Buzz Captions

What is Buzz Captions?

Buzz Captions transcribes and translates audio using OpenAI’s Whisper. You can import audio and video files and export transcripts as CSV, SRT, TXT, or VTT, or use your computer’s microphone for live transcription and translation. It handles over 90 languages, including converting audio to English text and translating audio between languages.

The tool comes in two versions:

• Buzz Classic — available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Free and open-source on GitHub, it works with Whisper, Whisper.cpp, Faster Whisper, Hugging Face models compatible with Whisper, and the OpenAI Whisper API.
• Buzz for macOS — a native Mac app that supports Whisper.cpp models and the OpenAI Whisper API, with audio playback, transcript search, and in-app transcript editing.

Because processing runs locally, live transcription performance depends on your computer’s resources, the language you select, and the size of the model being used.

Who created Buzz Captions?

Buzz Captions was created by Chidi Williams, whose company offers an offline service for transcribing and translating audio built on OpenAI’s Whisper technology.

Who is Buzz Captions for?

Buzz Captions suits anyone who works with recorded or live audio:

• Journalists
• Podcasters
• Video editors
• Transcriptionists
• Content creators
• Researchers
• Educators
• Business professionals
• Linguists
• Lawyers

How Buzz Captions works

The workflow is straightforward:

1. Import an audio or video file into the app.
2. Transcribe or translate the audio — or switch on live transcription from your microphone for real-time results.
3. Export the finished transcript in the format you need: CSV, SRT, TXT, or VTT.

If you work across platforms or want the broadest model support, Buzz Classic is the option to start with; Mac users who prefer a native interface can use the macOS version instead.