Faster Processing
Cloud servers can transcribe faster than some local setups, especially on older Macs.
Cloud Providers
While FloWords excels at local transcription, you can optionally use cloud providers for specific needs. Cloud providers require your own API keys and send audio to external servers.
Why Use Cloud Providers?
Section titled “Why Use Cloud Providers?”Latest Models
Access the newest AI models without downloading large files.
Backup Option
Use as a fallback when local transcription encounters issues.
Specialized Features
Some providers offer unique features like speaker diarization.
Supported Providers
Section titled “Supported Providers”OpenAI Whisper API
Section titled “OpenAI Whisper API”The gold standard for cloud transcription.
Features:
- High accuracy across languages
- Consistent, reliable performance
- Same Whisper technology as local models
- Timestamp support
Pricing: ~$0.006 per minute of audio
- Create account at platform.openai.com
- Generate an API key
- In FloWords: Settings > Transcription > Cloud Providers
- Select OpenAI
- Paste your API key
- Test the connection
Ultra-fast transcription with Groq’s specialized hardware.
Features:
- Extremely fast processing
- Competitive accuracy
- Cost-effective pricing
- Low latency
Pricing: Pay per usage (check groq.com for current rates)
- Create account at console.groq.com
- Generate an API key
- In FloWords: Settings > Transcription > Cloud Providers
- Select Groq
- Paste your API key
- Test the connection
Deepgram
Section titled “Deepgram”Real-time streaming transcription specialist.
Features:
- Real-time streaming support
- Speaker diarization
- Custom vocabulary
- Multiple languages
Pricing: Tiered pricing based on usage
- Create account at deepgram.com
- Generate an API key
- In FloWords: Settings > Transcription > Cloud Providers
- Select Deepgram
- Paste your API key
- Test the connection
Google Gemini
Section titled “Google Gemini”Google’s multimodal AI with transcription capabilities.
Features:
- Multimodal understanding
- Context awareness
- Advanced language support
- Integration with Google ecosystem
Pricing: Check Google Cloud pricing
- Set up Google Cloud account
- Enable Gemini API
- Generate credentials
- In FloWords: Settings > Transcription > Cloud Providers
- Select Gemini
- Configure your credentials
ElevenLabs
Section titled “ElevenLabs”Known for voice synthesis, also offers speech recognition.
Features:
- High-quality speech recognition
- Voice analysis capabilities
- Good for voice-centric workflows
Pricing: Check elevenlabs.io for current rates
Mistral
Section titled “Mistral”European AI provider with privacy focus.
Features:
- European data processing
- Strong multilingual support
- GDPR compliance
- Competitive pricing
Pricing: Check mistral.ai for rates
Provider Comparison
Section titled “Provider Comparison”| Provider | Speed | Accuracy | Price | Privacy | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | Fast | Excellent | $$$ | US servers | 99+ |
| Groq | Fastest | Great | $$ | US servers | 50+ |
| Deepgram | Fast | Great | $$ | US servers | 30+ |
| Gemini | Fast | Excellent | $$$ | Google Cloud | 40+ |
| ElevenLabs | Medium | Good | $$ | US servers | 20+ |
| Mistral | Medium | Great | $$ | EU servers | 20+ |
Setting Up a Provider
Section titled “Setting Up a Provider”General Steps
Section titled “General Steps”- Create Account - Sign up with your chosen provider
- Generate API Key - Usually in Settings or API section
- Copy Key - Keep it secure, don’t share
- Configure FloWords - Add key in Settings > Transcription
- Test Connection - Use the test button to verify
- Select as Active - Choose as your transcription method
Security Best Practices
Section titled “Security Best Practices”- Never share your API keys
- Use separate keys for different applications
- Set spending limits where possible
- Rotate keys periodically
- Monitor usage for unexpected charges
Fallback Configuration
Section titled “Fallback Configuration”FloWords can automatically fall back to cloud providers when local transcription fails.
- Go to Settings > Transcription
- Enable Fallback Mode
- Set your primary method (usually local)
- Configure cloud provider as fallback
- Set fallback conditions (timeout, error, quality threshold)
Fallback Priority
Section titled “Fallback Priority”- Primary: Your selected local model
- Secondary: Configured cloud provider
- Tertiary: Apple’s native Speech Recognition
Managing Costs
Section titled “Managing Costs”Monitor Usage
Section titled “Monitor Usage”- Check provider dashboards regularly
- Set up billing alerts
- Review monthly statements
Reduce Costs
Section titled “Reduce Costs”- Use local models when possible
- Set cloud as fallback only
- Choose cost-effective providers (Groq, Deepgram)
- Batch longer recordings rather than many short ones
Budget Tips
Section titled “Budget Tips”| Use Case | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Daily dictation | Local models (free) |
| Professional transcription | Cloud provider |
| Occasional backup | Cloud fallback |
| High volume | Local + selective cloud |
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting””Invalid API Key”
Section titled “”Invalid API Key””- Double-check the key for typos
- Ensure you copied the full key
- Check if the key is still active
- Generate a new key if needed
”Rate Limit Exceeded”
Section titled “”Rate Limit Exceeded””- Wait before making more requests
- Check your provider’s rate limits
- Consider upgrading your plan
- Use local models as primary
”Connection Failed”
Section titled “”Connection Failed””- Check your internet connection
- Verify the provider’s service status
- Try a different provider
- Fall back to local models
”Unexpected Charges”
Section titled “”Unexpected Charges””- Review your usage history
- Check for compromised API keys
- Set spending limits
- Contact provider support
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”- Transcribe Audio Files with cloud or local models
- Set Up AI Enhancement for polished output