Buzz

by Chidi WilliamsAppMake video or audio

Turns recordings, videos and YouTube links into text and subtitles on your own computer

View on GitHub

The problem it solves

You have an hour-long interview to quote from, and typing it out by hand would take the rest of your day.

For People transcribing interviewsVideo makers adding subtitlesPresenters at live events

Before: You replay the recording again and again, typing and pausing, or upload it to an online service.
After: Buzz writes the transcript on your computer, with timings you can search, play back and export as subtitles.

Stars: ★ 22k
License: MIT
Cost: Free
Platforms: Mac · Win · Linux
Runs: Local

Screenshots

From the project's own repository · 4 images, swipe or use the arrows.

The Buzz main window with a queue of files and a YouTube link being transcribed — Image: Chidi Williams (MIT). Original file

A finished transcript in Buzz, split into timed lines with export and translate buttons — Image: Chidi Williams (MIT). Original file

Overview

Buzz is a free desktop app that transcribes and translates audio offline, using Whisper speech models that run on your computer. You import an audio or video file, a YouTube link or your microphone, and get a transcript you can search, play back and export as TXT, SRT or VTT. It can also label speakers and clean up noisy audio first. It suits anyone who records interviews, talks or videos and needs the words in writing.

Transcription runs on your computer, and one window covers files, live microphone input and subtitle export.

Try these first

Start with the first one: it is a small task you can check easily.

Import a one-minute voice memo, choose a small Whisper model and read the transcript against the recording.First try · on your computer
Transcribe [video file] and export it as an SRT subtitle file.
Paste [YouTube link] and transcribe the talk into text.downloads from YouTube
Start a live recording from your microphone and open the presentation window for the audience.

Example prompts written by Agent Flows Hub.

Features

From the creator's documentation.

Feature	What it does	Runs
File transcription	Turns audio and video files into text with Whisper-based models	Your computer
Live transcription	Writes down what your microphone hears, with a presentation window for events	Your computer
Subtitle export	Saves transcripts as TXT, SRT or VTT files	Your computer
Speakers and noise	Labels speakers and separates speech from background noise before transcribing	Your computer
YouTube links	Transcribes a video from its YouTube link	Internet
Online options	Translation with an OpenAI-compatible AI service, or the OpenAI Whisper API, when you add a key	Your AI service

Good to know

You have an interview recording or a video and need its words as text or subtitles. Buzz transcribes the file on your computer and exports the result as TXT, SRT or VTT.

Limits

Speed and accuracy depend on the model you pick and on your computer. Live microphone transcription is resource-intensive and may not keep up in real time.
YouTube links, the OpenAI Whisper API, AI translation, update checks and basic usage statistics (OS name and architecture) use the internet; transcribing a local file does not, once a model is downloaded.

Notes by Agent Flows Hub (original project name: Buzz), written from the creator's documentation, not from running it ourselves. Buzz documentation: installation · Buzz documentation: introduction and features

Stuck setting it up?

Tell us what happened. We take a look first; if it needs paid work, you get an estimate before anything starts.

Get help

How to start

Get the appDownload it from the official page, or paste the install request into an AI agent you already use.macOS, WindowsDownload the installerLinuxflatpak install flathub io.github.chidiwilliams.Buzz
Open itFollow the first-run steps in the app.
Give it a first taskImport a one-minute voice memo, choose a small Whisper model and compare the transcript with the recording before trying a long file.

Steps follow the creator's instructions. The request tells your agent to read them first and wait for your OK.

Before you start

A computer with macOS, Windows or Linux.
On a Mac, Apple silicon; the last version for Intel Macs is 1.4.5
On Windows, the installer is unsigned, so you choose More info, then Run anyway
Free. Nothing to pay.

Details

Made by: Chidi Williams
License: MIT Terms
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux
Runs on: Your computer

View source Official docs Report a problem

For AI agents

This page as a Markdown install brief:

/en/library/buzz/install.md

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