome tour's Permissions step does this for you. See The welcome tour.
Dictate
Start
Click the microphone in the message box. You'll see Listening….
Speak
Talk normally. Say punctuation if you like, such as "comma" or "full stop".
Stop
Click the microphone again, or press Esc or Enter. You may see Transcribing… for a moment.
Check and send
Your words appear in the message box. Fix anything that's wrong, then press Enter to send.
Send a voice message
Start recording
Click the voice message button (the sound-wave icon), or press Ctrl+Shift+D (⌘⇧D on Mac).
Speak
A red pill shows the recording time and a ring that moves with your voice.
Send or throw away
- Click the button again, or press the shortcut again, to send.
- Press Esc to throw it away.
Voice messages can be up to 5 minutes. At 5 minutes, the message is sent automatically.
In the chat, your voice message appears with a player and the transcript, starting with 🎤. If the transcript couldn't be made, it says "Voice message (no transcript)".
Play it back
Voice messages and audio files you attach play in the chat with a waveform:
- Click play to listen, and click again to pause.
- Click anywhere on the waveform to jump to that point.
- Or click the waveform once, then press ← or → to skip back or forward 2 seconds.
Record a meeting
Machine Desktop can listen to a meeting through your microphone, write down what was said, and have a bot turn it into notes. It works for in-person meetings, and for calls your computer's microphone can hear.
Start recording
Open the bot you want the notes from, and click Record a meeting (the notepad icon) in the chat header. A red pill shows the running time.
Hold your meeting
Leave it running for as long as the meeting lasts. Keep this bot's chat open while it records: if you leave the chat, the recording can be lost.
Stop
Click the small square Stop button in the red pill. It says Writing it up… while it finishes the transcript.
Check and send
The whole transcript lands in the message box, with a request for the notes: a short summary, the decisions made, and action items with who owns each. The bot will also ask whether anything should go to anyone. Nothing is sent until you press Enter, so you can add instructions first, like "Keep it to half a page".
A few things to know:
- Recordings can run for up to about 3 hours. After that, the recording stops by itself and the transcript waits in the message box.
- The transcript is made by Machine, using the microphone you chose in Settings → General → Microphone.
- Tell people you're recording. Many places require everyone's consent.
- The Record a meeting button isn't in the phone layout. In a narrow chat column it steps aside to make room; widen the window or close the bot's computer to bring it back.
Choose a dictation engine
Open Settings → General → Dictation engine:
| Engine | How it works | Available on |
|---|---|---|
| On this PC (Windows Speech) | Your computer's built-in speech recognition. Words appear live as you speak. | Windows |
| On this Mac (Apple Speech) | Your Mac's built-in speech recognition. Words appear live. | Mac |
| Whisper on Machine (cloud) | The recording is sent to Machine and turned into text when you stop. | All |
Notes:
- If you choose a specific microphone (not System default), Whisper is used, because the built-in engines only listen to the default microphone.
- If Windows Speech hears nothing, Machine Desktop switches to Whisper until you restart the app, and tells you so.
Voice messages are always transcribed by Machine.
Set up your microphone
Open Settings → General → Microphone:
- Choose a microphone from the list, or leave System default.
- Click Test and say something. The bar moves when the microphone hears you.
- Click Stop when you're done.
Tips
- Speak in full sentences for the best transcripts.
- Use dictation for short messages and voice messages for long, rambling thoughts. The bot handles both well.
- Names and jargon: if dictation keeps getting a word wrong, fix it in the box before sending, or try the Whisper engine.
- On the move? In the phone apps, use your phone keyboard's microphone to dictate.
- Want a conversation, not a message? Start a Live call and talk to the bot in real time. It answers out loud, and the call lands in the thread when you hang up.
If it doesn't work
| Problem | Try |
|---|---|
| Nothing happens when you click | Check the microphone permission (see Before you start). If an error shows Open settings, click it. |
| The level bar doesn't move in Test | Pick a different microphone, or check it's not muted. |
| "That recording is too long to transcribe." | Keep recordings shorter. |
| "Transcription took too long." | Try a shorter recording, or check your connection. |
| Built-in dictation is poor | Switch to Whisper on Machine (cloud). |