DictaWhisper docs

Install

Requires Node 20+ and pnpm.

  • NVIDIA GPU + CUDA for local Whisper (or set whisper.device to cpu, which is far slower)
  • Python with faster-whisper: point whisper.python at that interpreter
  • ffmpeg on PATH if denoise is on
  • ollanet + an Ollama model for cleanup (localhost or another reachable host; optional for raw transcripts)
  • Optional: Tailscale if you want the UI from another device on your tailnet
  • Optional: a watched folder (Syncthing, a shared drive, a dump directory) if you already record outside the browser

Record or drag files at localhost:7777. Run it on a computer you leave turned on.

From a checkout

git clone https://github.com/Catalyst-Forge-LLC/dictawhisper.git
cd dictawhisper
cp config.example.json config.json
# edit whisper.python, whisper.promptTerms, ollanet.machine / cleanModel
# watch.roots is optional: record or drop files in the UI without Syncthing
pnpm install
pnpm run doctor

The UI can record and accept dropped files with no Syncthing. Add watch.roots only if you already have a phone folder or dump directory. Then: which Python has CUDA Whisper, and which Ollama (this computer or another on your network) ollanet should use for cleanup.

pnpm run doctor and startup /health run the same probes: Node, config, watch roots, ffmpeg, faster-whisper import, CUDA vs CPU, ollanet reachability, and port availability. A fail is loud. The inbox still serves notes already on disk. Warnings (CPU mode, ollanet unreachable, port already in use) are reported without blocking. pnpm doctor without run is pnpm's own command and will not check this app.

Optional sanity check (machine can be this computer or another name ollanet already sees):

ollanet prompt YOUR-OLLANET-HOST YOUR-CLEAN-MODEL --format json "ping"

Site and docs

This documentation is dictawhisper.com/docs. Product pages live on FilePress; these docs are a path mount at /docs.