Signal Recorder SR-7
Voice recorder that transcribes on-device and hands you a markdown file.
What is Signal Recorder SR-7?
Signal Recorder SR-7 is a voice recording app for Mac and iPhone from Field Bureau and Werkstatt. It records audio and then transcribes, titles and summarises it entirely on the device, exporting each recording as a markdown file with YAML front matter. There are no accounts, no telemetry and no cloud processing, and it works offline. It is sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription.
Key Features
On-device transcription
Converts speech to text locally using the Apple Speech framework, with no audio sent to the cloud.
AI titles and summaries
Generates a title and summary for each recording using Apple FoundationModels on supported hardware.
Markdown export
Saves each recording as a markdown file with YAML front matter for use in other tools.
MCP server
Exposes recordings to AI tools through a built-in Model Context Protocol server.
iCloud sync
Keeps recordings and transcripts in sync across the user's Apple devices.
Full-text search
Searches across transcripts and metadata to find past recordings.
External recorder support
Works alongside dedicated audio recorders such as the TP-7 and supports multiple languages.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- The one-time price of $7.99 avoids any recurring subscription cost.
- All transcription and summarisation runs on the device, with no accounts, telemetry or cloud processing.
- Markdown export with YAML front matter fits neatly into note-taking and knowledge-management workflows.
- iCloud sync and full-text search make recordings easy to keep and find across Apple devices.
- The built-in MCP server lets AI tools read recordings directly without extra integration work.
Limitations
- It is limited to the Apple ecosystem, with no Windows, Android or web version.
- AI features require recent operating systems and Apple Silicon, so older devices miss out.
- It depends on iCloud for cross-device sync, which may not suit those outside Apple's services.
Use Cases
Journalists and researchers who record interviews and want an instant on-device transcript.
Writers and note-takers who capture spoken ideas and file them as markdown notes.
Privacy-conscious users who need transcription without sending audio to a cloud service.
Knowledge workers who feed recordings to AI tools through the built-in MCP server.
People who record on a dedicated device such as the TP-7 and want the audio transcribed afterwards.