Using Your Voice to Type

Instead of typing your notes by hand, you can speak them and Metanoa will transcribe what you say directly into the text field. This works in session notes, forms, and most other places in Metanoa where you enter text.

Where Can I Use Voice Input?

The microphone button appears at the bottom of text editors and in some form fields across Metanoa. If you see a microphone icon in a field, voice input is available there. You can also press Alt+M on your keyboard when your cursor is in a supported field to start and stop recording without reaching for the mouse.

How Do I Use Voice Input?

Let's Transcribe Your Voice

1. Click into the text field where you want your transcribed text to appear
2. Click the microphone button at the bottom of the editor, or press Alt+M
3. Allow microphone access if your browser asks for permission, this only happens the first time
4. Speak clearly into your microphone, covering what you want to write
5. Click the microphone button again to stop recording, or press Alt+M
6. Wait a moment while Metanoa transcribes your speech
7. Review the transcribed text and correct any words that didn't come through accurately

And you're done! The transcribed text is added to whatever was already in the field, so you can dictate in sections if that works better for you.

Tips for Better Transcription

Speak at a natural pace rather than slowly or quickly, as the transcription works best with normal conversational speech. Background noise can affect accuracy, so a quieter environment will give you cleaner results. If you're using a laptop, an external microphone or headset will also produce better results than the built-in mic.

You can dictate in shorter bursts and review between each one rather than speaking for a long time in one go. This makes it easier to catch and correct any errors as you go.

Microphone Permissions

The first time you use voice input in your browser, it will ask for permission to access your microphone. Click Allow and you're good to go. If you accidentally clicked Block, you'll need to reset microphone permissions in your browser settings. In most browsers this is found by clicking the padlock icon in the address bar when you're on the Metanoa page.

Common Questions

Does voice input replace what I've already typed?

No. Transcribed text is added at the end of whatever is already in the field, so your existing content stays untouched. You can use voice to add to notes you've already started typing.

What languages does voice input support?

Voice input works best with English. Accuracy in other languages may vary.

The microphone button isn't appearing. What should I check?

Voice input requires your organization to have the necessary configuration in place. If the microphone icon isn't showing up anywhere in Metanoa, check with your Admin.

The transcription got some words wrong. Can I fix them?

Yes. The transcribed text lands in the editor just like anything you'd type, so you can edit it freely. For specialist clinical terms or names that the transcription struggles with, it's worth doing a quick read-through and correcting before saving.