audiotools
Don’t want to install audiotools? Drop the file here.
The first 20 minutes of any recording are transcribed free: a recording up to 20 minutes transcribes in full, a longer one is previewed, and a pack from $6 (500 minutes) transcribes the rest and opens every export, and credits never expire.
Audio data tooling library that pairs with DAC.
Best for building ASR training pipelines with augmentation + dataset utilities. Pricing: free.
What it is
A Python library of audio utilities authored by Descript Research. MIT.
Watch out for: Generic; not a model.
Install / use
pip install audiotoolsWhat people actually do with audiotools-style transcription
The tool is the means. These are the jobs — each one priced at published rates, each one wired up on its own page.
Features
| Speaker diarization | No |
| Word-level timestamps | Yes |
| Streaming / real-time | No |
| Languages supported | 1 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Links
audiotools vs Whipscribe
| Feature | audiotools | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Open source | Transcription APIs |
| Pricing | free | $6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free |
| Speaker identification | No | Named in the summary, key quotes and chapters |
| Word timestamps | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming | No | No |
| Languages | 1 | 99 |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to audiotools
Frequently asked about audiotools
Is audiotools free?
Yes. audiotools is free and open source.
Does audiotools work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
audiotools runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.
How do I install audiotools?
With pip: `pip install audiotools`. You need Python and, for most audio tools, ffmpeg on your PATH first.
How many languages does audiotools support?
audiotools lists 1 languages.
Does audiotools identify different speakers?
No. audiotools does not label speakers; a conversation comes back as one continuous text. If you need speaker labels, that is a separate tool or a different service.
Does audiotools give word-level timestamps?
Yes — audiotools produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can audiotools transcribe live audio?
No — audiotools works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is audiotools HIPAA compliant?
audiotools does not claim HIPAA compliance. For PHI, run it on infrastructure you control or choose a service that will sign a BAA.
What are the limitations of audiotools?
Generic; not a model.
Who is audiotools best for?
Building ASR training pipelines with augmentation + dataset utilities.
Does audiotools run offline?
audiotools runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use audiotools in the browser?
No — audiotools is a Linux, macOS and Windows application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the audiotools source code?
On GitHub at github.com/descriptinc/audiotools. It is maintained by Descript.
What kind of tool is audiotools?
In this directory audiotools is filed under data, preprocess as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to audiotools?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/audiotools-alternatives comparing audiotools with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.
Whipscribe is a hosted transcription service. If you want transcripts without running infrastructure, paste a URL or drop a file in the form below — you'll have a transcript in seconds.
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