Audio Issues

Troubleshoot audio capture problems

Version: This guide describes Parrot Scribe 1.1.0.

No Audio Being Captured

Check permissions

First, verify permissions are correctly configured.

Check capture settings

Open Parrot Scribe Settings > Sources.
Ensure Transcribe Microphone is enabled.
Choose the microphone you use, or follow the system default input set in System Settings > Sound > Input.

If your chosen microphone is unavailable, Parrot Scribe uses another input and says so: Saved microphone unavailable. Using [name].

Check input volume

Your microphone might be too quiet:

Open System Settings > Sound > Input.
Speak and watch the input level meter.
Adjust the input volume if needed.

Read the Source Status

While you record, each source shows its status, for example Microphone: Receiving audio. or Screen & System Audio Recording: Waiting for audio.

Audio is not arriving: check the input in System Settings > Sound, then stop and start listening again.
Access is off: allow access in System Settings > Privacy & Security, then stop and start listening again.
Transcription is not working: completed speech is kept. Stop and start listening again.
Off for this recording: the source is turned off in Settings > Sources.

Poor Transcription Quality

Speak clearly

Enunciate words clearly
Maintain consistent volume
Don't speak too fast

Reduce background noise

Close windows and doors
Turn off fans or noisy appliances
Use a directional microphone

Use a better microphone

Built-in Mac microphones work, but external microphones usually capture clearer speech:

USB microphones
Headset microphones
Lavalier microphones

Check the transcription settings

If everyone speaks English, choose English Only in Settings > General. It uses the English model, the most accurate for English.
In Settings > Transcription, match Speech Detection to your room: Quiet, Natural or Noisy.
Choose More Accurate under Responsiveness if you can accept slower live updates.

System Audio Not Working

It is normal for a session to contain no system audio when nothing is playing. Microphone-only recording is also expected when Transcribe System Audio is turned off in Settings > Sources.

To restore system audio:

Open Parrot Scribe Settings > Sources and enable Transcribe System Audio.
Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording.
Enable Parrot Scribe.
If access still appears off, quit and reopen Parrot Scribe.
Start a new session, play system audio and confirm that the expected audio is included.

For more permission help, see Screen & System Audio Recording Permission.

Incomplete sessions

A session can show System audio incomplete or Transcription may be incomplete. The first means system audio you expected may be missing or partial. The second means capture or decoding failed and some speech may be missing. Saved audio and saved transcript can have different problems.

Capture problems also request a Recording Needs Attention notification. Turn on Show notifications in Settings > General and allow notifications in macOS to receive it. Focus modes can suppress banners.

If the microphone disconnects, Parrot Scribe tries to reconnect and says Microphone reconnected using [name]. Some audio may be missing. Review the saved transcript for missing speech.

Audio Cutting Out

Check CPU usage

Heavy CPU load can cause audio dropouts:

Close unnecessary applications
Check Activity Monitor for high CPU usage

Check for thermal throttling

If your Mac is hot, it may be throttling:

Ensure ventilation isn't blocked
Keep the Mac on a hard, flat surface

Testing Audio

To verify audio is being captured:

Start a transcription session.
Speak or play audio.
Stop the session and open Library.
Confirm that the expected speech appears in the saved transcript.