Installation

Echo is a native macOS app. Download it, drag it to your Applications folder, and you're ready to go.

System Requirements

macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later
Apple Silicon recommended -- M1, M2, M3, or M4 chip for the best performance with local AI models
Intel Macs supported -- Echo works on Intel Macs, though local transcription will be slower. Cloud transcription services are recommended for Intel users.
RAM -- At least 8 GB. Larger AI models benefit from 16 GB or more.
Storage -- Around 200 MB for the app, plus space for AI models (ranging from 75 MB to 3 GB depending on the model you choose)

Download Echo

Visit echo.vjh.io and click Download for Mac
Open the downloaded .dmg file
Drag Echo into your Applications folder
Open Echo from your Applications folder or Spotlight

On first launch, macOS may ask you to confirm that you want to open an app downloaded from the internet. Click Open to continue.

First Launch

When you open Echo for the first time, it will guide you through a quick setup process:

Welcome screen -- Click Start Quick Setup to begin
Permissions -- Grant the macOS permissions Echo needs (see Permissions)
Model selection -- Choose and download an AI model for transcription
Test it out -- Try your first transcription right in the setup

You can skip any step and configure it later from Settings.

Automatic Updates

Echo checks for updates automatically. When a new version is available, you'll be prompted to install it. You can also check manually from the menu bar by clicking Echo > Check for Updates...

Tips

Pin Echo to your Dock for quick access, or enable Launch at Login in Settings so it's always ready.
Echo lives in your menu bar -- look for the Echo icon in the top-right corner of your screen to access it quickly.

Permissions -- Grant the macOS permissions Echo needs to work
Quick start -- Make your first transcription