What is it?
What it is
A minimal, fully local macOS meeting recorder and transcriber that captures microphone and system audio as separate tracks and generates speaker-tagged transcripts on-device.
Why it exists
To provide a privacy-focused, local-only recording solution that avoids the need for virtual audio devices or kernel extensions while ensuring high-quality transcription through separate audio tracks.
Who should use it
macOS users who need a privacy-focused, local-only meeting recorder and transcriber that captures both microphone and system audio without virtual audio drivers.
Who should avoid it
Users on non-macOS operating systems, users requiring multi-language support (currently English-only for the default engine), and users who cannot install command-line tools via Swift.
How it works
A quick walkthrough in plain English
How quill works
Step 1 of 3
You interact with it
Open quill, send a request, or connect it to your stack.
Features
Advantages
- Fully local processing; no data leaves the machine
- Privacy-focused with explicit TCC permissions
- Low overhead: single binary, minimal dependencies
- Works offline after model download
- Efficient transcription (~20 sec per hour on Apple Silicon)
- Simple installation via Swift build or manual copy
- Menu-bar UI with visual recording indicator
- Supports custom recordings directory and hook integration
- Resilient to crashes: recordings remain readable if process dies mid-meeting
Disadvantages
- Requires macOS 15+ (Core Audio process tap availability)
- Currently English-only transcription (Parakeet v2); other languages pending Whisper fallback
- Records all system audio (including notifications, music) which may need manual silencing
- Initial model download (~600 MB) may be large for constrained environments
- Echo cancellation optional and may cause slight audio ducking when enabled
- Performance best on Apple Silicon; Intel Macs may be slower
- No built-in language detection or multi-language support yet
Installation
native
cd quill swift build -c release sudo cp .build/release/quill /usr/local/bin/quill quill install --launch-at-login
FAQ
How do I install quill on macOS?
Clone the repository, build with `swift build -c release`, then copy the binary to a location in your PATH (e.g., `/usr/local/bin/quill`). Optionally run `quill install --launch-at-login` to start it as a LaunchAgent.
Where are recordings saved and how can I change the location?
By default sessions go to `~/Recordings/<yyyy.MM.dd-HHmm>/`. You can override this with the `--out` flag (`quill run --out <dir>`) or set `recordings_dir` in `~/.config/quill/config.json`.
What happens after I stop a recording?
Transcription starts automatically on-device. Progress appears in the menu bar and a notification fires when the transcript is ready. The session folder contains separate mic and system audio CAF files, meta.json, transcript.json, transcript.md, and a transcribe.log.
Can I disable transcription or use a different engine?
Yes. In `~/.config/quill/config.json` set `transcription.enabled` to `false` to only record, or change the `engine` field (currently `parakeet`). A Whisper engine is planned as a fallback.
What should I do if I encounter permission issues or silent recordings?
Run `quill doctor` to verify permissions, recordings folder, and model cache. Ensure microphone and System Audio Recording are granted in System Settings → Privacy & Security. If recordings are silent, check the System Audio Recording permission specifically.
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