Feedback: lemur-apply-llms-to-audio-files

Documentation Feedback

Original URL: https://assemblyai.com/docs/lemur/apply-llms-to-audio-files
Category: lemur
Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:29:41 pm

Claude Sonnet 4 Feedback

Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:29:40 pm

Technical Documentation Analysis & Feedback

This documentation covers applying LLMs to audio files using LeMUR. Here’s my specific, actionable feedback:

🚨 Critical Issues

1. Missing API Key Setup Instructions

Problem: Multiple references to <YOUR_API_KEY> without clear setup guidance. Fix: Add a dedicated section after “Before you begin”:

## Get your API key
1. Sign in to your [AssemblyAI Dashboard](https://www.assemblyai.com/app/)
2. Navigate to the API Keys section
3. Copy your API key
4. Replace `<YOUR_API_KEY>` in all code examples with your actual key

2. Inconsistent Code Examples

Problem: JavaScript examples mix local files vs URLs inconsistently. Fix: Standardize all examples to show both options clearly, like the Python SDK version does.

3. Missing Error Handling

Problem: No guidance on handling common errors. Fix: Add error handling examples:

try:
    result = transcript.lemur.task(prompt, final_model=aai.LemurModel.claude_sonnet_4_20250514)
    print(result.response)
except Exception as e:
    print(f"LeMUR task failed: {e}")

📋 Missing Information

4. Cost Information

Problem: No mention of pricing for LeMUR operations. Fix: Add a callout box:

💰 **Pricing Note**: LeMUR operations consume credits. See [pricing page](link) for current rates.

5. Audio File Requirements

Problem: No specifications for supported audio formats, file sizes, or duration limits. Fix: Add a requirements section:

### Audio Requirements
- **Formats**: MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, OGG
- **Max file size**: 5GB
- **Max duration**: 12 hours
- **Quality**: 16kHz+ recommended

6. Model Comparison

Problem: References different models but doesn’t explain differences. Fix: Add a table comparing available models (speed, capabilities, cost).

🔧 Structure Improvements

7. Reorganize Step-by-Step Flow

Current: Shows complete code first, then breaks it down. Better: Progressive building approach:

Setup & Authentication
Transcribe Audio
Create LeMUR Task
Handle Response

8. Add Troubleshooting Section

## Troubleshooting
### Common Issues
- **"Invalid API key"**: Verify your key in the dashboard
- **"Transcription failed"**: Check audio file format and size
- **Rate limit exceeded**: LeMUR has 30 RPM limit

📝 Clarity Issues

9. Vague Prerequisites

Problem: “Basic understanding of how to Transcribe an audio file” is too vague. Fix:

## Prerequisites
- Programming environment set up for your chosen language
- Valid AssemblyAI API key with billing configured
- Audio file ready for testing (or use our sample file)

10. Better Code Comments

Problem: Minimal code comments. Fix: Add explanatory comments:

# Set up AssemblyAI client with your API key
aai.settings.api_key = "<YOUR_API_KEY>"

# Initialize transcriber
transcriber = aai.Transcriber()

# Transcribe audio (this may take a few minutes)
transcript = transcriber.transcribe(audio_file)

# Create a clear, specific prompt for the LLM
prompt = "Provide a brief summary of the transcript."

🎯 User Experience Improvements

11. Add Expected Timing Information

⏱️ **Expected Duration**:
- Transcription: 2-5 minutes for typical audio files
- LeMUR processing: 10-30 seconds

12. Interactive Examples

Problem: Only one basic example. Fix: Add multiple prompt examples with expected outputs:

Summarization
Question answering
Action item extraction
Sentiment analysis

Problem: No clear path to related features. Fix: Add a “Related Features” section linking to:

Speaker diarization with LeMUR
Multiple transcript processing
Streaming + LeMUR workflows

🚀 Additional Enhancements

14. Add Performance Tips

## Best Practices
- Use specific, clear prompts for better results
- Combine multiple transcripts for broader analysis
- Consider transcript length for optimal performance

15. SDK vs REST API Guidance

Problem: Shows both but doesn’t advise when to use which. Fix: Add guidance:

📋 **Which approach to choose?**
- **SDK**: Recommended for most applications (simpler, better error handling)
- **REST API**: Use for custom integrations or unsupported languages

16. Add Response Format Documentation

Problem: Shows output but doesn’t explain response structure. Fix: Document the full response object structure and available fields.

This documentation has good multilanguage support but needs better organization, clearer setup instructions, and more comprehensive error handling to improve the developer experience.