# speech-to-text

> Transcribe audio to text using ElevenLabs Scribe and Whisper models via the inference.sh CLI, supporting timestamps, speaker diarization, translation, and multi-language transcription.

- Skill: `inference-sh/speech-to-text` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add inference-sh/speech-to-text`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/inference-sh/speech-to-text/raw
- Safety review: CAUTION (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML, Speech & Audio
- Tags: Audio, Diarization, Elevenlabs, Inference Sh, Speech To Text, Subtitles, Transcription, Whisper
- Author: inference.sh (https://skillmd.com/u/inference-sh)
- Updated: 2026-07-06
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/inference-sh/speech-to-text

---


> **Install the belt CLI skill:** `npx skills add belt-sh/cli`

# Speech-to-Text

Transcribe audio to text via [inference.sh](https://inference.sh) CLI.

![Speech-to-Text](https://cloud.inference.sh/u/4mg21r6ta37mpaz6ktzwtt8krr/01jz025e88nkvw55at1rqtj5t8.png)

## Quick Start

> Requires inference.sh CLI (`belt`). [Install instructions](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/inference-sh/skills/refs/heads/main/cli-install.md)

```bash
belt login

belt app run infsh/fast-whisper-large-v3 --input '{"audio_url": "https://audio.mp3"}'
```


## Available Models

| Model | App ID | Best For |
|-------|--------|----------|
| ElevenLabs Scribe v2 | `elevenlabs/stt` | 98%+ accuracy, diarization, 90+ languages |
| Fast Whisper V3 | `infsh/fast-whisper-large-v3` | Fast transcription |
| Whisper V3 Large | `infsh/whisper-v3-large` | Highest accuracy |

## Examples

### Basic Transcription

```bash
belt app run infsh/fast-whisper-large-v3 --input '{"audio_url": "https://meeting.mp3"}'
```

### With Timestamps

```bash
belt app sample infsh/fast-whisper-large-v3 --save input.json

# {
#   "audio_url": "https://podcast.mp3",
#   "timestamps": true
# }

belt app run infsh/fast-whisper-large-v3 --input input.json
```

### Translation (to English)

```bash
belt app run infsh/whisper-v3-large --input '{
  "audio_url": "https://french-audio.mp3",
  "task": "translate"
}'
```

### From Video

```bash
# Extract audio from video first
belt app run infsh/video-audio-extractor --input '{"video_url": "https://video.mp4"}' > audio.json

# Transcribe the extracted audio
belt app run infsh/fast-whisper-large-v3 --input '{"audio_url": "<audio-url>"}'
```

## Workflow: Video Subtitles

```bash
# 1. Transcribe video audio
belt app run infsh/fast-whisper-large-v3 --input '{
  "audio_url": "https://video.mp4",
  "timestamps": true
}' > transcript.json

# 2. Use transcript for captions
belt app run infsh/caption-videos --input '{
  "video_url": "https://video.mp4",
  "captions": "<transcript-from-step-1>"
}'
```

## Supported Languages

Whisper supports 99+ languages including:
English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, and many more.

## Use Cases

- **Meetings**: Transcribe recordings
- **Podcasts**: Generate transcripts
- **Subtitles**: Create captions for videos
- **Voice Notes**: Convert to searchable text
- **Interviews**: Transcription for research
- **Accessibility**: Make audio content accessible

## Output Format

Returns JSON with:
- `text`: Full transcription
- `segments`: Timestamped segments (if requested)
- `language`: Detected language

## Related Skills

```bash
# ElevenLabs STT (98%+ accuracy, diarization)
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@elevenlabs-stt

# ElevenLabs TTS (reverse direction)
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@elevenlabs-tts

# Full platform skill (all 250+ apps)
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@infsh-cli

# Text-to-speech (reverse direction)
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@text-to-speech

# Video generation (add captions)
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@ai-video-generation

# AI avatars (lipsync with transcripts)
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@ai-avatar-video
```

Browse all audio apps: `belt app store --category audio`

## Documentation

- [Running Apps](https://inference.sh/docs/apps/running) - How to run apps via CLI
- [Audio Transcription Example](https://inference.sh/docs/examples/audio-transcription) - Complete transcription guide
- [Apps Overview](https://inference.sh/docs/apps/overview) - Understanding the app ecosystem