Quiet Environment
Background noise is the #1 cause of transcription errors.
Best Practices
Get the most out of FloWords with these proven tips and techniques for accurate transcription and efficient voice-to-text workflows.
Environment Setup
Section titled “Environment Setup”Optimize Your Recording Space
Section titled “Optimize Your Recording Space”Consistent Position
Maintain steady distance from your microphone.
Good Equipment
Quality microphone makes a significant difference.
Minimize Echoes
Soft surfaces reduce audio reflections.
Microphone Recommendations
Section titled “Microphone Recommendations”| Use Case | Recommended | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | Built-in Mac mic | Free |
| Regular | USB headset | $30-50 |
| Professional | USB condenser mic | $100-200 |
| Mobile | AirPods Pro | $249 |
Speaking Techniques
Section titled “Speaking Techniques”Clear Enunciation
Section titled “Clear Enunciation”DO:
- Speak at a natural pace
- Pronounce words fully
- Pause briefly between sentences
- Use consistent volume
DON’T:
- Mumble or trail off
- Speak too fast
- Vary volume dramatically
- Talk with food/drink in mouth
Natural Punctuation
Section titled “Natural Punctuation”Whisper models naturally detect sentence boundaries, but you can help:
| To Get | Say |
|---|---|
| Period | ”period” or pause naturally |
| Comma | ”comma” or brief pause |
| Question mark | Raise pitch at end |
| Exclamation | ”exclamation point” |
| New paragraph | ”new paragraph” |
Handling Corrections
Section titled “Handling Corrections”If you make a mistake while speaking:
Pause, then say it correctly. The AI will often pick the correct version.
Say “scratch that” or “correction” then the correct words.
Let it transcribe, then edit the text manually.
Model Selection
Section titled “Model Selection”Choose the Right Model
Section titled “Choose the Right Model”| Scenario | Recommended Model |
|---|---|
| Quick notes, low RAM | Tiny or Base |
| General daily use | Base or Small |
| Important documents | Small or Medium |
| Professional work | Medium or Large |
| Maximum accuracy | Large-v3 |
When to Switch Models
Section titled “When to Switch Models”Upgrade to larger model if:
- Accuracy isn’t meeting needs
- Working on important documents
- Dealing with accents or technical terms
- Background noise is unavoidable
Downgrade to smaller model if:
- Speed is priority
- RAM is limited
- Content is simple
- Quick notes only
AI Enhancement
Section titled “AI Enhancement”When to Use Enhancement
Section titled “When to Use Enhancement”| Content Type | Enhancement? | Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Quick notes | No | - |
| Emails | Yes | Professional or Email |
| Documents | Yes | Clean Up |
| Code | Maybe | Code Review |
| Chat/IM | Maybe | Casual |
Enhancement Best Practices
Section titled “Enhancement Best Practices”-
Match prompt to purpose
Use Professional for business, Casual for friends
-
Review enhanced output
AI may change meaning slightly—always check
-
Create custom prompts
Tailor to your specific needs
-
Use context wisely
Enable screen context when it helps
Workflow Optimization
Section titled “Workflow Optimization”Daily Workflow
Section titled “Daily Workflow”- Morning: Check FloWords is running
- First use: Quick test to warm up
- Throughout day: Use consistently
- End of day: Review history if needed
Trigger Key Strategy
Section titled “Trigger Key Strategy”| Key | Mode | Use For |
|---|---|---|
| F5 | Toggle | General dictation |
| Mouse button | Hold | Quick notes |
| ⌘⇧D | Toggle | Documents |
Recommended Settings by Use Case
Section titled “Recommended Settings by Use Case”- Model: Medium (accuracy)
- Prompt: Code or Technical
- Context: Active window
- Auto-paste: Yes
- Model: Base (speed)
- Prompt: Professional Email
- Context: Active window
- Auto-paste: Yes
- Model: Tiny (fastest)
- Prompt: Clean Up
- Context: Disabled
- Auto-paste: Yes
Accuracy Improvement
Section titled “Accuracy Improvement”Add Custom Dictionary
Section titled “Add Custom Dictionary”- Note words that frequently transcribe wrong
- Add them to Settings > Dictionary
- Include pronunciation hints
- Test and refine
Common additions:
- Technical terminology
- Company/product names
- Personal names
- Acronyms
Optimize for Your Use Case
Section titled “Optimize for Your Use Case”Technical content:
- Use larger models
- Add technical terms to dictionary
- Use code-specific prompts
- Consider context for code files
Multiple languages:
- Set language explicitly
- Don’t rely on auto-detect for accuracy
- Use larger models
- Consider one language per session
Accents:
- Use larger models
- Speak slightly slower
- Add commonly misrecognized words to dictionary
- Consider cloud providers for difficult cases
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Section titled “Common Mistakes to Avoid”Technical Issues
Section titled “Technical Issues”| Mistake | Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong model | Poor accuracy or speed | Match model to use case |
| Mic too far | Quiet audio, errors | 6-12 inches distance |
| Background noise | Transcription errors | Quiet environment |
| Low RAM | Slow/crashes | Use smaller model |
Usage Patterns
Section titled “Usage Patterns”| Mistake | Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbling | Poor transcription | Speak clearly |
| Too fast | Missing words | Natural pace |
| Long recordings | Errors accumulate | Break into chunks |
| Never reviewing | Errors go unnoticed | Spot check regularly |
Configuration
Section titled “Configuration”| Mistake | Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong language | Very poor results | Set language correctly |
| No dictionary | Repeated errors | Add problem words |
| Wrong prompt | Inappropriate tone | Match prompt to context |
| Context on sensitive apps | Privacy risk | Disable context for sensitive work |
Performance Tips
Section titled “Performance Tips”Speed Optimization
Section titled “Speed Optimization”- Use smaller models for quick tasks
- Disable enhancement for notes
- Close resource-heavy apps during long sessions
- Use SSD for model storage
Battery Conservation
Section titled “Battery Conservation”- Use Tiny/Base models on battery
- Disable screen context on battery
- Use Ollama only when plugged in
- Close FloWords when not needed
Memory Management
Section titled “Memory Management”| Available RAM | Max Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 GB | Base | Close other apps |
| 8 GB | Small | Comfortable |
| 16 GB | Medium | Room for other apps |
| 32+ GB | Large | Full capability |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Section titled “Troubleshooting Common Issues””Transcription is wrong”
Section titled “”Transcription is wrong””- Check microphone is working (visualizer responds)
- Reduce background noise
- Try larger model
- Add problem words to dictionary
- Set language explicitly
”Too slow”
Section titled “”Too slow””- Switch to smaller model
- Check RAM usage in Activity Monitor
- Close other applications
- Restart FloWords
”Text not pasting”
Section titled “”Text not pasting””- Check Accessibility permission
- Verify cursor is in text field
- Try manual copy (auto-paste disabled)
- Restart FloWords
Daily Habits for Success
Section titled “Daily Habits for Success”Before Starting
Section titled “Before Starting”- FloWords is running
- Correct model selected
- Environment is quiet
- Microphone is ready
During Use
Section titled “During Use”- Watch audio visualizer
- Speak clearly and naturally
- Take breaks on long sessions
- Quick review important content
Periodically
Section titled “Periodically”- Update dictionary with new terms
- Review your settings
- Check for app updates
- Clear old history if needed
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”- Explore Workflow Examples for specific use cases
- Review All Settings for customization
- Check Keyboard Shortcuts for efficiency