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Local Whisper Transcription

Transcribe and translate audio files offline using the Whisper command-line tool

Source Download skill
Repository
spinabot/brigade
Stars
11,367
Licence
MIT
Files
1 file

What it does

This skill teaches the agent to use OpenAI's Whisper speech-recognition program, installed on your computer, to turn audio files into text. Once installed, the agent can transcribe recordings such as interviews or lectures into text or subtitle files, and can translate speech into English. Because it runs locally, no API key is needed, though the first run downloads a model to your machine.

Great for

  • Journalists or researchers who want to transcribe interviews without uploading them to a cloud service
  • Students turning lecture recordings into searchable notes or subtitles
  • Creators generating SRT subtitle files for videos

Skip it if

  • Users who do not have the whisper command-line tool installed, since the skill cannot transcribe without it (the skill only lists a brew install option)
  • Real-time or live microphone transcription, because the skill only covers processing existing audio files
  • Highly sensitive recordings if you are unsure where the tool's model downloads or outputs go, since the skill does not explain every file it may create

Try asking

  • “Transcribe this interview recording at /home/me/interview.mp3 into a text file”
  • “Translate this French podcast episode into English subtitles in SRT format”
  • “Transcribe my lecture audio using a larger model for better accuracy”
Step-by-step guide: how to use Local Whisper TranscriptionInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 1 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    openai-whisper.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip openai-whisper.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip openai-whisper.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Pick a smaller model such as small or base for speed, and medium or larger when accuracy matters
  • Specify --output_dir so transcripts land in a folder you choose
  • Use --task translate with --output_format srt when you need English subtitles from foreign-language audio

What's inside

  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from spinabot/brigade under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.