Feedback: api-reference-files-upload

Documentation Feedback

Original URL: https://assemblyai.com/docs/api-reference/files/upload
Category: api-reference
Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:32:10 pm

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Claude Sonnet 4 Feedback

Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:32:09 pm

Technical Documentation Analysis & Recommendations

Critical Issues Requiring Immediate Attention

1. Missing Essential Information

Request Parameters & Headers:

• No documentation of required headers beyond Content-Type
• Missing authentication details (header format, where to get API key)
• No file size limits specified
• No supported file formats listed

Response Structure:

• HTTP status codes listed but no response body examples
• Missing successful response format (likely returns a file URL or ID)
• No error response body structures

2. Redundant and Poor Examples

Current Issues:

• 8 nearly identical curl examples with generic <filename> placeholders
• No variety in programming languages
• No realistic file paths or names

Recommended Replacement:

# Upload an audio file
curl -X POST https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/upload \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/octet-stream" \
     --data-binary @recording.mp3

# Upload from a different directory
curl -X POST https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/upload \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/octet-stream" \
     --data-binary @/path/to/audio/interview.wav

Structural Improvements

3. Enhanced Documentation Structure

# Upload a Media File

Upload audio or video files to AssemblyAI's servers for transcription processing.

## Authentication
All requests require a valid API key in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

## Request Details

**Endpoint:** `POST https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/upload`
**EU Endpoint:** `POST https://api.eu.assemblyai.com/v2/upload`

### Headers
| Header | Value | Required |
|--------|-------|----------|
| Authorization | Bearer {your_api_key} | Yes |
| Content-Type | application/octet-stream | Yes |

### File Requirements
- **Supported formats:** MP3, MP4, WAV, M4A, AAC, FLAC, OGG, WMA
- **Maximum file size:** 5GB
- **Upload method:** Binary data in request body

## Response Format

### Success Response (200)
```json
{
  "upload_url": "https://cdn.assemblyai.com/upload/your-file-id"
}

Error Responses

{
  "error": "File too large. Maximum size is 5GB."
}

### 4. **Multi-Language Examples**

Add examples in popular programming languages:

```python
# Python
import requests

url = "https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/upload"
headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"}

with open("audio_file.mp3", "rb") as f:
    response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, data=f)

upload_url = response.json()["upload_url"]

// JavaScript (Node.js)
const fs = require('fs');
const fetch = require('node-fetch');

const audioFile = fs.readFileSync('audio_file.mp3');

fetch('https://api.assemblyai.com/v2/upload', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
        'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
        'Content-Type': 'application/octet-stream'
    },
    body: audioFile
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => console.log(data.upload_url));

User Experience Improvements

5. Address Common Pain Points

Add Troubleshooting Section:

## Common Issues

**401 Unauthorized**
- Verify your API key is correct and active
- Ensure "Bearer " prefix is included in Authorization header

**413 Payload Too Large**
- File exceeds 5GB limit
- Consider compressing audio or splitting large files

**Unsupported Media Type**
- Check that your file format is supported
- Verify Content-Type header is set correctly

6. Add Context and Next Steps

## What Happens Next?

1. File uploads to AssemblyAI servers
2. Returns `upload_url` for use in transcription requests
3. Use this URL in the `/v2/transcript` endpoint to start transcription

## Related Endpoints
- [Create Transcript](/docs/api-reference/transcript/create) - Start transcription with uploaded file
- [Get Transcript](/docs/api-reference/transcript/get) - Check transcription status

Priority Implementation Order

1. High Priority: Add missing response format and authentication details
2. High Priority: Replace redundant examples with diverse, realistic ones
3. Medium Priority: Add file format and size limit specifications
4. Medium Priority: Include multi-language code examples
5. Low Priority: Add troubleshooting section and related endpoints

These changes will transform this from a basic reference into a comprehensive, user-friendly guide that reduces support requests and improves developer experience.

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