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.