> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stenox.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Your First Dictation

> Step-by-step guide to using Stenox for the first time

"og:title": "Stenox Docs"

## Before You Begin

Make sure you've completed this step:

* ✓ [Installed Stenox](/installation) and granted permissions

<Tip>
  **Good news!** Stenox Cloud is already preset as your default transcription provider—no configuration needed. You can start dictating right away.
</Tip>

## Default Settings

Stenox comes pre-configured for the best out-of-the-box experience:

* **Transcription Provider**: Stenox Cloud (preset)
* **Post-Processing**: Enabled by default (AI enhancement for grammar, punctuation, and formatting)

<Note>
  To adjust post-processing settings, navigate to **Settings → Processing** tab in the Stenox app.
</Note>

### About Stenox Cloud Credits

Your plan determines how Stenox Cloud works for you:

| Plan                  | Stenox Cloud Access                                                                      |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Free Tier**         | Included with limited usage (5 min/day)                                                  |
| **Plus Subscription** | Always available                                                                         |
| **Lifetime Plus**     | Always available                                                                         |
| **Lifetime**          | Uses credits; top up when depleted or [configure your own provider](/providers/overview) |

<Note>
  All plans can configure their own transcription and AI providers if preferred. See [Providers Overview](/providers/overview) to explore your options.
</Note>

## The Recording Process

Stenox supports two recording modes. This guide uses **Push-to-Talk** (the default):

1. **Activate** - Press and hold your hotkey
2. **Record** - Speak your message while holding
3. **Process** - Release the hotkey to stop recording
4. **Insert** - Text appears at your cursor

<Note>
  **Toggle mode** is also available in Settings. With toggle mode, you press once to start recording and press again to stop—no need to hold the key.
</Note>

Let's walk through it step by step.

## Step-by-Step: Your First Dictation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open an application with a text field">
    Start with a simple app like **Notes** or **TextEdit**:

    1. Open the app from Spotlight (Cmd+Space, type "Notes")
    2. Create a new note or document
    3. Click in the text area to position your cursor
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the Stenox menu bar icon">
    Look for the Stenox microphone icon in your menu bar (top right of your screen). This confirms Stenox is running and ready.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Press and hold fn">
    This is the default hotkey.

    **What you'll see:**

    * A recording overlay appears on screen
    * Audio waveform shows your voice input

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/gedeon-47098cf8/p90CThoJ6gBj3-JK/images/recording-overlay.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=p90CThoJ6gBj3-JK&q=85&s=a838f70b40878e7359974c73914c6878" alt="Stenox recording overlay" style={{width: '12.5%', display: 'block', margin: '0 auto'}} width="202" height="70" data-path="images/recording-overlay.png" />

    <Tip>
      The recording only happens while you're holding the key. Release early and Stenox will process whatever you've said so far.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Speak your mind">
    While holding the hotkey, speak naturally into your microphone.

    **Try saying:**

    > "Hello, this is my first voice dictation with Stenox. It's faster than typing!"

    <Tip>
      Don't worry about filler words like "umm", "uhh", or "like"—Stenox automatically cleans them up for you.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Release the hotkey when done">
    Let go of fn when you finish speaking.

    **What happens next:**

    * Stenox transcribes your audio (1-3 seconds typically)
    * Text appears at your cursor position
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the transcribed text">
    Your spoken words should now appear as text!

    Check the accuracy:

    * Are the words correct?
    * Is punctuation appropriate?
    * Is capitalization correct?

    <Note>
      First-time accuracy depends on your provider, microphone quality, and speaking clarity. It improves with practice!
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Try It Again

Practice makes perfect! Try a few more dictations:

### Practice Dictations

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Practice 1: A simple sentence">
    **Say:** "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."

    This tests basic transcription accuracy.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Practice 2: With punctuation">
    **Say:** "Can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you! This is amazing."

    Notice how the provider adds punctuation automatically.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Practice 3: Longer paragraph">
    **Say:** "Stenox helps me work faster by converting my voice to text. I can dictate emails, messages, and documents without touching the keyboard. It's especially useful for long-form writing."

    Test how well it handles longer content.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Practice 4: Technical terms">
    **Say:** "Stenox uses WhisperKit for local transcription and supports cloud providers like DeepGram and AssemblyAI."

    Test capitalization and technical terminology.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Understanding Visual Feedback

The recording overlay is your primary visual indicator. It appears automatically when you start recording.

### Recording Overlay

The floating overlay shows:

* **Waveform** - Visual representation of your voice input
* **Timer** - Recording duration

<Tip>
  If you don't see the overlay, check Stenox Settings → **Settings** tab → ensure "Show recording overlay" is enabled.
</Tip>

## Common First-Time Issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="No text appears after speaking" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    **Possible causes:**

    * Microphone not working (check System Settings → Sound → Input)
    * Accessibility permission not granted (go to Settings → check permissions)
    * Stenox Cloud credits depleted (check Settings → Account)

    **Solution:** Verify permissions in Stenox Settings. If you're out of credits, [top up your account](/pricing/overview) or [configure an alternative provider](/providers/overview).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Transcription is inaccurate" icon="spell-check">
    **Possible causes:**

    * Background noise
    * Poor microphone quality
    * Speaking too fast or unclear
    * Wrong language selected

    **Solution:** Try speaking more clearly in a quiet environment. Consider using a headset microphone.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Recording starts but immediately stops" icon="stop">
    **Possible causes:**

    * Not holding hotkey long enough
    * Hotkey conflict with another app
    * Audio input device not selected

    **Solution:** Hold the hotkey for the entire duration of speaking. Check Settings → **Audio** tab for input device.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Hotkey doesn't work" icon="keyboard">
    **Possible causes:**

    * Another app is using the same hotkey
    * Accessibility permission not granted
    * Stenox not running in background
    * Using fn with a custom (non-Apple) keyboard

    **Solution:** Change the hotkey in Settings or check for conflicting apps. Ensure Stenox icon appears in menu bar.

    <Note>
      If you're using a non-Apple keyboard, macOS will not detect the fn key. Use a different key combination instead.
    </Note>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Tips for Success

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Speak naturally" icon="comments">
    Don't robot-speak or over-enunciate. Use your normal speaking voice.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Hold the fn key" icon="hand">
    Keep holding fn for the entire time you're speaking.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Watch the waveform" icon="waveform-lines">
    The overlay waveform confirms your voice is being captured.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Practice regularly" icon="rotate">
    Like any skill, you'll get better and faster with practice.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What's Next?

Now that you've mastered basic dictation, enhance your Stenox experience:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Add AI Enhancement" icon="sparkles" href="/providers/overview">
    Grammar correction, formatting, and text improvements.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create Profiles" icon="layer-group" href="/profiles/creating-profiles">
    Different settings for different apps and use cases.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Customize Hotkeys" icon="gear" href="/setup/hotkeys">
    Change to toggle mode or use different key combinations.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Add Vocabulary" icon="book" href="/setup/vocabulary">
    Teach Stenox custom words, names, and technical terms.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Success!

Congratulations on completing your first dictation! You're now ready to use Stenox for:

* Writing emails and messages
* Taking notes and meeting transcripts
* Composing documents and articles
* Coding comments and documentation
* Searching and browsing

<Note>
  Remember: The more you use Stenox, the more natural it becomes. Soon you'll be dictating without thinking about it!
</Note>