Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS)
Need a transcript, not a dataset? 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.
44.5k hours of read multilingual audiobook speech across 8 European languages.
Best for multilingual ASR training; cross-language transfer baselines beyond English. Pricing: free.
What it is
Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) extends LibriSpeech to 8 European languages from LibriVox: 44.5k hours total. English dominates (44.7k); other languages range 100–2000h. License: CC BY 4.0.
Watch out for: CC BY 4.0 · read audiobook (LibriVox) bias · 8 languages only (en, de, nl, fr, es, it, pt, pl) · public-domain books only. Cite: Pratap et al., Interspeech 2020.
Install / use
from datasets import load_dataset; ds = load_dataset('facebook/multilingual_librispeech', 'german')What people actually do with Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS)-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 | No |
| Streaming / real-time | No |
| Languages supported | 8 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) vs Whipscribe
| Feature | Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) | 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 | No | Yes |
| Streaming | No | No |
| Languages | 8 | 99 |
| Platforms | HuggingFace, OpenSLR | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS)
Frequently asked about Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS)
Is Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) free?
Yes. Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) is free and open source.
Does Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) runs on HuggingFace and OpenSLR. It is not listed for other platforms; check the vendor for anything beyond HuggingFace and OpenSLR.
How do I install Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS)?
Download the installer for your platform from the vendor. No terminal needed.
How many languages does Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) support?
Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) lists 8 languages.
Does Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) identify different speakers?
No. Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) 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 Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) give word-level timestamps?
No — Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) produces segment or sentence timing only, so subtitle cues can land mid-word.
Can Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) transcribe live audio?
No — Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) HIPAA compliant?
Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) 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 Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS)?
CC BY 4.0 · read audiobook (LibriVox) bias · 8 languages only (en, de, nl, fr, es, it, pt, pl) · public-domain books only. Cite: Pratap et al., Interspeech 2020.
Who is Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) best for?
Multilingual ASR training; cross-language transfer baselines beyond English.
Does Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) run offline?
Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) in the browser?
No — Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) is a HuggingFace and OpenSLR application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Where is the Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) source code?
On GitHub at github.com/facebook/multilingual_librispeech. It is maintained by Meta AI / Facebook AI Research.
What kind of tool is Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS)?
In this directory Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) is filed under dataset as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS)?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/mls-alternatives comparing Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) 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.
Transcribe your recordings
Running Multilingual LibriSpeech (MLS) yourself? Send the same file here and compare the transcript. Transcribe any language, any recording · Transcription services from $0.29 an hour · Transcribe from any meeting or recording platform · How to transcribe, step by step
Explore
All transcription tools · By language · By platform · By file format · How-to guides · Transcription services · Transcription API · Pricing
Have the recording already?
Skip the setup and send the file or the link: see MP3 to text for long recordings, how to transcribe a podcast and the SRT file generator.
Comparing tools before you pay?
If you would rather pay a service than run software yourself: see an honest roundup of the best transcription services, cheap transcription services and the real cost per hour and our transcription service with prices and turnaround.