On-device transcription
Record audio on Mac or iPhone, then transcribe it locally using the Apple Speech framework. The product page says transcription runs at high speed, supports multiple languages, and does not require a network connection.
Signal Recorder SR-7
Signal Recorder SR-7 is a voice recorder for Mac and iPhone that transcribes and summarizes audio locally, with Markdown export and optional iCloud sync. It is a one-time purchase with no accounts or subscription.
What Signal Recorder SR-7 does
Signal Recorder SR-7 is a native voice recorder for macOS and iPhone that keeps recording, transcription, summaries, and storage on your own devices. It is sold as a one-time purchase, requires macOS 26 or iOS 26, and does not use accounts or a subscription model.
The app is designed for capturing ideas, conversations, and observations, then turning them into searchable text you can review later. Recordings can be transcribed locally, summarized on-device on supported Macs, exported as Markdown, and synced through iCloud when you want the same library on both Mac and iPhone.
Key features
Local AI titles and summaries
Generate descriptive titles and concise summaries locally on macOS 26+ using FoundationModels. This makes recordings easier to skim and search without sending audio to the cloud.
Markdown export
Export each recording automatically as a Markdown file with YAML front matter, so the output can fit into Obsidian, PKM systems, and other Markdown-based workflows.
iCloud sync across Apple devices
Keep recordings, transcripts, and metadata synchronized across Mac and iPhone with iCloud sync via CloudKit. The product also supports a read-only transcript mirror on macOS.
Full-text search
Search names, titles, summaries, and full transcripts from one library. The site says full-text search is built in, so older recordings remain findable by content.
Local AI tool access and audio import
On macOS, connect an MCP-compatible AI tool to search the archive, pull summaries, and extract quotes locally. The product page also notes support for importing audio from hardware recorders such as the TP-7.
Practical use cases
Personal note capture
Capture voice notes, meeting thoughts, and spoken ideas on iPhone or Mac, then turn them into searchable transcripts and summaries without sending audio to a server.
Hardware recorder workflow
Import recordings from the teenage engineering TP-7 or another hardware recorder, then use SR-7 to transcribe, title, summarize, and organize the files in one library.
Cross-device sync
Keep a single archive available on both Mac and iPhone through iCloud, so you can start a recording on one device and review or search it on another.
PKM and writing workflows
Use the Markdown export and read-only transcript mirror to move recordings into Obsidian or another Markdown-based knowledge base.
Local AI-assisted search
On macOS, connect an MCP-compatible AI tool to search recordings, pull summaries, and extract quotes from your archive locally.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Transcription runs locally with no network connection required.
- Recordings, transcripts, and metadata stay on the user’s device unless iCloud sync is enabled.
- Exports to Markdown with YAML front matter, which fits note-taking and PKM workflows.
- Supports importing audio from common file formats and external recorders.
- Includes a local MCP server for compatible AI tools on macOS.
Cons
- AI features require Apple Silicon (M1 or later) on supported Macs.
- macOS-only MCP integration is available on macOS, not iPhone.
- Pricing is described as an introductory $7.99 purchase that will go up later, but no other plan details are provided.
FAQ
Does SR-7 work offline?
Yes. SR-7 transcribes audio and generates AI titles and summaries entirely on-device. The docs and product page say no network connection is required for transcription, and nothing is uploaded for those features.
Is there a subscription?
No. SR-7 is a one-time purchase with no subscription or recurring fee. The product page also says there are no accounts or telemetry.
Where are recordings stored?
Recordings are stored on your device. The product page says sync is optional: iCloud can keep recordings, transcriptions, and metadata aligned across Apple devices, and on macOS you can mirror transcripts to a read-only folder as Markdown with YAML front matter.
What devices and OS versions does SR-7 require?
SR-7 requires macOS 26 or iOS 26. On-device AI features, including transcription and summaries, require Apple Silicon (M1 or later) on supported Macs.
Can AI tools search my recordings?
Yes on macOS. SR-7 includes a local MCP server so MCP-compatible AI tools can search the archive, pull summaries, and extract quotes locally.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Voice recorder / productivity
- Platform
- Mac and iPhone
- Requirements
- macOS 26+ or iOS 26+; Apple Silicon for AI features
- Pricing model
- One-time purchase; introductory price $7.99
- Source domain
- fieldbw.com
- Notable workflow
- Record, transcribe locally, export to Markdown, and sync via iCloud
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