# Speechmatics

> Transcribe audio files (voice notes, recordings, podcasts) to text via the Speechmatics batch transcription API. Use when the user asks to transcribe audio, convert speech to text, or get a transcript of a recording, and Speechmatics is configured.

- Skill: `knownasnaffy/speechmatics-2` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add knownasnaffy/speechmatics-2`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/knownasnaffy/speechmatics-2/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: knownasnaffy (https://skillmd.com/u/knownasnaffy)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/knownasnaffy/speechmatics-2

---


# Speechmatics (batch transcription)

Transcribe an audio file via Speechmatics' async batch API. Submits a job, polls until complete, then writes the transcript.

## Quick start

```bash
{baseDir}/scripts/transcribe.sh /path/to/audio.m4a
```

Defaults:

- Language: `en`
- Operating point: `enhanced` (better accuracy; use `standard` for faster/cheaper)
- Output: `<input>.txt` in the same directory
- Poll interval: 3s, timeout: 600s

## Useful flags

```bash
{baseDir}/scripts/transcribe.sh /path/to/audio.ogg --language da
{baseDir}/scripts/transcribe.sh /path/to/meeting.wav --operating-point standard
{baseDir}/scripts/transcribe.sh /path/to/call.mp3 --diarization speaker
{baseDir}/scripts/transcribe.sh /path/to/audio.m4a --format json --out /tmp/transcript.json
{baseDir}/scripts/transcribe.sh /path/to/audio.m4a --format srt --out /tmp/subs.srt
{baseDir}/scripts/transcribe.sh /path/to/long.wav --timeout 1800
```

Formats: `txt` (default, plain text), `json` (Speechmatics json-v2 with word timings), `srt` (subtitles).

## API key

The script reads the API key from (in order):

1. `--api-key <key>` flag
2. `SPEECHMATICS_API_KEY` environment variable (set by openclaw from the entry below)
3. `skills.entries.speechmatics.apiKey` in `$OPENCLAW_CONFIG_PATH` (default `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json`)

Configure via openclaw.json:

```json5
{
  skills: {
    entries: {
      speechmatics: {
        apiKey: "SPEECHMATICS_KEY_HERE",
      },
    },
  },
}
```

Override the API base (e.g. EU region or a proxy) with `--base-url` or `SPEECHMATICS_BASE_URL`. Default: `https://asr.api.speechmatics.com/v2`.

## Notes

- Supports most common audio formats (wav, mp3, m4a, ogg, flac, mp4, etc.) — Speechmatics transcodes server-side.
- File size limit: 2 GB per job.
- Batch jobs complete in roughly 1:10 wallclock to audio duration on `enhanced`; `standard` is faster.
- Always confirm any destructive follow-up (e.g. replying based on a transcript) before acting.