What Is Push-to-Talk Dictation?
Push-to-talk dictation lets you control exactly when your microphone is on. Hold a key to record, release to transcribe. Here's why it's better than always-listening alternatives.
The Problem with Always-Listening Dictation
Most dictation software listens all the time. You toggle it on, and it records everything — your side conversations, your thinking-out-loud, your coughs. Then you spend time deleting the garbage it picked up.
Always-listening dictation also raises privacy questions. If the mic is always hot, what’s being recorded? Where does that audio go?
How Push-to-Talk Works
Push-to-talk is simple: hold a key to record, release to stop. Your microphone is only active while you’re holding the key. The moment you release, the audio is sent for transcription and the text is pasted wherever your cursor is.
No toggles. No start/stop buttons. No “Hey Siri” or “OK Google.” Just hold and talk.
Why Push-to-Talk Is Better
You Control the Mic
The microphone is only on when you want it on. No ambient recording, no accidental captures, no awkward moments when your dictation software picks up a private conversation.
Cleaner Transcriptions
Because you’re only recording when you’re actively speaking, the transcription is cleaner. No filler, no background noise, no false triggers. What you say is what you get.
Works in Any App
Push-to-talk dictation like Tap2Talk pastes text directly into whatever app has focus — your browser, email client, code editor, notes app, Slack. No plugins, no integrations, no copy-paste.
Faster Than Typing
Most people type at 40 words per minute. You can speak at 150+ words per minute. Even accounting for the occasional correction, dictation is 3-4x faster than typing.
What About Long-Form Dictation?
Push-to-talk is great for quick inputs — emails, messages, search queries, notes. But what about longer writing?
That’s where lock mode comes in. Double-tap the hotkey to lock dictation on. Talk for as long as you need — minutes, not seconds. Tap once to release. You get the benefits of push-to-talk (no accidental recordings) with the freedom of hands-free dictation.
How Tap2Talk Does It
Tap2Talk uses a simple hotkey (Right Alt or Right Ctrl) for push-to-talk. Hold it, speak, release. Your audio is transcribed by Groq’s Whisper API in under a second, cleaned up by AI, and pasted wherever your cursor is.
No training. No voice profiles. No setup beyond pasting in your free Groq API key. It works in 30 seconds.
FAQ
Is push-to-talk dictation accurate?
Yes. Tap2Talk uses Groq’s Whisper API, which delivers over 95% accuracy for English in most environments. You can also add custom words for technical terms or names it might not recognise.
Does push-to-talk work on Mac and Windows?
Tap2Talk works on both macOS (Apple Silicon) and Windows 11. Same hotkey, same experience.
How much does Tap2Talk cost?
One-time purchase. No subscription. Or refer 10 friends and get it free forever.
Ready to ditch typing?
Tap2Talk is $69 once — no subscription, no limits. Or get it free by referring 10 friends.