Transcribing long audio interviews accurately, especially in languages other than English, presents complex challenges such as reliable speaker identification and precise timestamps at an affordable price.
The article discusses the journey of building a scalable transcription pipeline using Google's Vertex AI and Gemini models, highlighting unexpected limitations and budget considerations.
Initial attempts using Google's Vertex AI services like Chirp2 and Gemini 2.0 Flash revealed shortcomings, leading to the need for a custom implementation for interview transcriptions.
Issues like token limits, timestamp drift, and a repetition bug posed significant hurdles in achieving accurate and cost-effective transcription for long audio files.
Implementing a strategy of chunking audio into shorter segments improved transcription quality, reduced costs, and addressed challenges like the repetition bug.
The process involved post-processing of transcripts, merging audio chunks, and reconstructing full transcripts to ensure continuity and accuracy in the final output.
Careful prompt engineering, smart chunking strategies, and transcript corrections were essential in overcoming challenges and building a reliable transcription system.
The article emphasizes the importance of precision in prompts, chunking strategies, and merging techniques to ensure high-quality transcription results for long interviews.
Overall, the journey highlighted the complexities of building a transcription pipeline but resulted in a robust system that balances accuracy, performance, and cost-efficiency.
The experience with Google's models demonstrated the need for innovative solutions and meticulous approach in audio transcription projects to achieve scalable and accurate results.
The article concludes by noting the continuous evolution in LLMs and APIs, indicating potential for more streamlined transcription solutions in the future.