Switchboard-1
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.
260h of conversational US English telephone speech — historical ASR benchmark.
Best for conversational telephone ASR baselines; HMM-DNN historical reference. Pricing: paid.
What it is
Switchboard-1 (LDC97S62) is 260 hours of US English telephone-pair conversations from 1992 — the foundational conversational-ASR benchmark. LDC paid.
Watch out for: LDC license · paid · 8 kHz telephone audio · 2-channel · ~260h. Cite: Godfrey et al., ICASSP 1992.
Install / use
Go to Switchboard-1 catalog.ldc.upenn.eduWhat people actually do with Switchboard-1-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 | Yes |
| Word-level timestamps | No |
| Streaming / real-time | No |
| Languages supported | 1 |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
Switchboard-1 vs Whipscribe
| Feature | Switchboard-1 | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Open source | Transcription APIs |
| Pricing | paid | $6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free |
| Speaker identification | Yes | Named in the summary, key quotes and chapters |
| Word timestamps | No | Yes |
| Streaming | No | No |
| Languages | 1 | 99 |
| Platforms | LDC | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to Switchboard-1
Frequently asked about Switchboard-1
How much does Switchboard-1 cost?
Switchboard-1 is a paid product. Pricing changes; verify on the vendor's own page before budgeting.
Does Switchboard-1 work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
Switchboard-1 runs on LDC. It is not listed for other platforms; check the vendor for anything beyond LDC.
How do I install Switchboard-1?
Download the installer for your platform from https://catalog.ldc.upenn.edu/LDC97S62 # LDC membership. No terminal needed.
How many languages does Switchboard-1 support?
Switchboard-1 lists 1 languages.
Does Switchboard-1 identify different speakers?
Yes — Switchboard-1 has speaker diarization, so a two-person interview comes back with each speaker labelled.
Does Switchboard-1 give word-level timestamps?
No — Switchboard-1 produces segment or sentence timing only, so subtitle cues can land mid-word.
Can Switchboard-1 transcribe live audio?
No — Switchboard-1 works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is Switchboard-1 HIPAA compliant?
Switchboard-1 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 Switchboard-1?
LDC license · paid · 8 kHz telephone audio · 2-channel · ~260h. Cite: Godfrey et al., ICASSP 1992.
Who is Switchboard-1 best for?
Conversational telephone ASR baselines; HMM-DNN historical reference.
Does Switchboard-1 run offline?
Switchboard-1 runs on your own machine — it is open source, so nothing leaves the computer unless you configure it to.
Can I use Switchboard-1 in the browser?
No — Switchboard-1 is a LDC application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Who makes Switchboard-1?
Switchboard-1 is made by LDC.
What kind of tool is Switchboard-1?
In this directory Switchboard-1 is filed under dataset as a open-source tool.
What are the alternatives to Switchboard-1?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/switchboard-alternatives comparing Switchboard-1 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
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One file up to 10 hours, as an upload or a link: see MP3 to text for long recordings, a podcast episode as text from its link and the SRT file generator.
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