Tips & Troubleshooting
Helpful tips for getting the best results from Voiceavel, plus solutions for common issues.
Getting the Best Accuracy
Set Your Language Manually
Auto-detect works well for most cases, but setting your language explicitly in Settings → Language improves accuracy — especially for short phrases or accented speech. If you always speak the same language, manual selection is recommended.
First Transcription Warm-Up
The very first transcription after launching Voiceavel may be slightly less accurate or slower than usual. This is because the AI model needs to load into memory. All subsequent transcriptions will be fast and accurate. This only affects the Local provider.
Speak Naturally
You don't need to speak slowly or over-enunciate. Voiceavel handles natural speech patterns, pauses, and background noise. Smart Cleanup will remove filler words automatically.
Device Management
Your license has a device limit (1 for Free, up to 3 for Pro). To manage your devices:
- View active devices — Sign in to your dashboard at voiceavel.com and go to the Devices page
- Deactivate a device — From the Devices page, click Deactivate on any device to free up a slot. You can also deactivate from the app menu: click the menu bar icon → Deactivate This Device.
- Switching computers — Deactivate your old Mac first, then activate on the new one
Audio Device Changes
Voiceavel automatically handles audio device changes — connecting AirPods, plugging in a USB microphone, or switching headsets. After connecting a new device, wait a couple of seconds for macOS to register it, then start recording as normal.
If you get a "Microphone unavailable" message, try recording again — Voiceavel will automatically reinitialize the audio system on the second attempt. If the issue persists, restarting the app will resolve it.
Automatic Updates
Voiceavel checks for new versions every 5 minutes while running. When an update is available, you'll see a notification with the option to update. Updates are downloaded and installed automatically — no manual downloads needed.
Keyboard Shortcuts
You can change your recording hotkey in Settings → Keyboard Shortcut. Available options:
- Right Command (default)
- Left Command
- Right Option
- Left Option
- Fn key
Audio Feedback
Voiceavel can play a short beep sound when recording starts and stops, so you know exactly when to speak. This is off by default. To enable it, go to Settings → Audio Feedback.
Dictation History
Your last 30 transcriptions are saved and accessible from the menu bar. Click any entry to copy it to your clipboard. Use Copy Last for quick access to your most recent transcription. History persists across app restarts.
Log Files
If you experience issues, Voiceavel logs are stored at ~/.voiceavel/voiceavel.log. The previous session's log is saved as voiceavel.log.1. These can help diagnose problems — feel free to include them when contacting support.