speech-to-text — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install

---
name: speech-to-text
description: Transcribe audio to text using ElevenLabs Scribe v2. Use when converting audio/video to text, generating subtitles, transcribing meetings, or processing spoken content.
license: MIT
compatibility: Requires internet access and an ElevenLabs API key (ELEVENLABS_API_KEY).
metadata: {"openclaw": {"requires": {"env": ["ELEVENLABS_API_KEY"]}, "primaryEnv": "ELEVENLABS_API_KEY"}}
---

# ElevenLabs Speech-to-Text

Transcribe audio to text with Scribe v2 - supports 90+ languages, speaker diarization, and word-level timestamps.

> **Setup, before writing any code:** if `ELEVENLABS_API_KEY` isn't set for this project, run `npx -y @elevenlabs/cli@latest onboard init` from the app's folder first and follow what it prints: it signs the user in and stores a key for the project, so nobody copies one by hand. Otherwise see the [Installation Guide](references/installation.md). For JavaScript, use `@elevenlabs/*` packages only.

## Quick Start

### Python

```python
from elevenlabs import ElevenLabs

client = ElevenLabs()

with open("audio.mp3", "rb") as audio_file:
    result = client.speech_to_text.convert(file=audio_file, model_id="scribe_v2")

print(result.text)
```

### JavaScript

```javascript
import { ElevenLabsClient } from "@elevenlabs/elevenlabs-js";
import { createReadStream } from "fs";

const client = new ElevenLabsClient();
const result = await client.speechToText.convert({
  file: createReadStream("audio.mp3"),
  modelId: "scribe_v2",
});
console.log(result.text);
```

### CLI

```bash
elevenlabs speech-to-text convert --file audio.mp3 --model-id scribe_v2
```

## Models

| Model ID | Description | Best For |
|----------|-------------|----------|
| `scribe_v2` | State-of-the-art accuracy, 90+ languages | Batch transcription, subtitles, long-form audio |
| `scribe_v2_medical` | Specialized recognition for medical and clinical audio, 90+ languages | Clinical documentation, medical dictation, patient calls |
| `scribe_v2_realtime` | Low latency (~150ms) | Live transcription, voice agents |
| `scribe_v2_realtime_turbo` | Realtime transcription variant | Live transcription |
| `scribe_v2_realtime_lite` | Realtime transcription variant | Live transcription |

## Transcription with Timestamps

Word-level timestamps include type classification and speaker identification:

```python
result = client.speech_to_text.convert(
    file=audio_file, model_id="scribe_v2", timestamps_granularity="word"
)

for word in result.words:
    print(f"{word.text}: {word.start}s - {word.end}s (type: {word.type})")

```

## Speaker Diarization

Identify WHO said WHAT - the model labels each word with a speaker ID, useful for meetings, interviews, or any multi-speaker audio:

```python
result = client.speech_to_text.convert(
    file=audio_file,
    model_id="scribe_v2",
    diarize=True
)

for word in result.words:
    print(f"[{word.speaker_id}] {word.text}")
```

For call recordings, the batch API can label diarized speakers as `agent` and `customer` by setting `detect_speaker_roles=true` alongside `diarize=true`. This option is not compatible with `use_multi_channel=true`.

If your workspace has registered speaker profiles, set `use_speaker_library=true` with `diarize=true` to match detected speakers against the speaker library.

```bash
elevenlabs speech-to-text convert \
  --file call.mp3 \
  --model-id scribe_v2 \
  --diarize true \
  --detect-speaker-roles true \
  --use-speaker-library true
```

## Multichannel Audio

Use `use_multi_channel=true` when each speaker is isolated on a separate audio channel. By default, the API returns one transcript per channel under `transcripts`; set `multichannel_output_style="combined"` to receive one transcript merged by timestamp, with `channel_index` on each word.

```python
result = client.speech_to_text.convert(
    file=audio_file,
    model_id="scribe_v2",
    use_multi_channel=True,
    multichannel_output_style="combined",
)
```

## Keyterm Prompting

Help the model recognize specific words it might otherwise mishear - product names, technical jargon, or unusual spellings (up to 100 terms):

```python
result = client.speech_to_text.convert(
    file=audio_file,
    model_id="scribe_v2",
    keyterms=["ElevenLabs", "Scribe", "API"]
)
```

## Language Detection

Automatic detection with optional language hint:

```python
result = client.speech_to_text.convert(
    file=audio_file,
    model_id="scribe_v2",
    language_code="eng"  # ISO 639-1 or ISO 639-3 code
)

print(f"Detected: {result.language_code} ({result.language_probability:.0%})")
```

## Supported Formats

**Audio:** MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, WebM, AAC, AIFF, Opus
**Video:** MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, WMV, FLV, WebM, MPEG, 3GPP

**Limits:** Up to 5.0GB file size, 10 hours duration

## Response Format

```json
{
  "text": "The full transcription text",
  "language_code": "eng",
  "language_probability": 0.98,
  "words": [
    {"text": "The", "start": 0.0, "end": 0.15, "type": "word", "speaker_id": "speaker_0"},
    {"text": " ", "start": 0.15, "end": 0.16, "type": "spacing", "speaker_id": "speaker_0"}
  ]
}
```

**Word types:**
- `word` - An actual spoken word
- `spacing` - Whitespace between words (useful for precise timing)
- `audio_event` - Non-speech sounds the model detected (laughter, applause, music, etc.)

