The speech model is a one-time download

Rooster's standard transcription engine, Local Parakeet, is a speech model that runs on your Mac. It is several hundred megabytes, so Rooster fetches it when it is first needed rather than making everyone download it with the app.

When it happens

The first time you transcribe anything. The welcome screen mentions it beforehand, with the size, and while it downloads the script pane says it is downloading the speech model and how large it is, then prepares the model for your Mac.

It happens once. After that the model is stored on your Mac, and transcription works with no internet connection at all. When Rooster updates, it updates the model too if it needs to.

Your video stays on your Mac

The download only brings the model to your Mac. Nothing about your recording is sent - the transcription itself happens on your Mac, offline.

If the download fails

Rooster says it could not download its speech model and that it is a one-time download. Check your internet connection and press Try again. You can also press Start typing to write the script yourself in the meantime.

Where it lives, and the space it takes

The model is kept in Rooster's own folder. Settings > Storage lists it as Speech model, with its size. See Where Rooster saves recordings and exports.

Other engines

Local Whisper also runs on your Mac but does not download anything: you choose a Whisper model file you have downloaded yourself. Cloud API downloads nothing either, but it sends your recording's sound to the service you configure. See Transcribe a video on your Mac.