Feedback: getting-started-models

Documentation Feedback

Original URL: https://www.assemblyai.com/docs/getting-started/models
Category: getting-started
Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:30:32 pm

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Claude Sonnet 4 Feedback

Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:30:31 pm

Technical Documentation Analysis: AssemblyAI Models

Overall Assessment

This documentation provides a good foundation but lacks critical technical details and practical guidance that developers need to make informed decisions and implement successfully.

🔴 Critical Missing Information

1. Technical Specifications

• Audio format requirements (file types, sample rates, bit rates, encoding)
• File size and duration limits for each model
• Processing time estimates (e.g., “Universal typically processes 1 hour of audio in 2-3 minutes”)
• Memory and bandwidth requirements for streaming
• Rate limits and concurrent request limits

2. Implementation Details

• No code examples showing how to select models in API calls
• Missing authentication setup information
• No error handling examples or common error codes
• Webhook configuration for async processing (if applicable)

3. Model Performance Data

• Benchmark comparisons between models on common use cases
• Actual accuracy metrics beyond WER ranges
• Latency measurements in real-world scenarios
• Performance degradation factors (background noise, accents, audio quality)

🟡 Clarity and Structure Issues

1. Inconsistent Model Naming

"Universal-Streaming" vs "Streaming"
Use consistent naming throughout (recommend "Universal-Streaming")

2. Vague Language Support Information

Current: “Good accuracy (>10% to ≤25% WER)” Better:

Good accuracy (11-25% WER)
- Suitable for: Content analysis, meeting transcription
- Not recommended for: Legal documentation, medical transcription
- Typical use cases: [specific examples]

3. Missing Decision Framework

Add a decision tree or flowchart:

Start here →
├─ Real-time needed? → Universal-Streaming
├─ English only + highest accuracy? → Slam-1
└─ Multi-language + good accuracy? → Universal

🟠 Required Code Examples

1. Model Selection Example

# Add this example
import assemblyai as aai

# Configure model selection
config = aai.TranscriptionConfig(
    speech_model=aai.SpeechModel.slam_1,  # or universal, universal_streaming
    language_code="en"  # for Universal model
)

transcriber = aai.Transcriber(config=config)
transcript = transcriber.transcribe("path/to/audio.mp3")

2. Streaming Setup Example

# Add streaming configuration example
import assemblyai as aai

def on_data(transcript: aai.RealtimeTranscript):
    if not transcript.text:
        return
    if isinstance(transcript, aai.RealtimeFinalTranscript):
        print(transcript.text, end="\r\n")

aai.settings.api_key = "your-api-key"
transcriber = aai.RealtimeTranscriber(
    on_data=on_data,
    on_error=lambda error: print("Error:", error),
    sample_rate=16000,
    encoding=aai.AudioEncoding.pcm_s16le
)

📊 Enhanced Comparison Table

Replace current basic table with:

Feature	Slam-1	Universal	Universal-Streaming
Primary Use Case	High-accuracy English	Multi-language batch	Real-time applications
Languages	English only	80+ languages	English + 10 major languages
Avg Processing Time	0.3x audio length	0.15x audio length	~300ms latency
Best WER	<5% (English)	<10% (top languages)	<12% (real-time)
Max File Size	[specify]	[specify]	N/A (streaming)
Fine-tuning	✅	❌	❌
Custom Vocabulary	✅	Limited	Limited
Concurrent Requests	[specify]	[specify]	[specify]

🚨 Critical User Pain Points

1. No Quick Start Path

Add: “New to AssemblyAI? Start with Universal model - it works out of the box for most use cases.”

2. Missing Prerequisites Section

## Before You Start
- [ ] Obtain API key from [dashboard link]
- [ ] Install SDK: `pip install assemblyai`
- [ ] Verify audio format compatibility
- [ ] Review rate limits for your plan

3. No Troubleshooting Guidance

Add section:

## Common Issues
- **Poor accuracy?** → Check audio quality, consider Slam-1 for English
- **Slow processing?** → Use Universal for better speed/accuracy balance
- **Streaming dropouts?** → Verify network stability and sample rate

🔧 Structural Improvements

1. Add Quick Reference Section

## Quick Model Selection
- **English podcast transcription** → Slam-1
- **Multi-language meeting notes** → Universal
- **Voice assistant integration** → Universal-Streaming
- **Legal/medical documentation** → Slam-1 with fine-tuning

2. Reorganize Language Support

• Move detailed language list to separate page
• Keep only top 10-15 languages in main documentation
• Add language detection capabilities information

3. Enhanced Next Steps

Current: Basic links Better:

## Next Steps
1. **First time?** → [5-minute quickstart tutorial]
2. **Ready to implement?** → [Model selection API guide]
3. **Need customization?** → [Fine-tuning documentation]
4. **Production deployment?** → [Best practices guide]

📈 Additional Recommendations

1. Add FAQ section addressing common model selection questions
2. Include audio quality guidelines for optimal results with each model
3. Provide cost calculator for different usage patterns
4. Add model comparison playground link where users can test different models
5. Include migration guide for switching between models
6. Add monitoring and analytics information for production usage

This documentation would benefit significantly from more technical depth, practical examples, and clearer guidance for different user personas (beginners vs. experienced developers).

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