How to Get Started and Use the AI Voice Input App "Aqua Voice"

[Estimated reading time: 2 minutes]

NO AI (Written by a human✍️)
*This article contains promotional codes

I am Teppei Yano, the host of the podcast Learning AI by Ear. In this article, I will explain how to get started and use the AI voice input app "Aqua Voice".

What is Aqua Voice?

It is an app that allows you to input spoken content via keyboard.
Rather than a transcription app, it is an app that supports keyboard input via voice.
A well-known competitor is Superwhisper, which I have introduced on note in the past, and you could say this is a rival app to it.

To list a few differences:

• Simpler UI/UX than Superwhisper

• Often feels faster than Superwhisper

• Also has a Windows app

• Paid plans are slightly more expensive than Superwhisper

These are the differences.

The speed of operation is something the official Aqua Voice site claims, but since it is something the company says itself, I took it with a grain of salt.

However, when you actually try it, there are indeed many situations where Aqua Voice feels faster.

I would like to verify this aspect by using Aqua Voice thoroughly.
By the way, the developer of Aqua Voice seems to be a product from Y Combinator, a famous US VC.

It is founded by co-founders who are a Harvard graduate and a dropout, and the team currently consists of three people.

How to get started with Aqua Voice

Next, about how to get started with Aqua Voice.
That said, you can easily set it up by accessing the official website and following the guide.

I felt the entire installation and setup experience was excellent. It gives the impression that the UX is well-refined so that users can set it up without getting lost.

If you want to test the accuracy of Aqua Voice before installing, you can try it from the Try demo button.

How to use Aqua Voice

After installation, you can record by holding down the fn key.
Releasing the fn key will insert the recorded audio.

Changing the shortcut key

You can change it from Settings > Activate.

It is set to the fn key by default, but you can change it to any key you like by editing it.

Changing the language

You can change it from Settings > Language.

By the way, if you change the language and restart the app, the language of the settings screen will also change to Japanese.
However, it sometimes reverts to English when you launch the app 😇

Registering a dictionary

You can add words from Dictionary.

For example, if "Teppei Yano" is sometimes transcribed as "Teppei Yanagida," you can prevent mis-transcription by registering the word.

Aqua Voice pricing

Aqua Voice offers three plans.

The free plan allows for up to 1,000 words.
The style is to try it out and consider a paid plan if it seems good.

Upgrading to the Pro plan allows for unlimited usage and the setting of custom instructions.

By the way, the list price of Superwhisper is $8.49.
With a coupon discount, I am using it for $6.37.

In terms of price, Superwhisper is cheaper, but since it is within the margin of error, I plan to compare them and use the app that seems better.

Update: 2nd month

It has already been two months since I started using Aqua Voice. I am still using it without canceling.
Simple operability, quick response, and above all, high accuracy. For now, I have no plans to switch to another app.
A recent discovery is that I confirmed that accuracy improves when using a microphone for voice input. This will likely vary depending on each person's environment.
I connect my MacBook to an external display, so the distance between the MacBook and my mouth is far.
I realized that accuracy improves by bringing the microphone I use for recording podcasts closer to my mouth when using voice input.

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