Audio, transcripts, and history stay on your device.
You control retention, saved entries, learned words, and deletion.
Privacy
Your voice stays local unless you choose otherwise.
AudioBud records and transcribes on your device. The project does not run an AudioBud account service or receive your audio, transcripts, history, or settings. A few optional actions contact services you select.
Cloud post-processing sends text, not audio.
Your selected provider receives the transcript and prompt you ask it to process.
GitHub Pages hosts this site.
There are no AudioBud analytics, forms, ads, or first-party tracking cookies.
Who operates AudioBud
Joe Amditis maintains the open-source AudioBud project. For privacy questions, email jamditis@gmail.com. Do not include private information in public GitHub issues.
What this policy covers
This policy covers the AudioBud desktop app, the official GitHub repository and releases, and audiobud.amditis.tech. Third-party sites and providers follow their own privacy policies.
What stays on your device
AudioBud stores app data locally. Depending on your settings and use, that data can include:
- Microphone audio and WAV recordings.
- Raw, formatted, and post-processed transcripts, including history titles and timestamps.
- Settings, device selections, keyboard shortcuts, custom words, and word replacements.
- Optional learned personalization.
- Downloaded model files and app logs.
- Provider API keys used for optional post-processing.
Provider keys are stored locally with AudioBud's settings. Your operating system, user account, device access, and backup or sync choices affect who else can reach local files.
When information leaves your device
AudioBud does not send your audio to an AudioBud server. Network activity is limited to actions such as downloading a model, opening a project or release link, contacting a provider you configured, or using an update check if a future release enables that feature.
Clipboard paste modes (Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Shift+V, and Shift+Insert) temporarily place the transcript in the system clipboard, paste the transcript into the focused application, and then try to restore the previous clipboard contents. Direct types the transcript into the focused application without using the clipboard paste path. External Script sends the transcript as one command-line argument to the configured script. None skips transcript delivery through paste or script.
The Copy to clipboard setting runs after every paste method, including Direct, External Script, and None, and leaves the transcript in the system clipboard. These delivery paths and copying actions do not send text off-device by themselves. Receiving applications and scripts, along with applications that read copied text, control any later transmission and retention.
Optional AI post-processing
Post-processing is off by default. If you enable it, AudioBud sends transcript text and the selected prompt to the provider or compatible endpoint you chose. AudioBud does not send your audio to that provider. The provider can receive normal connection data such as your IP address and the request headers needed to identify AudioBud.
Provider API keys are stored in AudioBud's local settings file. Provider privacy terms, retention, security, account rules, and charges apply to those requests. A custom local endpoint can keep this step on your network, depending on how you configured it.
Downloads and external links
AudioBud models currently come from the download hosts listed by the app, including blob.handy.computer. GitHub handles releases and project links. When you connect, those hosts can receive normal network metadata such as your IP address, request time, and browser or app headers. Automatic update checks are currently disabled.
Retention and deletion
Local unsaved history defaults to five entries. Saved entries can remain until you delete them. You can delete history entries and recordings, change retention, reset learned personalization, remove provider keys and settings, or remove AudioBud's app data.
Provider and GitHub retention is separate and follows their policies. Support email is kept only as needed to respond and maintain project records.
Security
Local-first processing reduces data transfers, but no system is perfectly secure. Your operating system and account protection matter. Do not store provider secrets in AudioBud's local settings on an untrusted shared device.
Your choices and rights
You control optional features and local deletion. You can export or reset learned personalization on your device. Where applicable law gives you rights to access, correct, or delete information handled by the project, email jamditis@gmail.com. Send requests about data held by a provider or GitHub to that third party. You may also complain to your local data protection authority where applicable.
Children
AudioBud is a general-purpose tool and is not directed to children under 13. Contact the maintainer if you believe the project received information from a child.
Changes
Material changes to this policy will receive a revised effective date and be published at this same URL.
Contact
Joe Amditis
AudioBud project maintainer
jamditis@gmail.com