Buzz
Run local speech transcription with a desktop interface and timestamped exports.
- Starting price
- Free MIT application
- Free access
- Free offline transcription
- Billing unit
- Local model execution
- Platform
- Windows, Linux; Apple Silicon Mac
- Verified
- 20 Oct 2026
Overview
What you provide
- Import audio or video, or select a microphone for live speech capture.
What you get
- Buzz transcribes and translates speech locally and exports TXT, SRT or VTT files.
Choosing this tool
Buzz fits users who want Whisper-based transcription through a desktop interface rather than an API integration. Subtitle Edit is better for detailed subtitle repair after transcription; Sonix is worth considering when collaborators need a shared browser workspace instead of local files.
A decision worked through
Ten half-hour interviews equal five hours of source media. With a local Buzz model, that batch adds no hourly service fee, but processing time depends on the selected model and machine; do not substitute a cloud vendor’s speed claim for a local runtime estimate.
Buzz alternatives for this task
For Buzz, compare Subtitle Edit, Sonix. Match the input, delivery format and operating responsibilities before comparing price.
| Product | Price / unit | Free allowance | Input → output | Key limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BuzzRead profileOfficial source ↗ | MIT local app: free | No per-minute local fee | Speech becomes TXT, SRT or VTT. | New Mac builds require Apple Silicon. |
| Subtitle EditRead profileOfficial source ↗ | MIT editor: no software fee | Local editing is free | Media/subtitles become corrected captions. | Online services have separate terms. |
| SonixRead profileOfficial source ↗ | USD 10/hr or Core USD 25/mo | 30 minutes once | Audio/video become timed text. | Seats do not add media hours. |
Setup & workflow
- Install a supported release and download the chosen speech model.
- Run a short transcription to check language and speaker settings.
- Correct the text and export a transcript or timed subtitle file.
Requirements & installation
- Use a packaged release; the Python route is pip install buzz-captions followed by python -m buzz, with Python 3.12 and ffmpeg.
Limits & review
- Current Mac builds require Apple Silicon; the README identifies 1.4.5 as the last Intel-compatible version. PyPI installation needs Python 3.12 and ffmpeg. Backend and model choices affect device support and speed.
Your part
- Check names and timestamps by replaying the original recording in the transcript viewer.
Sources & verification4
This profile is based on official sources, not a hands-on product test.
Vendor descriptions and demos document advertised features. Editorial guidance is based on these sources.
- Official releases and backend requirementsgithub.com
- Buzz official referencegithub.com
- Subtitle Edit official referencegithub.com
- Sonix official referencesonix.ai
