trnscrb is a macOS menu bar app that automatically detects meetings and transcribes them locally using Whisper on Apple Silicon. All transcripts are instantly searchable from Claude Desktop without requiring cloud services or accounts.
trnscrb is a macOS menu bar app designed for professionals who need private, efficient local meeting transcription. It belongs to the category of productivity tools that automate meeting notes by capturing audio and transcribing it entirely on your device using Whisper AI, with no cloud dependency. The core value proposition is that it eliminates manual note-taking while ensuring all data stays local, and it integrates seamlessly with Claude Desktop for instant, AI-powered search across all transcripts. This makes it ideal for privacy-conscious users who attend frequent video meetings and want a seamless, automated transcription workflow without worrying about data leaving their computer.
The primary problem trnscrb solves is the distraction and inefficiency of taking notes during meetings, which often leads to missed action items and fragmented information. Many users rely on cloud-based transcription services that require internet and raise concerns about data privacy and ownership. With trnscrb, there is no need to manually start recording, no cloud processing, and no account sign-up for basic transcription. It automatically detects when you are in a meeting by monitoring microphone activity and the presence of common meeting applications, then records and transcribes locally. This solves the pain point of losing important details while keeping your audio and transcripts completely under your control, which is especially critical for teams handling sensitive information.
Auto-detection and recording are the first major feature group. trnscrb listens for microphone activity lasting five seconds while detecting running processes such as Google Meet, Zoom, Slack Huddle, Microsoft Teams, or FaceTime. This dual trigger ensures that recordings only happen when you are actually in a meeting, preventing false starts. You can choose to capture only your microphone audio or, by installing the free BlackHole virtual audio driver, also capture system audio from other participants. trnscrb install automates this setup, so you do not need to manually configure virtual sound devices. The benefit is that you get complete meeting recordings without any manual effort, and the auto-detection means you never miss the start of a meeting while fumbling with a recording button.
The second major feature group is on-device transcription using the Whisper small model, optimized for Apple Silicon via Metal acceleration. This runs entirely offline, so no internet connection is required for transcription, and audio files are processed locally and deleted after transcription to conserve storage. The output is saved as plain .txt files into the ~/meeting-notes/ directory, making them universally readable and portable. trnscrb also offers speaker labels if you set up a free HuggingFace account, which the installer guides you through. The advantage of this approach is unmatched privacy—your conversation data never leaves your machine—and reliability, as transcription can happen even in remote areas with no internet. The use of the small model balances speed and accuracy, delivering results quickly on modern Mac hardware.
Publisher
A
admin
Launch Date2026-02-20
Platformdesktop
Pricingfree
Tech Stack
#Whisper#Apple Silicon Metal#BlackHole#MCP#Claude API