transcribe

Transcribe audio files to text using mlx-whisper on Apple Silicon macOS.

Updated May 3, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/spikelab/multiplai-cc-mktplace --skill transcribe-spikelab
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: transcribe
Source: https://github.com/spikelab/multiplai-cc-mktplace/tree/main/plugins/multiplai-media/skills/transcribe
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/spikelab/multiplai-cc-mktplace --skill transcribe-spikelab

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires mlx-whisper, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? Converting audio recordings into text manually is slow and error-prone. This Skill automates speech-to-text transcription of audio files (.mp3, .m4a, .wav, etc.) using mlx-whisper, with automatic model selection for English and multilingual content. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Audio-to-Text Transcription: Converts audio files to plain text transcripts using mlx-whisper with Metal GPU acceleration on Apple Silicon Macs. - Translation and Multilingual Support: Auto-selects a multilingual model when translating non-English audio to English or transcribing in the original language via --task and --language flags. - Container Bridge Support: When running inside the multiplai container, bridges to the macOS host over SSH so transcription still uses the host's Metal GPU, with workspace path confinement for safety. - Use Case: You recorded a one-hour interview as an .m4a file and need a searchable text transcript; run the script and get a .txt file written next to the audio. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to transcribe your audio file, for example: transcribe the file /path/to/interview.m4a into text.

Frequently Asked Questions about transcribe

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I transcribe an audio file to text with mlx-whisper?

Run the transcribe.sh script with the audio file path, for example transcribe.sh /path/to/file.m4a. It writes a .txt transcript next to the audio by default, and you can pass a custom output path or use --override to replace an existing file.

How do I translate non-English audio to English text?

Pass --task translate along with the source language code, such as --language zh for Chinese audio. The script automatically switches to the multilingual whisper-medium-mlx model instead of the English-only default.

Does mlx-whisper transcription work on Linux or Intel Macs?

No. mlx-whisper requires Apple Silicon macOS because it depends on the Metal GPU. On Linux, WSL, or Intel Macs the script exits with an error and suggests whisper.cpp or faster-whisper as local alternatives.

Can I transcribe audio from inside a Docker container?

Yes, but only with the multiplai container setup. The script detects the container and bridges to the macOS host over SSH using a key at ~/.ssh/build_key, and both the audio and output paths must reside inside the shared workspace mount.

Why does transcription fail with an output file exists error?

The script refuses to overwrite an existing transcript unless you pass the --override flag. Either delete the old output file, choose a different output path, or rerun with --override.