Glossary · also: hold-to-talk
Push-to-talk
Dictation starts when a key goes down and inserts when it comes up.
What it means
Push-to-talk is the walkie-talkie activation: hold a chosen key, speak, release — the session ends and the finished text is inserted at your cursor. Tap mode toggles instead, and hands-free skips keys entirely.
Why it matters
A dictation tool that is always listening is a roommate; push-to-talk makes it a tool you pick up and put down. The key press is also the clearest possible consent gesture.
How notchos does it
A global hotkey — right-Option by default, with alternatives — with hold and tap modes, plus hands-free voice-activity mode. Esc cancels a session mid-sentence; ⌘Z undoes the paste.
Fair questions
- Which key is the default?
- Right-Option; right-Command, right-Control, F5, and F6 are alternatives. It needs the Input Monitoring grant.
- Does it work inside every app?
- Insertion is a real paste, which works everywhere including Chrome and Electron apps.
Related terms
Twenty tools. One hover. $9.99, once.