Made in Austria for European businesses
Skald Local-first speech to text

Setup guide

Set up Skald

This setup takes a few minutes, can be skipped, and remains available in Settings. Choose your platform to begin.

1

Magic Link sign-in

Use an existing Skald account with a verified email address. A valid licensed state on this PC can also be used where available.

Start sign-in in the Windows app. When its browser sign-in page opens, request a Magic Link for your verified email address.

Open the Magic Link within ten minutes in the same browser profile where you requested it, then select Continue sign-in. For Windows, this resumes the original OIDC/PKCE authorization request and returns to the app; direct web sign-in returns to /account.

Password sign-in remains available if email delivery or a Magic Link is unavailable.

2

Processing route and privacy

Skald shows the active data path before you use it. Available choices depend on your platform, account, and organization settings.

  • Local transcription: audio and transcript stay on this PC.
  • Local transcription + cloud polish: audio stays local; transcript text is sent through the selected Azure or Skald EU route.
  • Cloud transcription: audio is sent through the selected Azure or Skald EU route.
  • Cloud transcription + cloud polish: audio and transcript text are sent through the selected route(s).
The default route is local transcription unless your organization supplies a managed value. External-processing consent is provider-specific and not replaced by onboarding completion.
3

Local engine and model

Skald recommends a model for this PC. Larger models can improve accuracy but need more memory and take longer to download.

With local transcription on Windows, you can work offline without using your Skald EU credit.

  • 16 GiB RAM or more: the app recommends a large-v3-turbo variant when supported by the hardware catalog.
  • 8–15 GiB RAM: the app recommends a small model.
  • Below 8 GiB RAM: the app recommends a base model.

Model download is always an explicit user action. No large download starts silently. You can review download size, minimum RAM requirements, and installed state before confirming.

This step only appears when local transcription is part of your selected processing route.
4

Dictation controls and defaults

Press Ctrl + Alt + Space to start and stop. With "Paste after copy" enabled, Skald copies the finished transcript and sends Ctrl+V to the currently focused eligible app.

  • Default hotkey: Ctrl + Alt + Space (customizable).
  • Recording mode: toggle or push-to-talk.
  • Paste after copy: on for a fresh installation. When enabled, Skald copies the transcript and simulates Ctrl+V. Not every elevated, secure, remote, or protected target accepts synthetic paste input.
  • Start Skald with Windows: on for a fresh installation. Disable this in Settings if you prefer.
  • Microphone: select your preferred input device when multiple microphones are connected.
Both Paste after copy and Start with Windows are explained during onboarding and can be turned off.
5

Language and task

  • Default language detection: automatic.
  • Task: transcribe in the original language or translate to English.
  • Polish: improves grammar and sentence structure without inventing facts. Requires external text processing through your selected Azure or Skald EU route. The original transcript always remains available.
  • The app interface language is independent from the transcription language.
6

Guided test and summary

The guided test takes place in the Windows app. Onboarding tells you when to speak.

Say: "This is my first Skald transcription." Then use your hotkey again to stop.

After the test, Skald shows a summary with your active processing path, selected model, hotkey and recording mode, paste-after-copy and Windows-startup state, and links to Home, Settings, Models, and reopening onboarding.

The test is optional. You can finish onboarding without recording.

1

Pair with QR code and register this device

Use an existing Skald account with a verified email address. In the signed-in web account, create the Skald Mobile pairing QR code, then open the scanner in Skald Mobile and scan it.

Allow camera access for scanning, compare the code on both devices, and approve the connection in the browser. Pairing QR codes expire after 90 seconds and are single-use; create a new code if the connection does not complete. Skald Mobile then completes secure sign-in and shows the device registration state.

Register the device only after a deliberate user action when it is not yet allowed. Onboarding does not continue to a fake success state if the account cannot process mobile transcription.

2

Mobile processing and retention

Android recordings are processed through Skald EU. Skald shows the result in local history and keeps retryable audio on this device until it is sent or deleted.

