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Complete Privacy with Local Processing

Stenox can operate completely offline using local models for both transcription and AI enhancement. This means your audio and text never leave your Mac - perfect for sensitive content, confidential work, or privacy-conscious users.
100% Private = WhisperKit (transcription) + MLX (AI enhancement)No internet connection required, no API keys, no cloud services, complete privacy.

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Why Privacy-First?

Complete confidentiality

Healthcare, legal, financial, or any sensitive content.

Offline functionality

Works on airplanes, remote locations, or with no internet.

No third parties

Your data never sent to external services.

No API costs

No per-minute charges or external API fees.

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Privacy-First Setup Guide

Follow these steps to configure Stenox for completely private operation.

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Step 1: Configure WhisperKit (Local Transcription)

1

Open Stenox Settings

Click the Stenox menu bar icon → Settings
2

Go to Models tab

Select the Models tab
3

Select WhisperKit

Under Transcription Provider, choose WhisperKit
4

Choose a model

Select your preferred model:
  • base.en (142 MB) - Fastest, English only
  • small.en (483 MB) - Better accuracy, English only
  • base (142 MB) - Multilingual (100+ languages)
  • small (483 MB) - Better accuracy, multilingual
Recommended: base.en for beginners
5

Download model

Click Download and wait for completion (~142 MB or ~483 MB)Model saved to: ~/stenox-models/whisper/
6

Verify offline mode

Turn off Wi-Fi and test a dictation - it should work perfectly!
Learn more about WhisperKit →

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Step 2: Configure MLX (Local AI Enhancement)

1

In the same Models tab

Under AI Enhancement Provider, select MLX
2

Choose a model

Select based on your Mac’s specifications:
  • Gemma 3n 2B (~1.2 GB) - Best accuracy, recommended
  • Qwen 2.5 1.5B (~1 GB) - Fastest, 8GB RAM minimum
  • Phi-3 Mini (~2.4 GB) - Balanced quality, 12GB RAM recommended
  • Gemma 3n 4B (~2.5 GB) - Higher quality, 16GB RAM recommended
Recommended: Gemma 3n 2B for best accuracy with fast processing
3

Download model

Click Download and wait for completion (~1-2.5 GB)Model saved to: ~/stenox-models/mlx/
4

Test enhancement

Perform a dictation - it will be transcribed AND enhanced locally
MLX requires Apple Silicon. Intel Mac users cannot use MLX and should skip AI enhancement or use cloud providers.
Learn more about MLX →

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Step 3: Verify Privacy Settings

1

Check active providers

In Settings, verify:
  • Transcription: WhisperKit
  • AI Enhancement: MLX (or None)
2

Remove cloud API keys (optional)

For complete privacy, remove any cloud API keys:
  • Go to Transcription tab → Remove DeepGram/AssemblyAI/Groq keys
  • Go to AI Enhancement tab → Remove Gemini/Groq keys
3

Test offline

  1. Disconnect from internet (turn off Wi-Fi)
  2. Perform a dictation
  3. Verify transcription and enhancement work
4

Done!

Stenox now operates 100% locally with complete privacy.

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What You Get

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Complete Privacy

  • Audio stays local - Voice recordings never uploaded
  • Text stays local - Transcriptions processed on-device
  • No internet required - Works offline
  • No logging - Nothing tracked or stored externally
  • No third parties - No cloud providers see your data

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No API Costs

  • No per-minute charges - Local processing has no external fees
  • No API limits - No third-party rate limits
  • No credit cards for providers - No cloud provider accounts needed

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Full Functionality

  • All features work - Transcription, enhancement, profiles, vocabulary
  • Customizable - Create profiles for different use cases
  • Auto-activation - Profiles switch based on active app

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Performance Expectations

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Processing Time

With local processing, expect these speeds:
Local processing is slower than cloud (which can be ~1-2 seconds total), but provides complete privacy.

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Apple Silicon Note

MLX requires Apple Silicon. Intel Mac users can use WhisperKit for local transcription, but need cloud providers for AI enhancement.

