How to transcribe files from Finder or File Explorer
Keep transcripts beside their original files.
To transcribe a file where it already lives, right click it in Finder or File Explorer and choose Transcribe with HoldSay.
You do not need to open HoldSay first or import the file manually. Send one file or a selection, then follow its progress in HoldSay when you are ready.
The file stays where it is — the menu brings the transcript to it.
Send files from Finder on Mac
When your audio or video file is already in Finder, select it, right click it, and choose Transcribe with HoldSay. The menu label follows your system language, so its wording may be shown in that language.
- Select one audio or video file in Finder. To send several files together, select all of the files you want first.
- Right click the selection to open the Finder context menu.
- Choose Transcribe with HoldSay.
Right-click a supported media file and choose Transcribe with HoldSay.
There is nothing to enable before using this menu item. HoldSay installs it automatically whenever the app launches, and it is enabled by default. You do not need to look for a System Settings option or change Finder settings.
Finder stays in front while HoldSay transcribes in the background. Each completed source gets a sibling text file named <source-name>_transcript.txt in the same folder, followed by a completion message. This Mac shortcut does not create a Library note; add the file through Files when you need replay, editing or summaries.
Send files from File Explorer on Windows
When you are browsing files in File Explorer, right click an audio or video file and choose Transcribe with HoldSay. The item is shown in the system language and appears on supported audio and video files.
- Select the file you want to transcribe. You can also select several files before opening the context menu.
- Right click the file or selection in File Explorer.
- Choose Transcribe with HoldSay.
On Windows, the same item appears when you right-click audio or video in File Explorer.
On Windows, the item appears for audio files in mp3, m4a, wav, aac, flac, ogg, opus, aiff, and wma formats. It also appears for video files in mp4, mov, m4v, avi, mkv, webm, wmv, and 3gp formats.
If you selected several files, File Explorer sends them as one batch. You do not need to repeat the command for every file in the selection. If HoldSay is not already running, it opens on its own to receive the batch.
Windows writes a sibling <source-name>_transcript.txt file beside each source and also adds a task and note to the HoldSay Library. Open Files to follow progress or History to review the completed note.
Follow the file after you send it
After choosing Transcribe with HoldSay, leave the source in place until processing finishes. The output beside interview.wav is interview_transcript.txt; the original media is not changed.
On Mac, HoldSay works in the background and shows a completion message when the sibling text file is ready. Open Finder to confirm the new file. The shortcut does not create a Library note on Mac.
The active row shows which file HoldSay is processing and how far it has progressed.
On Windows, Files shows the active task and History contains the Library note while the same sibling text file is written beside the source. You can review progress in the app or simply wait for completion.
Need replay, editing and summaries on Mac? Add the original file through Files instead of using the Finder shortcut.
Queue a selection of files
When you have several separate files ready, select the whole group before you right click it. Choose Transcribe with HoldSay once. HoldSay processes the files individually, so each source receives its own sibling _transcript.txt output.
Queue status separates waiting, active and completed files.
On Mac, wait for the background work and completion messages; these shortcut jobs do not appear as Library notes. On Windows, open Files to follow each task and History to review the notes.
Windows also accepts a folder from the Explorer command and recursively queues its supported media. The Mac Finder shortcut accepts files rather than folders. On Mac, or whenever you want the same in-app queue on either platform, use Transcribe a folder of files.
Common questions
Which file types show Transcribe with HoldSay?
On Windows, the item appears for mp3, m4a, wav, aac, flac, ogg, opus, aiff, wma, mp4, mov, m4v, avi, mkv, webm, wmv, and 3gp files. On Mac, simply try the file in Finder: the command is for audio and video files.
Do I need to set up the right click menu first?
No. On Mac, HoldSay installs the Finder item automatically whenever the app launches, and it is enabled by default. On Windows, choose the item in File Explorer, and HoldSay starts on its own if it is not running.
Can I send a whole folder from the right click menu?
On Windows, yes: the File Explorer command accepts a folder and queues its supported media recursively. On Mac, the Finder shortcut accepts files rather than folders; add the folder through HoldSay Files instead.
If a label on this page does not match the app, email support@holdsay.com. Include Mac or Windows and the HoldSay version shown in Settings.