Local transcription is currently unavailable on mobile devices. Mobile devices use Skald EU exclusively.

  • Audio stays on the device until transfer completes or you delete the retained history entry.
  • Successful results are kept in local history for later review and reuse.
  • Temporary processing artifacts in Skald EU are scheduled for deletion within 24 hours.
3

Microphone and first recording

Skald uses the microphone only after you start a recording.

The Android permission prompt appears when you tap Allow microphone or start recording. Skald requests the permission in context — not during first launch.

If you deny the microphone permission, Skald account, history, settings, and non-recording features remain usable. Skald rechecks permission at use time because Android settings can revoke it later.
4

Optional Quick Bubble

Quick Bubble is optional. Skald transcription works without it. Enable it or skip for now.

Before enabling, Skald explains that:
  • The Bubble remains visible over other apps until disabled.
  • One tap starts a recording, a second tap stops it.
  • Android shows a persistent notification while the Bubble or recording service is active.
  • Successful transcripts are copied to the clipboard and saved in local history.
  • The Bubble does not inspect text fields and does not insert text automatically. Direct insertion is not available through Quick Bubble.
  • Long press opens the full Skald app.

Permission sequence after you opt in:

  1. Notification permission: so foreground activity remains visible.
  2. Display over other apps permission: through Android system settings.
  3. Skald rechecks both permissions on return before enabling the Bubble.
If either permission is denied, the Bubble stays off and a retry action is available in Settings.
5

Language and result

  • Language: automatic detection, German, or English.
  • Task: transcribe or translate to English.
  • Polish: optional when your account capability permits it. The Skald EU route is visible next to the choice.
6

Guided test and summary

The guided test takes place in the Android app. Onboarding tells you when to speak.

Use a normal in-app recording first. If you enabled Quick Bubble, try its tap-to-start and tap-to-stop workflow after onboarding finishes.

Say: "This is my first Skald transcription." Then stop the recording.

Confirm that the result appears in local History.

The success summary shows your signed-in account and device-registration status, Skald EU as the data path, microphone state, Quick Bubble state and its prerequisites, and links to History, Settings, and reopening onboarding.

The test is optional. You can finish onboarding without recording.

Permission troubleshooting

Skald asks for access only when you enable a feature that needs it. You can continue without optional permissions.

Windows

  • Magic Link sign-in: use the original browser profile and open the link within ten minutes. The link is single-use; request a new link if it has expired, was already used, or Windows does not resume after Continue sign-in.
  • Microphone: Open Windows Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone. Ensure microphone access is enabled and Skald is allowed.
  • Hotkey conflicts: other applications may reserve Ctrl+Alt+Space. Change the Skald hotkey in Settings if it does not work.
  • Paste not working: some secure, elevated, remote desktop, or protected applications block synthetic Ctrl+V. Paste manually or disable Paste after copy.
  • Startup not working: check that Start Skald with Windows is enabled in Settings and not blocked by your organization.

Android

  • Pairing QR codes expire after 90 seconds and are single-use. Create a new code if scanning, comparison, approval, or return to Skald Mobile does not complete.
  • Microphone denied: Skald account, history, and settings remain usable. Recheck permission when you start a recording — Android settings may revoke permissions later.
  • Notification permission: required for Quick Bubble and recording foreground service. Enable in Android Settings → Apps → Skald → Notifications.
  • Display over other apps: required for Quick Bubble. Enable in Android Settings → Apps → Skald → Appear on top or Display over other apps.
  • Permission changes: Android may revoke permissions after extended inactivity or when you change system settings. Skald rechecks at use time.

Changing settings and reopening onboarding

Your choices are saved on this device. You can reopen onboarding or change individual settings at any time.

  • Windows: open Skald Settings → Options → Open onboarding to revisit this guide from within the app.
  • Android: open Skald Settings → Open onboarding to revisit this guide from within the app.
  • All configuration choices made during onboarding can be changed later in Settings. Onboarding completion is persisted per device and version — existing users are not forced through a new first-run wizard.

Content last reviewed: 31 July 2026