Field Theory

Field Theory: Local voice transcription and context stacking for builders

Field Theory is a free Mac app for developers and engineers that combines local voice transcription with tools for gathering context for AI models. Users dictate, stack screenshots, drawings and markdown commands, and paste the result into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any field that accepts paste. Transcription and voice commands run offline.

Key Features

• Local transcription: Push-to-talk dictation runs on the Mac with Parakeet, MLX Whisper or whisper.cpp, all fully offline. Transcription is English-only for now.
• Voice commands: Saying "use the commit command" mid-sentence inserts that command from the user's directory, without an internet connection.
• Hot Mic: An experimental, always-on voice layer for hands-free work: users speak, then end with a phrase such as "go ahead" to submit, or use voice commands for windows, media, app switching and fast replies. All phrases are editable.
• Auto-improve: An optional pass removes filler, tightens phrasing and labels attachments, so spoken prompts read like written ones. It requires internet and is not available in Hot Mic mode.
• Context stacking: Transcripts, multiple screenshots and other clipboard items can be stacked into one paste.
• Drawings on screenshots: Users can circle a problem, draw arrows or sketch a quick wireframe on a screenshot and paste it directly.
• Portable commands: Any folder of markdown commands becomes available in Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or anywhere else the user types.
• Priority Mic: The chosen microphone stays selected when Bluetooth headphones connect, until the user changes it.
• Local by default: Transcripts, clipboard history and drawings are not saved to a cloud database, and clipboard history can be set to auto-delete.

Use Cases

• Prompting coding agents: Speaking detailed instructions to Claude Code, Codex or Cursor, with voice phrases to start an agent or approve a step.
• Bug reports: Combining a spoken description with an annotated screenshot of the error in one paste.
• Hands-free terminal work: Switching windows, restarting a dev server or submitting text by voice with Hot Mic.
• Reusable prompts: Keeping a library of markdown commands and calling them by voice mid-dictation.

Pricing

All features are free for all users, including unlimited local transcription, context stacking, Hot Mic, portable commands and drawings. An account is used to sign in. Field Theory requires macOS 14 or later and an Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later).

Getting Started

• Website: fieldtheory.dev
• Hot Mic guide: fieldtheory.dev/hot-mic
• FAQ: fieldtheory.dev/faq

Field Theory is built for developers who talk to AI tools all day and want offline dictation and voice commands combined with fast ways to package screenshots and commands as context.