Journalists · Researchers · Local source audio
Interview transcription software
MacParakeet is free interview transcription software for Apple Silicon Macs. Record a remote interview with meetings mode or drop in an existing audio or video file, then transcribe locally and export TXT, SRT, VTT, or JSON. Sensitive source audio stays off upload services, and you can review names, quotes, and speaker flow before publishing.
macOS 14.2+ · Apple Silicon · GPL-3.0 · no account
How to transcribe an interview
Capture or import the recording, then keep the transcript under your control.
01
Record or import the interview
Use MacParakeet meetings mode for a live remote interview, or drop in an existing MP3, M4A, WAV, MP4, MOV, or other common media file.
02
Transcribe locally
NVIDIA Parakeet v3 runs on the Apple Neural Engine at about 155x realtime. Optional WhisperKit expands local coverage to 98 languages.
03
Review and export
Check names, quotes, and speaker flow, then export TXT, SRT, VTT, or JSON for writing, analysis, captions, or archive work.
Source-sensitive workflow
Transcripts for interviews that should not become upload data.
A useful interview transcript has to be searchable, quotable, and reviewable. A responsible transcription workflow also has to respect where the original recording goes.
Private source material
Journalists and researchers often handle sensitive interviews. MacParakeet keeps core speech recognition local instead of uploading raw source audio.
File and meeting workflows
Drop in a recorder file after an in-person interview, or use meetings mode for a remote interview with microphone plus system audio capture.
Meeting workflow →Long-form friendly
There is no file-length limit, so a multi-hour oral history, field interview, or research session is not forced through a short web form.
Export for the next step
Use TXT for writing, JSON for research tooling, and SRT or VTT when an interview clip needs captions.
For journalists, researchers, and long-form interviews
MacParakeet is not a replacement for editorial judgment. It gives you a local first draft of the transcript, then leaves the important work - verifying quotes, correcting names, and protecting source context - in your hands.
Interview transcription FAQ
How accurate is interview transcription?
Accuracy depends on audio quality, speaker overlap, accents, names, and background noise. Clear close-mic interviews work best, but sensitive quotes and proper names should always be reviewed before publication.
Can MacParakeet handle long interviews?
Yes. MacParakeet has no file-length limit for drag-and-drop transcription. Long interviews require enough disk space and local processing time.
Is interview audio uploaded?
No. Core transcription runs locally on your Apple Silicon Mac, and the interview audio is not uploaded to MacParakeet servers or cloud STT providers.
Does it support speaker workflows?
Yes. For remote interviews, meetings mode captures microphone plus system audio and keeps the recording, notes, and transcript together. You should still review speaker flow and important quotes.
Which file formats can interview transcription use?
MacParakeet supports common audio and video formats including MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC, OGG, MP4, MOV, and more. It exports TXT, SRT, VTT, and JSON.
Which languages are available?
NVIDIA Parakeet v3 is the default transcription engine. Optional WhisperKit expands local transcription coverage to 98 languages after model download.
Is MacParakeet free for journalists and researchers?
Yes. MacParakeet is free and open source under GPL-3.0, with no account, no credit card, and no subscription. It requires macOS 14.2+ on Apple Silicon.
Related transcription guides
Transcribe interviews locally.
Download MacParakeet, record or import the interview, and keep source audio on your Mac.
Download MacParakeet Free