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Privacy Use Cases

Why private: HIPAA compliance, patient confidentialitySetup:
  • WhisperKit for medical dictation
  • MLX for note formatting
  • Custom vocabulary for medical terms
  • Profile for EMR/EHR applications
Why private: Client confidentiality, regulatory complianceSetup:
  • WhisperKit for financial analysis
  • MLX for report formatting
  • Profile for Excel, financial software
Why private: Source protection, sensitive investigationsSetup:
  • WhisperKit for interview transcription
  • MLX for article drafting
  • Profiles for different publications
Why private: Personal preference, data sovereigntySetup:
  • WhisperKit for all dictation
  • MLX for text improvement
  • Complete offline operation

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Optional: Disable AI Enhancement

If you want the fastest local processing or don’t need enhancement:
1

Open Settings → AI Enhancement tab

Go to the AI Enhancement settings
2

Select 'None'

Choose None as the AI enhancement provider
3

Save

Enhancement will be skipped, reducing processing time to ~3-5 seconds (WhisperKit only)
Benefits:
  • Faster processing (3-5s vs 5-7s)
  • Less RAM usage
  • Still 100% private
  • Raw transcription without formatting

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Advanced Privacy Configuration

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Custom Model Storage Location

Change where models are stored:
Models stored in ~/stenox-models/

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Encrypted Disk Image (Advanced)

For maximum security, store models on encrypted disk image:
1

Create encrypted disk image

Use macOS Disk Utility to create an encrypted APFS image
2

Mount the image

Mount the encrypted disk and unlock with password
3

Change model directory

Point Stenox model directory to encrypted disk
4

Download models

Models are now stored encrypted at rest

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Troubleshooting

  • Models require internet to download (one-time)
  • After download, they work offline forever
  • Ensure sufficient disk space (2-5 GB)
  • Use base.en instead of small.en (faster)
  • Use Qwen 2.5 1.5B or Gemma 3n 2B instead of larger models (faster)
  • Skip AI enhancement (None) for fastest processing
  • Consider hybrid approach (local transcription + cloud enhancement)
  • MLX requires Apple Silicon
  • Options for Intel Macs:
    1. Use WhisperKit alone (no enhancement)
    2. Use cloud enhancement (Gemini/Groq)
    3. Upgrade to Apple Silicon Mac
  • Delete unused models from ~/stenox-models/
  • Use smaller models (base instead of small)
  • Skip AI enhancement to save 1-2.5 GB

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Privacy Checklist

✅ Transcription: WhisperKit (local) ✅ AI Enhancement: MLX (local) or None ✅ Offline test: Works with Wi-Fi off ✅ Cloud API keys: Removed or not entered ✅ Internet not required: All models downloaded ✅ Verified: No data sent to cloud
With this configuration, Stenox operates entirely on your Mac with zero external communication.

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Hybrid Approach (Alternative)

If you want privacy for audio but cloud quality for text: Setup:
  • Transcription: WhisperKit (local) - Audio stays private
  • Enhancement: Google Gemini or Groq (cloud) - Text enhanced in cloud
Benefits:
  • Most sensitive data (audio) stays local
  • High-quality enhancement via cloud
  • Faster than full local (4-5s vs 7-10s)
Learn about Hybrid Setup →

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Cloud API Keys & Privacy Policies

When using cloud providers, Stenox supports bring-your-own-API-keys. This means your data privacy is governed by your API provider’s policies, not Stenox.
Your API, Your Rules: Stenox never sees your API keys or data. All communication goes directly from your Mac to your chosen provider using your credentials.

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Secure API Key Storage

macOS Keychain Storage

API keys are stored securely in your macOS Keychain, the same system that protects your passwords and certificates.

Single Purpose Only

Keys are only used to access your chosen provider. Stenox has no other use for your API keys - no analytics, no tracking, no secondary purposes.

Never Transmitted

Your API keys never leave your Mac except to authenticate directly with your provider’s API.

You Control Access

You can view, modify, or delete your API keys at any time through Stenox settings or macOS Keychain Access.

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Privacy Governance

Your API key’s privacy settings are fully honored:

Enterprise & Business Accounts

If you have enterprise or business accounts with your cloud provider (DeepGram, AssemblyAI, Groq, Google, etc.), your organization’s privacy policies are automatically applied.

Private Policy Attachments

Any private policies or data processing agreements attached to your API keys are fully honored and enforced by your provider.

Direct Communication

Stenox sends data directly to your provider using your API key - no intermediary servers.

Provider Compliance

Your provider’s security certifications (SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, etc.) apply to your API requests.

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How It Works

1

You provide API key

Enter your API key in Stenox settings
2

Stenox uses your credentials

All requests use your API key directly
3

Provider applies your policies

Your enterprise policies, privacy settings, and agreements are enforced
4

You maintain control

Data processing follows your provider account’s rules
For maximum privacy with cloud quality: Use business/enterprise API keys with your organization’s data processing agreements in place.

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Next Steps

WhisperKit Guide

Complete guide to local transcription.

MLX Guide

Complete guide to local AI enhancement.

Create Profiles

Set up profiles for different privacy needs.

Vocabulary

Add custom terms for better accuracy.
Perfect for sensitive work: Privacy-first setup gives you complete control and confidentiality with zero cloud dependencies.