Batch transcribe a folder of audio on a Mac.

Turn a folder of recordings into matching transcript files with a small shell loop. AFK's CLI takes one file at a time, so wrap each input in the loop; the same pattern gives an agent a clear handoff.

Get AFK — $15 once Read the agents guide

Make the loop do the batch work.

This is the complete pattern for a folder of M4A recordings. Each command writes its transcript to a matching TXT file:

$ for f in *.m4a; do
>   afk transcribe "$f" > "${f%.*}.txt"
> done
  1. Match the recordings.The *.m4a pattern finds the files in the current folder.
  2. Transcribe one source.The quoted path keeps spaces in a filename intact.
  3. Save the matching result.${f%.*}.txt changes the extension while keeping the base name.

Make the handoff easy for an agent.

AFK bundles an Agent Skill that explains quoting paths, keeping transcript output on stdout, keeping progress and errors on stderr, handling MP4, and separating local transcription from any later step.

Install explicitly

$ afk install-agent-skill

The skill is installed at ~/.agents/skills/afk-transcription. A different existing copy is not overwritten unless you deliberately use --force.

Keep streams clean

Transcript text goes to stdout. Model status and errors go to stderr, so an agent or shell can redirect the text without swallowing diagnostics.

Keep the workflow bounded

The installed skill points an agent to the CLI, its output streams, and the local transcription steps.

Start with a folder and a loop.

The agents guide covers the installed skill, and the CLI reference owns flags and exit behavior. For MP4 recordings, read the video-to-text use case.

Get AFK — $15 once Read the CLI guide