Quickdict

Local-first voice dictation for macOS.

Quickdict is a native macOS app for system-wide dictation with local ASR models and optional local text transforms through Ollama.

What It Does

• Hold-to-record dictation with a global trigger key
• Local transcription with Parakeet v3 or Qwen3 ASR
• Optional post-processing: filler removal, false-start cleanup, number conversion, bullet formatting
• Output to clipboard and active app
• Transform selected text with local Ollama models

System Requirements

• macOS 14 or later
• Apple Silicon Mac
• Microphone access
• Accessibility access
• Input Monitoring access
• Internet only when downloading models

Install

DMG Install

1. Open Quickdict-1.0.1.dmg
2. Drag Quickdict.app into Applications
3. Open Applications/Quickdict.app

If macOS blocks the app the first time:

1. Right-click Quickdict.app
2. Click Open
3. Confirm the warning dialog

Required Permissions

Enable Quickdict in:

1. System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility
2. System Settings > Privacy & Security > Input Monitoring
3. System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone

If you change Accessibility or Input Monitoring, quit and relaunch Quickdict.

Models

ASR Models

• Parakeet v3
  • fastest dictation path
  • English-focused
• Qwen3 ASR
  • multilingual
  • slower than Parakeet
  • prefers int8 when available

Transform Models

Transform models run through Ollama and are managed separately from ASR models.

Recommended:

• Qwen 3.5 2B for fastest transform response

Optional:

• Qwen 3.5 4B
• Qwen 3.5 9B

Quickdict can install these through the Models screen if Ollama is installed.

Ollama Setup

If you want transform mode:

1. Install Ollama

brew install ollama

2. Start Ollama

ollama serve

3. In Quickdict, open Models
4. Under Transform Models, install and select a Qwen 3.5 model

Usage

Dictation

1. Open Quickdict
2. Hold the trigger key or use the Dictation screen controls
3. Speak
4. Release the trigger to transcribe

Transform Selected Text

1. Select text in another app
2. Make sure Transform selected text is enabled
3. Dictate a command like:
   • rewrite more formally
   • make this more humorous
   • remove orange juice from this list
4. Quickdict will replace the selected text with the transformed version

Build From Source

xcodegen generate
/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/xcodebuild \
  -project Quickdict.xcodeproj \
  -scheme Quickdict \
  -configuration Release \
  -derivedDataPath ./build \
  build

Local Signed Install

If you are developing locally and want a stable installed app identity:

./Scripts/install-local-signed.sh

This script:

• builds Quickdict
• copies it to /Applications/Quickdict.app
• signs it with a local Apple Development identity if available

Create DMG

./Scripts/create-dmg.sh

This creates:

• Quickdict-1.0.1.dmg

Troubleshooting

Global hotkey does not work

Check:

1. Accessibility is enabled
2. Input Monitoring is enabled
3. You relaunched Quickdict after enabling them

Dictation records but no text appears

Check:

1. Microphone permission is enabled
2. The selected ASR model shows Ready
3. You are using Parakeet v3 for lowest latency

Transform does nothing

Check:

1. Ollama is running
2. A transform model is installed and selected
3. Text was selected before dictation started

Distribution Notes

For other people to use the app, the most practical path is:

1. Build a release app
2. Create a DMG
3. Upload the DMG to a GitHub Release
4. Include these permission steps in the release notes

If you want fully smooth public distribution, the long-term path is Apple code signing + notarization.