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macOS Setup

macOS support status

Voice Recorder Forge runs on macOS 10.15 (Catalina) and later, but support is currently partial:

| Feature | Status | |---------|--------| | Dictation (hotkey + transcription) | Works | | Meeting recording | Works | | System audio capture | Requires BlackHole (see below) | | Automatic text insertion | Not yet supported | | Clipboard-based text output | Supported (paste manually with Cmd+V) |

Automatic text insertion at the cursor is planned for a future release using the macOS Accessibility API.

Required permissions

1. Microphone access

The app will prompt for microphone access on first launch. If you missed the prompt or denied it:

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
  2. Find Voice Recorder Forge in the list and enable it.
  3. Restart the app.

2. Accessibility access (for hotkeys)

Global hotkeys require Accessibility permission. Without this, Ctrl+Shift+Space will not work.

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
  2. Click the + button and add Voice Recorder Forge, or toggle it on if it already appears.
  3. You may need to enter your Mac password.
  4. Restart the app.

3. Screen Recording (macOS 13 Ventura and later)

On macOS 13+, capturing system audio also requires Screen Recording permission.

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording.
  2. Enable Voice Recorder Forge.
  3. Restart the app.

System audio capture with BlackHole

macOS does not allow apps to capture audio from other applications directly. To record system audio (e.g., a Zoom call, a YouTube video), you need a virtual audio device called BlackHole.

Install BlackHole

  1. Download BlackHole from existential.audio/blackhole.
  2. Install the .pkg file. A restart is not required.

Create a Multi-Output Device

To hear audio through your speakers while also routing it through BlackHole:

  1. Open Audio MIDI Setup (found in /Applications/Utilities/).
  2. Click the + button at the bottom left and choose Create Multi-Output Device.
  3. Check both your normal output device (e.g., Built-in Output or your headphones) and BlackHole 2ch.
  4. Check Use this device for sound output on the Multi-Output Device.
  5. Set BlackHole 2ch as your system input: open System Settings → Sound → Input and select BlackHole 2ch.

Configure the app

In Voice Recorder Forge Settings, set the audio source to Both (microphone + system audio) or System Audio to capture the BlackHole feed.

Known limitations

  • Text insertion: After dictation, text is placed on the clipboard only. Use Cmd+V to paste.
  • No AppleScript automation: The Accessibility API integration needed for cursor-position insertion is not yet implemented.
  • These limitations will be addressed in a future release.