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Dictation Mode

What is dictation mode?

Dictation mode turns your voice into text and inserts it directly into whatever application you are currently using — a text editor, email client, browser, chat window, or any other app that accepts keyboard input.

Voice Recorder Forge does not need to be in focus. The hotkey is global, meaning it is captured by the app regardless of which window you are using.

How to dictate

  1. Click into any text field in any application.
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Space (default hotkey) to start recording.
  3. A small overlay indicator appears in the corner of your screen confirming recording is active.
  4. Speak your text naturally.
  5. Press Ctrl+Shift+Space again to stop recording.
  6. Transcription runs automatically. Within a few seconds, your text appears at the cursor.

Text insertion

Windows

On Windows, the transcribed text is pasted directly using a simulated keyboard shortcut (PowerShell-based clipboard insertion). Your cursor position is preserved — text appears exactly where you were typing.

macOS

On macOS, the transcribed text is copied to the clipboard. You must paste it manually with Cmd+V. Automatic cursor-position insertion is not yet available on macOS and is planned for a future release.

The overlay indicator

While dictation is active, a small floating overlay appears on screen. It provides a visual reminder that the microphone is recording. The overlay disappears as soon as you stop dictation.

You do not need to keep the main app window open for dictation to work. The app can run minimised to the system tray.

Dictation vs meeting recording

| Feature | Dictation | Meeting Recording | |---------|-----------|------------------| | Purpose | Insert text into apps | Capture and transcribe sessions | | Activation | Global hotkey | Button in Meetings tab | | Duration | Short bursts | Long sessions (with pause/resume) | | Output | Text at cursor | Saved transcript in database | | Auto-editing | Yes (optional) | No |

Customising the hotkey

The dictation hotkey can be changed in Settings → Dictation Hotkey. See Keyboard Shortcuts for details on supported key formats.