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

# Granola Chat: Dictation vs. Transcription

> Understand the difference between dictation and transcription in Granola. When to use voice input vs. typed queries.

Granola Chat lets you ask questions about your meetings and get instant insights from your notes and transcripts. This article explains one specific part of Granola Chat that can be confusing: the difference between **dictation in Granola Chat** and **transcribing a meeting**.

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# Quick summary

* **Dictation in Granola Chat**

  * Use this when you want to **ask a question about meetings Granola has already captured**.

  * You click the **microphone icon on the Granola Chat bar** at the bottom of your screen on the desktop app.

  * You **speak your question instead of typing it**, then send it to chat.

  * Dictation is designed for **short voice questions** — not for recording full meetings.

  * This does **not** start a new meeting transcription.

* **Transcription (new meeting)**

  * Use this when you want Granola to **capture and transcribe a brand new meeting or conversation**.

  * For meetings not tied to a calendar event, click **“Quick Note”** at the **top right** of the Granola desktop app.

  * You will see **three vertical green dancing bars** at the bottom of your screen when transcription is active.

***

# Dictation in Granola Chat (microphone icon)

The **microphone icon on the Granola Chat bar** at the bottom of the desktop app is for **dictation**, not transcription.

Use dictation when:

* You want to **ask Granola Chat a question about your existing meetings**.

* You prefer to **speak** to enter your question instead of typing.

Dictation is designed for short voice questions. If you need to capture a longer conversation, use transcription instead (see below).

What you will see when you start dictation:

* After you click the microphone icon, Granola starts **listening to your voice input**.

* Two icons appear:

  * **X icon**: cancels the dictation and **does not send** anything to Granola Chat.

  * **Tick / checkmark icon**: ends the dictation and **sends your spoken question** to Granola Chat, the same way as if you had typed it.

***

# Transcription: starting a new meeting with Quick Note

If you want Granola to **transcribe & summarise a new meeting** that is **not on your calendar**, use **Quick Note**.

To start a new ad‑hoc transcription:

1. Open the **Granola desktop app**.

2. Go to the **top right** of your screen.

3. Click **“Quick Note”**.

4. After you click Quick Note, look at the **bottom of your screen**:

   * You should see **three vertical green dancing bars**.

   * These indicate that **Granola is actively listening and transcribing**.

5. You can click on the green bars to **confirm that transcription has started**.

If you **do not** see the three vertical green dancing bars after pressing Quick Note, Granola has likely **not** started transcribing yet.