## Error Handling

```python
try:
    result = client.speech_to_text.convert(file=audio_file, model_id="scribe_v2")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Transcription failed: {e}")
```

Common errors:
- **401**: Invalid API key
- **422**: Invalid parameters
- **429**: Rate limit exceeded

## Tracking Costs

Monitor usage via `request-id` response header:

```python
response = client.speech_to_text.with_raw_response.convert(file=audio_file, model_id="scribe_v2")
result = response.data
print(f"Request ID: {response.headers.get('request-id')}")
```

## Real-Time Streaming

For live transcription with ultra-low latency (~150ms), use the real-time API. The real-time API produces two types of transcripts:

- **Partial transcripts**: Interim results that update frequently as audio is processed - use these for live feedback (e.g., showing text as the user speaks)
- **Committed transcripts**: Final, stable results after you "commit" - use these as the source of truth for your application

A "commit" tells the model to finalize the current segment. You can commit manually (e.g., when the user pauses) or use Voice Activity Detection (VAD) to auto-commit on silence.

### Python (Server-Side)

```python
import asyncio
from elevenlabs import CommitStrategy, ElevenLabs, RealtimeEvents, RealtimeUrlOptions

client = ElevenLabs()

async def transcribe_realtime():
    done = asyncio.Event()
    connection = await client.speech_to_text.realtime.connect(RealtimeUrlOptions(
        model_id="scribe_v2_realtime",
        url="https://npr-ice.streamguys1.com/live.mp3",
        commit_strategy=CommitStrategy.VAD,  # URL streams never commit on their own
        include_timestamps=True,
        keyterms=["ElevenLabs", "Scribe"],
        no_verbatim=True,
    ))

    def on_error(error):
        print(f"Error: {error}")
        done.set()

    connection.on(RealtimeEvents.PARTIAL_TRANSCRIPT, lambda data: print(f"Partial: {data.get('text', '')}"))
    connection.on(RealtimeEvents.COMMITTED_TRANSCRIPT, lambda data: print(f"Final: {data.get('text', '')}"))
    connection.on(RealtimeEvents.ERROR, on_error)
    connection.on(RealtimeEvents.CLOSE, done.set)

    try:
        await done.wait()
    finally:
        await connection.close()

asyncio.run(transcribe_realtime())
```

### JavaScript (Client-Side with React)

```typescript
import { useScribe, CommitStrategy } from "@elevenlabs/react";

function TranscriptionComponent() {
  const [transcript, setTranscript] = useState("");

  const scribe = useScribe({
    modelId: "scribe_v2_realtime",
    commitStrategy: CommitStrategy.VAD, // Auto-commit on silence for mic input
    keyterms: ["ElevenLabs", "Scribe"],
    noVerbatim: true,
    includeLanguageDetection: true,
    onPartialTranscript: (data) => console.log("Partial:", data.text),
    onCommittedTranscript: (data) => setTranscript((prev) => prev + data.text),
  });

  const start = async () => {
    // Get token from your backend (never expose API key to client)
    const { token } = await fetch("/scribe-token").then((r) => r.json());

    await scribe.connect({
      token,
      microphone: { echoCancellation: true, noiseSuppression: true },
    });
  };

  return <button onClick={start}>Start Recording</button>;
}
```

### Commit Strategies

| Strategy | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| **Manual** | You call `commit()` when ready - use for file processing or when you control the audio segments |
| **VAD** | Voice Activity Detection auto-commits when silence is detected - use for live microphone input |

Set `includeLanguageDetection: true` to receive the detected language code in delayed final
transcript events.

```typescript
// React: set commitStrategy on the hook (recommended for mic input)
import { useScribe, CommitStrategy } from "@elevenlabs/react";

const scribe = useScribe({
  modelId: "scribe_v2_realtime",
  commitStrategy: CommitStrategy.VAD,
  keyterms: ["ElevenLabs", "Scribe"],
  noVerbatim: true,
  // Optional VAD tuning:
  vadSilenceThresholdSecs: 1.5,
  vadThreshold: 0.4,
});
```

```javascript
// JavaScript client: pass vad config on connect
const connection = await client.speechToText.realtime.connect({
  modelId: "scribe_v2_realtime",
  keyterms: ["ElevenLabs", "Scribe"],
  noVerbatim: true,
  vad: {
    silenceThresholdSecs: 1.5,
    threshold: 0.4,
  },
});
```

### Event Types

| Event | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `partial_transcript` | Live interim results |
| `final_transcript` | Stable segment result sent before the segment is committed |
| `final_transcript_with_timestamps` | Delayed final result with timestamps and/or detected language |
| `committed_transcript` | Final results after commit |
| `committed_transcript_with_timestamps` | Final with word timing |
| `committed_transcript_entities` | Entities detected in a committed segment |
| `edited_transcript` | Original and edited text for a committed segment when transcript editing is enabled |
| `invalid_request` | Connection parameters were rejected and the session closes |
| `error` | Error occurred |

See real-time references for complete documentation.

## References

- [Installation Guide](references/installation.md)
- [Transcription Options](references/transcription-options.md)
- [Real-Time Client-Side Streaming](references/realtime-client-side.md)
- [Real-Time Server-Side Streaming](references/realtime-server-side.md)
- [Commit Strategies](references/realtime-commit-strategies.md)
- [Real-Time Event Reference](references/realtime-events.md)