Voice to Text for TextEdit
TextEdit is already on your Mac. It opens instantly, handles plain text perfectly, and gets out of your way. But typing still slows you down when you just need to capture a quick thought or draft something simple. Blurt lets you speak directly into TextEdit — hold a button, say what you need, release. Your words appear as clean text. No formatting distractions. No feature bloat. Just your voice becoming plain text in the simplest editor macOS offers.
The Typing Problem
Opening TextEdit is faster than typing into it
TextEdit launches in under a second. It's the fastest way to get a blank document on your Mac. But then you're stuck typing. You opened the app to capture a quick thought, and now you're hunting for keys. The speed advantage of TextEdit disappears the moment your fingers hit the keyboard. You need input that matches how fast you can open a new document.
Plain text drafts still require typing effort
You don't need formatting. You don't need features. You just need words on a page. But even the simplest document still demands you type every character. A plain text draft should be as simple to create as it is to read. Instead, you're spending time on mechanics when you should be spending time on ideas.
Quick notes become slow when you have to type them
You need to jot down a phone number, an address, a snippet of text from a conversation. TextEdit is right there, perfect for the job. But typing that quick note takes longer than it should. The friction between thought and text makes you wonder if you should even bother. Quick notes should actually be quick.
Long text files are exhausting to type
You're writing a README, a draft email, a list of instructions. TextEdit handles long plain text files beautifully. But your fingers don't handle long typing sessions gracefully. After twenty minutes, you're making more typos, slowing down, losing focus. The document outlasts your typing stamina.
Switching between apps to copy text breaks your flow
You need to type something from one window into TextEdit. You're reading, typing, reading, typing — constantly context switching. Your eyes bounce between source and destination. By the time you finish transcribing, you've forgotten why you started. The simple task becomes mentally draining.
How It Works
Blurt works anywhere you can type on your Mac — including TextEdit in both plain text and rich text modes.
Hold your hotkey
Press your chosen shortcut with your cursor in TextEdit. A small indicator shows Blurt is listening.
Speak naturally
Say your note, your draft, your content. Blurt handles punctuation and formatting automatically.
Release and done
Text appears in TextEdit at your cursor. Save or keep going. No extra steps required.
Real Scenarios
Capturing quick notes in the fastest editor on your Mac
Someone gives you a phone number over the phone. Cmd+Space, type 'textedit', Enter — you have a blank document in under two seconds. Hold your hotkey, say 'Dr. Martinez office, 555-0142, extension 3'. Release. The number is saved. Total time from hearing the number to having it in a file: five seconds. TextEdit's speed finally matches your input speed.
Drafting plain text content without formatting distractions
You're writing a first draft that doesn't need styling. You don't want bold, italic, or headers getting in the way. TextEdit in plain text mode is perfect. Hold hotkey, speak your thoughts: 'The main argument is that simplicity reduces cognitive load. Users don't need features they won't use. Every option is a decision.' Your draft grows as fast as you can think.
Creating README files and documentation
You need a quick README for a project folder. Open TextEdit, hold hotkey: 'This folder contains the Q4 marketing assets. Subfolder one has social media images. Subfolder two has email templates. See the spreadsheet for the campaign schedule.' Release. Save as README.txt. Documentation that would have taken five minutes of typing takes thirty seconds of speaking.
Taking notes from a phone call
You're on a call and need to capture what's being said. TextEdit is open, cursor ready. Hold hotkey and speak quietly: 'Client wants the proposal by Thursday. Budget is flexible but timeline is not. They mentioned a competitor bid around fifty thousand.' You capture the key points without typing a single word while staying present in the conversation.
Writing lists and instructions
You're leaving instructions for a house sitter. Open TextEdit, hold hotkey: 'Feed the cat twice daily, morning and evening. The food is in the pantry. Water the plants every other day. WiFi password is on the fridge. My number is in the emergency contacts file.' A full page of instructions captured in one breath.
Transcribing handwritten notes into digital text
You have a notebook full of handwritten ideas you need to digitize. Reading and typing is slow and error-prone. Instead, read aloud and let Blurt type: 'Meeting notes from Monday. Sarah suggested we pivot the feature roadmap. John disagreed but offered a compromise timeline.' Your handwritten notes become searchable text files.
Journaling in the simplest possible format
You want to journal without the overhead of a dedicated app. TextEdit gives you a blank page. Hold hotkey and reflect: 'Today felt productive but scattered. I finished the report but didn't get to the emails I promised. Tomorrow I need to prioritize communication.' Save as a dated text file. Journaling stripped down to its essence.
Why TextEdit users choose Blurt over built-in dictation
| Blurt | macOS Dictation | |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Single hotkey, instant start | Double-tap Fn key or click dictation icon |
| Speed | Text appears in under 500ms | Noticeable delay before transcription begins |
| Reliability | Consistent performance every time | Sometimes doesn't activate, fails silently |
| Control | Hold to record, release to finish — precise control | Tap to start, tap to stop — easy to forget to stop |
Frequently Asked Questions
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