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

# Live Transcription

> Real-time speech-to-text for calls and conversations

# Live Transcription

Live transcription converts spoken words to text in real-time during calls. Use it for live monitoring, agent assistance, compliance recording, and post-call analysis.

## How It Works

```
Caller speaks
     ↓
Audio stream captured
     ↓
Speech-to-text processing
     ↓
Text emitted via WebSocket/webhook
     ↓
Display in dashboard or your app
```

## Enabling Transcription

### Global Setting

Enable for all calls in your Crew:

```json theme={null}
{
  "transcription": {
    "enabled": true,
    "language": "en-US"
  }
}
```

### Per-Call Setting

Enable for specific calls:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://api.usecrew.ai/v1/calls/outbound \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "to": "+14155551234",
    "agent_id": "agent_sarah",
    "transcription": {
      "enabled": true
    }
  }'
```

## Configuration Options

```json theme={null}
{
  "transcription": {
    "enabled": true,
    "language": "en-US",
    "punctuation": true,
    "profanity_filter": false,
    "speaker_labels": true,
    "interim_results": true,
    "word_timestamps": false
  }
}
```

| Option             | Description          | Default |
| ------------------ | -------------------- | ------- |
| `enabled`          | Enable transcription | `false` |
| `language`         | Primary language     | `en-US` |
| `punctuation`      | Add punctuation      | `true`  |
| `profanity_filter` | Mask profanity       | `false` |
| `speaker_labels`   | Identify speakers    | `true`  |
| `interim_results`  | Partial transcripts  | `true`  |
| `word_timestamps`  | Per-word timing      | `false` |

## Supported Languages

| Language            | Code    |
| ------------------- | ------- |
| English (US)        | `en-US` |
| English (UK)        | `en-GB` |
| Spanish (US)        | `es-US` |
| Spanish (Spain)     | `es-ES` |
| French              | `fr-FR` |
| German              | `de-DE` |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | `pt-BR` |
| Japanese            | `ja-JP` |
| Mandarin            | `zh-CN` |

## Receiving Transcripts

### WebSocket Stream

Connect to receive real-time transcripts:

```javascript theme={null}
const ws = new WebSocket('wss://api.usecrew.ai/v1/calls/{call_id}/transcript');

ws.onmessage = (event) => {
  const data = JSON.parse(event.data);
  console.log(`[${data.speaker}]: ${data.text}`);
};
```

#### Message Format

```json theme={null}
{
  "type": "transcript",
  "call_id": "call_abc123",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:15.123Z",
  "speaker": "caller",
  "text": "I'd like to schedule an appointment",
  "is_final": true,
  "confidence": 0.95
}
```

### Webhook Delivery

Receive transcripts via webhook:

```json theme={null}
{
  "webhooks": {
    "transcription.segment": "https://yourapp.com/hooks/transcript"
  }
}
```

#### Webhook Payload

```json theme={null}
{
  "event": "transcription.segment",
  "call_id": "call_abc123",
  "segments": [
    {
      "speaker": "agent",
      "text": "Good afternoon, how can I help you today?",
      "start_time": 0.0,
      "end_time": 2.5
    },
    {
      "speaker": "caller",
      "text": "I'd like to schedule an appointment for next week.",
      "start_time": 3.0,
      "end_time": 5.8
    }
  ]
}
```

### Dashboard View

View live transcripts in the Crew dashboard:

1. Navigate to **Calls** → **Active Calls**
2. Click on an active call
3. View the live transcript panel

## Interim vs Final Results

### Interim Results

Partial transcripts as words are spoken:

```
Speaker: "I'd like to sche..."
Speaker: "I'd like to schedule an app..."
Speaker: "I'd like to schedule an appointment" [FINAL]
```

Enable for real-time display, disable for cleaner webhook traffic.

### Final Results

Complete, corrected transcripts after speaker pauses:

```json theme={null}
{
  "is_final": true,
  "text": "I'd like to schedule an appointment for next Thursday."
}
```

## Speaker Identification

With `speaker_labels` enabled, transcripts identify who is speaking:

| Speaker       | Description                 |
| ------------- | --------------------------- |
| `agent`       | The AI agent                |
| `caller`      | The external party          |
| `human_agent` | A human who joined the call |

```json theme={null}
{
  "segments": [
    { "speaker": "agent", "text": "How can I help you?" },
    { "speaker": "caller", "text": "I need to cancel my appointment." },
    { "speaker": "agent", "text": "I can help with that." }
  ]
}
```

## Post-Call Transcripts

Access complete transcripts after calls end:

### API

```bash theme={null}
curl https://api.usecrew.ai/v1/calls/{call_id}/transcript \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
```

### Response

```json theme={null}
{
  "call_id": "call_abc123",
  "duration": 127,
  "transcript": {
    "full_text": "Agent: Good afternoon...\nCaller: Hi, I'd like to...",
    "segments": [
      {
        "speaker": "agent",
        "text": "Good afternoon, thank you for calling Acme Medical.",
        "start_time": 0.0,
        "end_time": 3.2
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

## Use Cases

### Live Agent Assistance

Display transcripts to human supervisors for real-time coaching:

```javascript theme={null}
// Supervisor dashboard
socket.on('transcript', (data) => {
  if (data.call_id === monitoredCall) {
    displayTranscript(data);
    checkForCoachingOpportunities(data);
  }
});
```

### Compliance Recording

Store transcripts for regulatory requirements:

```json theme={null}
{
  "transcription": {
    "enabled": true,
    "storage": {
      "enabled": true,
      "retention_days": 365,
      "format": "json"
    }
  }
}
```

### Real-Time Analytics

Analyze conversations as they happen:

```javascript theme={null}
socket.on('transcript', (data) => {
  // Detect sentiment
  const sentiment = analyzeSentiment(data.text);
  
  // Alert on negative sentiment
  if (sentiment < -0.5) {
    alertSupervisor(data.call_id, 'Negative sentiment detected');
  }
});
```

### Search and Discovery

Index transcripts for later search:

```bash theme={null}
curl https://api.usecrew.ai/v1/calls/search \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "query": "appointment cancellation",
    "date_range": {
      "start": "2024-01-01",
      "end": "2024-01-31"
    }
  }'
```

## Accuracy and Limitations

### Accuracy Factors

| Factor           | Impact                            |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------- |
| Audio quality    | Higher quality = better accuracy  |
| Background noise | Reduces accuracy                  |
| Accents          | May affect recognition            |
| Technical jargon | May require custom vocabulary     |
| Speaking speed   | Very fast speech reduces accuracy |

### Improving Accuracy

* Use high-quality telephony connections
* Minimize background noise
* Add custom vocabulary for industry terms
* Choose the correct language model

## Pricing

Transcription usage is billed per minute of processed audio:

| Plan         | Included Minutes | Additional Cost |
| ------------ | ---------------- | --------------- |
| Starter      | 100/month        | \$0.02/min      |
| Professional | 1,000/month      | \$0.015/min     |
| Enterprise   | Custom           | Custom          |

## Next Steps

* [Call Routing](/voice/call-routing) — Use transcripts to inform routing decisions
* [Webhooks](/integrations/webhooks) — Process transcripts in your systems
* [Analytics](/enterprise/audit-logs) — Analyze call patterns