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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Cadence.

General

What is Cadence?

Cadence is a voice-first OS layer for macOS that lets you control your computer using natural voice commands. It combines local Whisper transcription with desktop automation — no cloud, no latency, just instant voice control.

Is Cadence free?

Yes! Cadence is 100% free and open source (MIT License). No subscriptions, no hidden fees, no paywalls. Download, use, modify — it's yours.

How is this different from Siri?

Great question! Here's the breakdown:

  • Siri: Cloud-based, limited to specific commands, sends your voice to Apple's servers
  • Cadence: 100% local processing, fully customizable automations, zero latency, complete privacy

Cadence is for power users who want real control over their Mac, not pre-canned responses.

Does my voice data get sent to the cloud?

Absolutely not. All voice processing happens locally on your Mac using Whisper.cpp. Your voice never leaves your device. No servers. No internet required (after initial download).

System Requirements

What macOS version do I need?

macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later is recommended. Cadence may work on older versions (macOS 12 Monterey), but we don't officially support them.

Does it work on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)?

Yes! Cadence is optimized for Apple Silicon and runs significantly faster on M-series chips. Intel Macs are also supported, but transcription may be slower.

How much disk space does it need?

Approximately 1-3 GB for the Whisper models (depending on which model you choose). The app itself is lightweight (~50 MB).

Can I run it offline?

100% yes. After the initial download of Whisper models, Cadence works completely offline. Perfect for flights, secure environments, or just peace of mind.

Setup & Permissions

What permissions does Cadence need?

Cadence requires three macOS permissions:

  • Microphone Access — To capture voice commands
  • Accessibility Access — To automate tasks (click buttons, type text, etc.)
  • Screen Recording — To detect active windows and context

You can revoke these anytime via System Settings → Privacy & Security.

How do I install Cadence?

Download the latest release from GitHub, drag it to your Applications folder, and launch. On first run, macOS will prompt for the required permissions.

Why does macOS say Cadence is from an "unidentified developer"?

Cadence is not currently notarized by Apple (we're working on it). To bypass this:

  • Right-click the app → Open
  • Click "Open" in the security dialog

Since Cadence is open source, you can verify the code yourself before running.

Features & Usage

What can I do with voice commands?

Anything you can do with keyboard/mouse, you can do with voice:

  • "Open Chrome and navigate to GitHub"
  • "Switch to Spotify and play my Liked Songs"
  • "Move this window to the right half of the screen"
  • "Take a screenshot and save it to Desktop"
  • Custom automations — the sky's the limit!
Can I customize voice commands?

Yes! Cadence is fully programmable. You can create custom voice triggers, chain actions together, and build complex automations. See the documentation for details.

Does it work with non-English languages?

Whisper supports 99+ languages, and Cadence inherits this capability. However, custom automations may need language-specific tuning. English is the most tested language.

How fast is the transcription?

On Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3), transcription is near-instant (~100-300ms for short commands). On Intel Macs, it may take 500-1000ms. No internet latency means it's always responsive.

Troubleshooting

Cadence isn't recognizing my voice. What do I do?

Try these steps:

  • Check that Microphone Access is granted in System Settings
  • Test your microphone in another app (Voice Memos, etc.)
  • Speak clearly and avoid background noise
  • Try a different Whisper model (smaller models = faster but less accurate)
Automations aren't working. Help!

Most automation issues are permission-related:

  • Ensure Accessibility Access is enabled in System Settings
  • Grant Screen Recording permission if needed
  • Restart Cadence after granting new permissions

Still stuck? Open a GitHub issue.

How do I uninstall Cadence?

Drag the app to Trash, then remove stored preferences:

  • ~/Library/Application Support/Cadence
  • ~/Library/Preferences/com.cadence.app.plist

Revoke permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

Privacy & Security

Is Cadence safe?

Yes. Cadence is open source — you can audit the code yourself. All processing is local, and we never collect or transmit your data. That said, granting Accessibility permissions is powerful — only install software you trust.

Can Cadence be used for malicious purposes?

Like any automation tool (AppleScript, Keyboard Maestro, etc.), Cadence could theoretically be misused. Do not grant permissions to untrusted versions of the app. Always download from the official GitHub repository.

Where is my data stored?

All data is stored locally on your Mac:

  • Voice commands are processed in-memory (not saved)
  • App preferences are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/Cadence
  • Whisper models are cached in ~/.cache/whisper

Nothing is synced to the cloud.

Support & Community

How do I get help?

Reach out via:

Can I contribute to Cadence?

Absolutely! Cadence is open source (MIT License). Contributions are welcome:

  • Submit pull requests on GitHub
  • Report bugs or suggest features via Issues
  • Improve documentation
  • Share your custom automations with the community
Will there be a Windows/Linux version?

Cadence is currently macOS-only due to deep integration with macOS APIs (Accessibility, AppleScript, etc.). A Linux version is theoretically possible but not planned. Windows support is unlikely due to fundamental OS differences.

That said, Cadence is open source — community ports are welcome!

Still have questions? Email us or open a GitHub issue.