Microphone & audio

Choose your input

1. Connect the microphone or headset you want to use.
2. Open Settings → Voice → Recording → Microphone.
3. Choose System default to follow the input selected in macOS, or select a particular device.
4. Record a short sentence and check that the level indicator responds to your voice.

A specific microphone stays selected until you change it. If you disconnect it, choose another available input to continue dictating.

If the input is silent, check the device’s mute control and System Settings → Sound → Input, then try again. Also check Microphone permission.

AirPods & wireless headsets

When you use the microphone in AirPods or another Bluetooth headset, starting a dictation can take longer than with a wired or built-in microphone. The headset’s audio hardware needs a moment to wake from its low-power state, and macOS needs to switch the Bluetooth connection from listening mode to microphone mode. The pause is usually brief; its length depends on the headset and connection.

MicMyDay cannot skip this hardware wake-up and connection change. Keeping the headset’s microphone open in advance would use more battery and keep playback in call mode, so MicMyDay lets it rest between dictations.

For a quicker start, select a wired microphone or your Mac’s built-in microphone under Settings → Voice → Recording → Microphone. You can still listen through your AirPods. This avoids switching their microphone on and keeps their usual playback quality.

Playback can sound different while a Bluetooth headset’s microphone is in use. See Apple’s explanation of Bluetooth audio modes. If the pause continues or the input level stays flat when you speak, follow the wireless-headset checks.

Limit recording length

Maximum recording defaults to two minutes. You can choose from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, in 30-second steps. Reaching the limit stops the recording and starts transcription.

For longer thoughts, shorter segments can be easier to review. The length a model can process also depends on the selected speech model and, when enabled, the rewrite model and profile.

Control other audio and feedback

Mute other audio while recording is on by default. During manually started recordings, supported system output fades down as soon as the opening cue sounds and returns afterward. With feedback tones off, the fade begins as recording starts. Wireless-headset and voice-activated recording paths do not apply this muting.

Under Settings → General → Insertion, Play feedback tones controls the cues for recording and processing. It is enabled by default.

To finish automatically after a pause, configure Stop after silence.