> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.coddo.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Recording Modes

> Push-to-talk vs toggle — pick the one that matches the way you dictate.

Whisper Island can record audio in two modes. Switch from **Settings → Recording**.

## Push-to-talk

**Hold the shortcut to record, release to transcribe.**

* Press and hold the mic shortcut
* Speak while holding
* Release the shortcut — recording stops and Whisper transcribes immediately
* The text is pasted into the active app via `Cmd+V`

Push-to-talk is best for short utterances and when you want full control over the start and end of each clip. There's no risk of leaving the mic on by mistake.

<Tip>
  Push-to-talk uses a JXA helper that polls `CGEventSourceFlagsState` to detect when you release the modifier keys. The process exits as soon as the modifier mask is no longer fully held — no `System Events` fallback, no double-fire.
</Tip>

## Toggle

**Tap the shortcut to start, tap again to stop.**

* Tap the mic shortcut to start recording
* Speak
* Tap the shortcut again to stop and transcribe

Toggle is best for longer dictations — emails, task briefs, doc paragraphs — when you don't want to keep a key held down. The overlay clearly shows you're still recording.

## Which one should you pick?

| If you...                                                              | Use              |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- |
| Dictate short messages and want zero false starts                      | **Push-to-talk** |
| Write long emails, docs, or task briefs                                | **Toggle**       |
| Want a hands-free flow once recording starts                           | **Toggle**       |
| Frequently switch between two-second corrections and longer dictations | **Push-to-talk** |

## What gets pasted

The text is written to the clipboard, then `Cmd+V` is simulated via `osascript … System Events keystroke "v"`. After 200 ms, the previous clipboard content is restored — unless you've enabled **Keep transcript in clipboard** in settings (see [Settings](/whisper-island/features/settings)).

<Warning>
  Pasting requires **Accessibility access**. If the text doesn't appear in the active app, check **System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility** and make sure Whisper Island is enabled.
</Warning>

## Hallucination filter

Whisper occasionally returns known hallucinations on silent or near-silent recordings (`sous-titres réalisés par…`, `merci`, `you`, etc.). Whisper Island filters these out automatically — if you didn't speak, nothing gets pasted.