Cicada
Real-time subtitles, translation, and meeting notes
ProductivityOpen sourceOpen source · verified#real-time-subtitles#meeting-notes#simultaneous-translation
Listed by the ProductPerch team from GitHub · not launched here yet
What is Cicada?
Cicada captures system audio from computers or phones to provide real-time subtitles, simultaneous translation, and AI-generated meeting minutes for any online meeting or live stream. It works with platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Tencent Meeting, Discord, and YouTube without requiring a bot to join the call.
The app runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android. On Apple Silicon Macs, speech recognition happens locally. Other platforms connect to external AI services for transcription and translation. Users can export meeting notes in Markdown, Word, or SRT formats, and correct recognized names or terms during the session.
Cicada is free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license. It does not collect analytics or run its own servers. Audio recordings remain stored on the user device, and shared screens hide the notes window by default. Setup requires installing a virtual microphone driver for simultaneous translation features.
Cicada features
- Real-time subtitles for any system audio or live stream
- Simultaneous translation via virtual microphone
- AI-generated bilingual meeting minutes with clickable timestamps
- Local speech recognition on Apple Silicon Macs
- Export notes as Markdown, Word, or SRT files
- Open source under Apache-2.0 with no analytics or tracking
Who uses Cicada and for what
- Attending international Zoom calls and reading real-time translated subtitles
- Recording live YouTube streams or podcasts with automatic captioning
- Generating structured meeting notes with action items and speaker attribution
- Participating in Discord voice chats with instant spoken translation
- Reviewing past conference recordings by importing audio files for note generation
Cicada FAQ
Is Cicada free?
Yes, Cicada is free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Mac users can use real-time subtitles and translation without an API key. Windows, Linux, and Android versions require connecting to an external AI service, which may incur usage fees depending on the provider.
Does Cicada work on Mac?
Yes, it supports macOS 14.4 and later on Apple Silicon. Speech recognition runs locally on these devices. Intel Macs are supported but require an external AI service key for transcription. The app also supports macOS 26 for improved accuracy.
What is Cicada used for?
Cicada provides real-time subtitles, simultaneous translation, and AI meeting minutes for online calls, webinars, and live streams. It captures system audio directly, so no bots or host permissions are needed. Users can also import recorded audio or video to generate notes.
Is Cicada open source?
Yes, the source code is publicly available on GitHub under the Apache-2.0 license. The developer states there are no analytics, no proprietary servers, and all recordings stay on the user device. Installation packages include SHA-256 checksums for verification.
Does Cicada record my voice?
The app only records system audio or uses the microphone when you activate the translation feature or select the room listening mode. Recordings are saved locally on your device. The website does not mention cloud backup options.
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