How dictation works in Scrieb
- Dictate. Start a recording from the menu bar (microphone only) and speak the note. Or dictate on your phone and import the file.
- Transcribe on the Mac. When you stop, Whisper turns the recording into text on your computer. Silent pauses are skipped, so thinking time does not turn into invented words.
- Structure it, if you like. A summary type you define, for example SOAP headings or a referral-letter layout, drafts the note from the transcript.
- Review and use it. Correct the text, then copy it into your record system or export to Word or PDF.
Live dictation vs recorded dictation
| Live dictation (macOS Dictation, Dragon) | Scrieb (recorded dictation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Text appears | While you speak, in the active field | After you stop, as a document |
| Best for | Short entries typed into the EHR | Longer notes, letters, reports, recorded sessions |
| Structure | What you say is what you get | Optional draft in your own note structure |
| Vocabulary | Varies by product | Custom vocabulary for terms and names |
| Where audio is processed | Varies by product and setting | Always on your computer |
Many clinicians use both: live dictation for quick fields, recorded dictation for anything longer than a few sentences.
Patient data stays on the Mac
The audio, the transcript and the drafted note are created and stored on your computer. Scrieb's server only receives your sign-in email, a device ID, the app version and a usage counter, never audio or text. That removes the cloud vendor from the chain for the content, which is the usual sticking point with dictation services. You still need disk encryption, a screen lock and a retention routine; see the HIPAA page for the checklist.
Requirements
- Mac: Apple Silicon is fastest; Intel Macs work with a smaller model.
- Windows: Windows 10 or 11, x64 or ARM64; a recent NVIDIA, AMD or Intel GPU speeds it up.
- Microphone: a headset or a desk microphone gives better results than a laptop microphone in a busy room.
Pricing
Free plan: 1 hour of recording per day. Pro: no minute limits, one licence for Mac and Windows.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Scrieb live dictation like Dragon?
- No. Scrieb records what you dictate and transcribes the recording on your Mac when you stop. It does not type into your EHR as you speak. For live typing into a text field, macOS Dictation is built in. Scrieb is for dictated notes, letters and recorded sessions that you then check and paste or export.
- Does it know medical terms?
- Whisper handles general medical language well, especially with the Large v3 Turbo model. For drug names, eponyms and your colleagues’ names, add them to the custom vocabulary so they are spelled your way.
- Can it structure the note, for example as SOAP?
- Yes. Write your own summary type with the headings you use, such as Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan, and Scrieb drafts the note from the transcript on your computer. Always review it before it goes into the record.
- Is it HIPAA-compliant?
- Scrieb processes audio and text on your computer and does not receive them, so there is no business associate for the content. Your usual safeguards still apply: disk encryption, access control and retention. Details on the HIPAA page.
- Does it run on Windows too?
- Yes. The same app runs on Windows 10 and 11, including Windows on ARM, and one Pro licence covers Mac and Windows.
- Is there a free version?
- The free plan includes 1 hour of recording per day, which covers a day of short dictations for many clinicians. Pro removes the limit.