I am on the brink of buying an iMac, probably refurbished.
My needs are generally modest - Office applications, email, web browsing, but I do want to run the Whisper open sourc e text-to-speech app.
I understand I need Apple silicon for this rather than an old Intel chip.
But is M1 enough or do I need M2 or higher?
Buy the most recent Apple Silicon generation (M1…M4) with at least 16 GB RAM and a 1 TB internal drive. Look at the hardware and operating system specifications (if given) for the Whisper application.
As dialabrain has mentioned, Apple has built-in text-to-speech and a variety of available international voices for use in this capability.
Have your Mac speak text that’s on the screen - Apple Support
You can also transform text to an audio file in a chosen language voice, including your own recorded voice.
Before you decide upon an M1 iMac read Persistent horizontal lines appear on iMac screen - Apple Community.
To be fair, even that number of complaints is not statistically significant given the number sold, but it is undeniably disproportionate to other iMac models. None of mine had that problem but I'd avoid that particular model if I were you. Besides, the only M1 models on Apple's Refurbished iMac page only have 8 GB memory which I also don't recommend... unless of course you have no expectation of using it for future, unanticipated needs.
And you don't need any additional software, unless you have a particular affinity for open source.
If you're thinking of purchasing a used/refurbished Mac do so only from Apple or OWC (MacSales.com).
I say that because Macs are at the M4 silicon chip which is blazingly powerful and fast.
If you're thinking of a 24" iMac consider the following to save some serious cash: a 10 Core Mac Mini M4 with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD ($999 + tax) with a 27" LG 4k monitor ($250 + tax from Amazon.com) is $1249 + tax which is $560 less than a similarly configured new 24" iMac ($1799 + tax) re 07/2025. Keep your keyboard and mouse from your current Mac for use with the Mini.
I got the above Mini with a 32" LG 4K monitor w/speakers for only $60 more than the 27" (didn't know the Mini had a speaker) and still saved $500.
For the open-source WhisperSpeech project at GitHub (“inverting” OpenAI Whisper), the preferred support appears to be: Join us in the #audio-generation channel on the LAION Discord to chat, ask questions, or contribute!
If you’re asking about OpenAI Whisper system requirements, check with OpenAI: https://openai.com/index/whisper/
For the other cited apps, you’ll want a 16 GB Apple silicon model, minimally. Microsoft 365 / Copilot / Office isn’t all that lightweight, particularly given all the pieces and parts Microsoft installs. Plus however much storage you need.
And LLM / AI typically does not sip system resources.
Provided one has Dictation enabled in System Settings > Keyboard panel, the following Shortcut allows one to dictate text and have it written to the Desktop as Sample.m4a. One opens Spotlight and enters: "Save Dict" to locate the Shortcut and then press return to run it. A voice input panel will open where one speaks what they want written to the audio file. Pause too long and it will continue to run and write the audio file.
Now, repeat after me three times, "I need more coffee now!". Then single click on the Sample.m4a audio file to play it.
[Edited by Moderator]
AndyMacMann wrote:
OK, I have a visual impairment, maybe that's wjhy I make typos and need speech-to-text.
Hope that makes sense.
As I and then VikingOSX agreed earlier, macOS already has speech-to-text capabilities. It also has Dictation built in.
FWIW, I know nothing about Whisper but since macOS has its own text-to-speech feature I don't see why not.
Personally I couldn't even find a Whisper test-to-speech app. Maybe I need more coffee.
Perhaps more coffee is not the solution today… 🤯
I thought coffee fixes everything. There are a slew of "Whisper" apps in the App Store but they all seem to be speech-to-text.
VikingOSX wrote:
Now, repeat after me three times, "I need more coffee now!". Then single click on the Sample.m4a audio file to play it.
Sorry, what does this have to do with Whisper?
Thanks Viking.
OK, I have a visual impairment, maybe that's wjhy I make typos and need speech-to-text.
Hope that makes sense.
Is the m1 chip sufucuent to run Whisper text-to-speech open sopurce app?
