Dictation is the heart of Clabrate. Once you know the activation key, the two ways to trigger it, and the two transcription modes, you’ve got everything you need day to day.
The activation key
By default, dictation is bound to the right ⌥ Option key — the Option key to the right of your space bar. It’s a “bare modifier”: you don’t press it with another key, you just hold it on its own. The left Option key keeps working normally for typing symbols.
You can rebind this to almost any key or combination in Settings → Keys — see Customizing shortcuts.
Hold vs. tap
Clabrate supports two activation styles, and by default both work:
- Hold — press and hold the key while you talk, release to insert. Best for quick, deliberate dictation.
- Tap — tap once to start listening hands-free, talk as long as you like, tap again to stop and insert. Best for longer passages.
In Settings → Speak & type you can set your activation preference to Both (the default), Hold only, or Tap only.
Tip: Press Esc at any time while dictating to cancel — nothing gets inserted.
Final vs. Hybrid mode
Clabrate has two transcription modes. Choose in Settings → Speak & type.
| Mode | What you see | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Final (default) | Nothing until you stop, then accurate, cased text appears (~0.7–1s) | Most writing — cleanest, most accurate result |
| Hybrid | Live partial text as you talk, corrected to a clean final when you stop | When you want immediate visual feedback |
Final mode trades a brief pause for accuracy and correct casing. Hybrid mode shows words as you speak, then fixes them up at the end. Both run on-device.
Common questions
Which mode should I use? Start with Final — it’s the default for a reason. Try Hybrid if you like watching the words land in real time.
Can I dictate without holding anything down? Yes — use tap-to-toggle. Tap to start, tap to stop.
Does the cursor have to be in a text field? Yes — Clabrate inserts wherever your cursor is, so click into a text area first.
Troubleshooting
- The key does nothing. Input Monitoring permission may be missing — see Troubleshooting.
- Text appears in the wrong app. Whatever app had focus when you released gets the text. Click into the right field first.
- Long pause feels too long. That’s Final mode being careful. Switch to Hybrid for live text.