Real-time vs Post-processed Transcription Accuracy
When deciding between real-time transcription and post-processing a full audio file, understanding the differences in accuracy can help you choose the best solution for your needs.
Accuracy Comparison
Deepgram's transcription services offer different levels of accuracy depending on the method used.
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Pre-recorded Transcription: This method typically offers higher accuracy because it leverages the entire audio context. Deepgram's benchmarks show a word error rate (WER) of 8.4% for pre-recorded English transcription.
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Real-time Transcription: In contrast, real-time transcription provides slightly less accuracy compared to pre-recorded because it processes audio as it comes in, without the advantage of overall context. The WER for real-time streaming is approximately 10.7%.
When to Use Each Method
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Use Pre-recorded Transcription if accuracy is your paramount concern and you do not need the results to be instantaneous. Submitting the whole audio for post-process transcription will result in slightly more accurate results due to the availability of the full audio context.
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Use Real-time Transcription when you need immediate results, such as in scenarios where live feedback is vital. Although it trades off a bit of accuracy, the ability to get results in real-time can be critical for interactive applications.
Conclusion
If precision is crucial and time is flexible, opting for post-processed transcription will yield the best accuracy. However, real-time transcription is invaluable for immediate transcription needs, despite a slight trade-off in accuracy.