macOS

Cleft for Mac: The ultimate desktop experience for capturing and organizing your thoughts with full keyboard control and professional workflows.

Overview

Cleft for macOS brings desktop-class power to voice note-taking. With native Mac integration, extensive keyboard shortcuts, and seamless workflow with other Mac apps, it’s your command center for thought capture.

v1.10.2: Improved transcription accuracy, haptic feedback, and polished toolbar. Local folder sync lets you save notes directly to a folder on your Mac.

Global Hotkey temporarily disabled: System-wide keyboard shortcuts are being refined and will return in v1.11. In the meantime, use Spotlight (⌘ + Space) to quickly launch Cleft.

Quick Start

Launch Methods

Spotlight: ⌘ + Space, type “Cleft”
Dock: Click Cleft icon
Launchpad: Find in applications
Menu Bar: Optional menu bar icon

Essential Shortcuts

⌘ + N - New voice note
⌘ + Shift + N - New text note
⌘ + R - Start/stop recording
⌘ + S - Save note
⌘ + F - Search
⌘ + , - Preferences
⌘ + 1/2/3 - Switch views
⌘ + W - Close window

Interface Layout

Three-Panel Design

Sidebar (collapsible with ⌘ + Option + S)
- Notes list
- Folders
- Tags
- Search
Editor (main area)
- Active note
- Formatting toolbar
- Recording controls
Inspector (toggle with ⌘ + Option + I)
- Note details
- Metadata
- Share options

Recording on Mac

Start Recording

Three ways to begin:

Click + button in toolbar
Press ⌘ + N
Menu Bar → File → New Voice Note

Monitor Recording

Desktop advantages:

Large waveform display
Real-time level meters
Time elapsed counter
Pause/resume controls

Process & Edit

After recording:

Instant transcription
AI processing
Full editing capabilities
Export options

Desktop Features

Menu Bar Access

Quick access without switching apps

Multiple Windows

Open notes in separate windows

Local Folder Sync

Save notes to a folder on your Mac (Plus)

Shortcuts & Automation

Automate with AppleScript and Shortcuts

Advanced Keyboard Control

⌘ + ↑/↓: Navigate notes list
⌘ + [/]: Previous/next note
⌘ + Shift + [/]: First/last note
Tab/Shift + Tab: Move between panels
Space: Quick Look preview

Editing

⌘ + B/I/U: Bold/Italic/Underline
⌘ + K: Insert link
⌘ + Shift + L: Create list
⌘ + ]: Indent
⌘ + [: Outdent

Window Management

⌘ + M: Minimize
⌘ + Option + F: Full screen
⌘ + `: Cycle windows
⌘ + T: New tab (if enabled)

Audio Configuration

Input Devices

Configure in Settings → Audio:

Built-in Microphone: Default, good quality
External USB Mic: Professional recording
Audio Interface: Studio-quality input
AirPods/Bluetooth: Wireless convenience

Select default device or choose per recording.

Audio Quality

Adjust recording quality:

Standard: 44.1kHz, good for most uses
High: 48kHz, professional quality
Custom: Set sample rate and bit depth

Higher quality = larger files but better transcription.

Input Monitoring

Real-time audio feedback:

Level meters in toolbar
Clipping warnings
Background noise indicator
Voice activity detection

Integration with macOS

System Integration

Spotlight: Search notes system-wide
Quick Look: Preview notes in Finder
Services Menu: Send to Cleft from any app
Share Sheet: Export to other apps
Handoff: Continue on iOS devices

App Integration

Custom workflows for quick capture

Direct sync to your vault (Plus)

Automate complex workflows

Professional Workflows

Meeting Notes

Pre-meeting: Create note with agenda
During: ⌘ + N to start recording
Multi-window: Keep reference materials open
Post-meeting: Export to team tools

Content Creation

Research phase: Multiple notes open
Outline mode: Drag to reorder
Draft writing: Merge related notes
Export: Markdown for publishing

Daily Journaling

Morning: Quick thoughts capture
Throughout day: Append to daily note
Evening: Review and organize
Archive: Auto-organize by date

Window Management

Pro Window Tips:

⌘ + Click note to open in new window
Hold Option to open in background
Use Mission Control for overview
Drag windows to different desktops

Multiple Windows

Open unlimited note windows
Compare notes side-by-side
Drag content between windows
Independent window settings

Full Screen Mode

Perfect for focused work:

⌘ + Control + F to enter
Swipe between full-screen apps
Split View with other apps
Escape to exit

Performance Optimization

Optimize for Mac:

Grant full microphone permissions
Enable GPU acceleration (Settings)
Keep 5GB free for smooth operation
Use external SSD for large libraries
Regular cleanup of old recordings

Troubleshooting

Common macOS Issues:Microphone not detected?

System Preferences → Security → Privacy → Microphone
Ensure Cleft is checked
Restart app after granting permission

Sync issues?

Check iCloud Drive status
Verify same Apple ID on all devices
Reset sync in Preferences

Performance problems?

Check Activity Monitor for CPU usage
Clear cache in Preferences
Reduce recording quality if needed

Quick Actions

Right-click menu bar icon:

New note (voice/text)
Recent notes
Search
Preferences
Recording status

Mini Window

Option-click for mini recorder:

Floating window
Always on top
Minimal interface
Quick capture mode

Customization

Preferences (⌘ + ,)

General: Startup, updates, defaults
Recording: Audio settings, quality
Editor: Font, colors, formatting
Shortcuts: Customize all shortcuts
Integrations: Connect services
Advanced: Debug, reset, logs

Themes

Light/Dark/Auto
Custom accent colors
Editor themes
Icon sets

Overview