LesskeysVoice recorder for Mac: record a memo, get the words
The quickest voice recorder on a Mac is the Voice Memos app that comes with it: open it and click Record. Lesskeys is for when you also want the words: it records your microphone, or transcribes a recording you already have, on your Mac, with nothing uploaded.
macOS 13+ on Apple Silicon · No subscription
Last reviewed
Memo to text
Record a memo and get the text
- Open Voice Memos, click Record, speak, then click Done.
- Drag the recording into a Finder window to save it as a file.
- In Lesskeys choose Transcribe and add the file (M4A, MP3, WAV or AIFF). Set how many people spoke (2 by default): for one voice, set 1.
- Open the transcript from Library: search it, click a line to play from there, or use Copy all.
Sources, read on 15 October 2026
- Apple: Create a recording (Record, Pause, Done, microphones)
- Apple: Share a recording (drag a recording into Finder)
- Apple: View a transcription of a recording (transcripts, and where they are not available)
Which one
Voice Memos or Lesskeys?
Voice Memos is built in. Lesskeys is for when the words matter.
If you only need the audio, or a quick note to yourself, stay with Voice Memos.
| What | Voice Memos (Apple) | Lesskeys |
|---|---|---|
| Starts with | One click: Record, Pause, Resume, Done | The Record Call tab: pick a microphone, then capture audio |
| The words | Shows a transcript of a recording with speech, though “audio transcription isn't available in all countries or regions” | Transcribes on your Mac, in 99 languages with auto-detect, and labels the speakers |
| Your recordings | Play on other Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account | A searchable Library on your Mac; nothing is uploaded and no account is needed |
Inside Lesskeys
Record inside Lesskeys
Pick your microphone, capture audio, then Transcribe, Save or Discard.
The same recorder can also capture your Mac's sound, so macOS asks for Screen Recording permission even for audio only, and the first transcription downloads a small set of speaker models. To just talk and paste the words, see voice to text for Macvoice to text for Windows.
Tell the people you record; some places require everyone's consent.
Your Mac
Where it all lives
A call is a different job from a memo.
Lesskeys records a call from your Mac's sound plus your microphone, and no bot joins. Steps: the call recorder page for Macthe call recorder page for Windows. Only the Mac's sound: record audio from your Mac.
- Nothinguploaded
- No accountneeded
- Your Macwhere it is kept
Lesskeys does not sync to an iPhone, so a memo recorded on a phone has to reach the Mac as a file first.
Questions
Questions about the voice recorder for Mac
Is there a voice recorder for Mac that transcribes automatically?
Yes. Voice Memos, which comes with the Mac, shows a transcript of a recording with speech where Apple provides it. Lesskeys records through the microphone and transcribes on your Mac, with speaker labels and 99-language auto-detect, and nothing is uploaded.
Can I record a call with it?
Yes, it's simple. Open Lesskeys before the call; when it starts in a call app or website Lesskeys recognizes, a small “Call detected” prompt appears, and you click Record. It captures your Mac's sound together with your microphone, with no bot joining the call. The call recorder page has the steps. Tell the people you record; some places require everyone's consent.
Where are my recordings stored?
On your Mac, with their transcripts, in the Lesskeys Library. Nothing is uploaded and no account exists.
How is this different from Apple Voice Memos?
Voice Memos is built in and starts with one click. Lesskeys transcribes on your Mac in 99 languages, labels speakers, searches across all your transcripts and can also record the sound your Mac plays, at the cost of a microphone and Screen Recording permission and a first-time model download.
More