Trace: An on-device macOS app for offline meeting transcription with speaker labeling
By
Alex Godbehere
Toasted just enough. A reliable bake, gently seasoned.
Summary
Trace is a macOS menu-bar app that records and transcribes meetings entirely on-device using a local speech model. It activates via a global shortcut, captures both microphone and system audio as separate tracks, labels speakers, and allows inline flagging of key moments. No bot joins calls, nothing leaves the Mac, and no account or subscription is required. The maker built it to solve the friction of forgetting to start recording tools before meetings.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledI built Trace for myself.
I'd been using MacWhisper, but there was enough fiddling before each call that I'd forget to start it and walk out of an hour-long meeting with nothing written down.
You hit one global shortcut and a small bar appears at the bottom of your screen.
No bot joins the call, nothing leaves your Mac, no account, no subscription.
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