Podcast Transcription Process Disrupted by Welsh Output from Whisper
Whisper's transcription service has produced unexpected results while processing my podcast episodes.I have been broadcasting a podcast called Unmaking Sense on general philosophical matters for a couple of years, with over 300 episodes. After learning to write the API requests, I implemented Whisper for transcriptions using a Python3 loop. It worked remarkably well, costing only about $25, despite some poor audio quality and wind noise.However, at least one episode emerged not only transcribed but seemingly translated into something resembling Welsh. Here are the first few lines to illustrate: Yn dod i’r episod 40 o’r series 2, rwy’n meddwl o ddrau’r series hon ar y dysgu i’r llwyddiant... I am not a Welsh speaker, but it looked like Welsh, and even Google Translate (apologies, Whisper) recognized it as such. The translation back into English was not very coherent, but it was enough to convince me that it was indeed a form of Welsh.Can anyone explain this behavior? I ran the process again, and the same thing happened. Has anyone else experienced Whisper doing this?Additionally, regarding Whisper, older versions produced multiple file types, including subtitles and time-series data, but these do not appear in the response JSON file anymore. Have they been discontinued?
AI-Suggested Solution
To address the issue of Whisper transcribing English audio into Welsh, users should first ensure that the input language is explicitly set to English in the API settings. Additionally, normalizing audio quality and reducing background noise can significantly improve transcription accuracy. Implementing warm-up scripts before processing the audio may also help the model better detect the intended language. Lastly, users should consider converting audio files to a supported format that Whisper handles well, as this can mitigate potential misidentifications.
AI Research Summary
The user complaint regarding Whisper's transcription service reveals a significant issue where English audio is unexpectedly transcribed into Welsh, a problem echoed by multiple users across various platforms. This phenomenon appears to stem from audio quality issues, such as background noise and unclear speech, which can confuse the language detection algorithms of Whisper 12. Users have reported that accents and dialects may further complicate the transcription process, leading to incorrect language identification 47.Several suggested solutions have emerged from community discussions, including the importance of specifying the input language in the API settings to avoid unexpected translations 25. Normalizing audio files and using specific prompts to guide the transcription have also been recommended as effective strategies 68. Furthermore, users have noted that older versions of Whisper provided multiple file types, including subtitles and time-series data, which are no longer available in the current API, leading to frustration among those who relied on these features 9."The sentiment within the community reflects a mix of frustration and hope for improvements, as many users share their experiences and workarounds to enhance transcription accuracy" 34. While some users have found success with various adjustments, the inconsistency of the service remains a significant concern. The conflicting viewpoints regarding the effectiveness of Whisper's language detection highlight the need for ongoing development and refinement of the model 67.Overall, the current state of Whisper's transcription service indicates a pressing need for enhancements in language identification and audio processing capabilities to better serve its users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Whisper transcribing my English audio into Welsh?
A: This issue often arises from poor audio quality, background noise, or unclear speech, which can confuse Whisper's language detection algorithms.
Q: What can I do to ensure accurate English transcriptions?
A: To improve accuracy, explicitly set the input language to English in the API settings, normalize audio quality, and reduce background noise.
Q: Are there any specific audio formats that work better with Whisper?
A: Using supported audio formats and ensuring clear audio can help mitigate misidentifications during transcription.
Related Sources Found by AI
Our AI found 9 relevant sources related to this frustration:
This document discusses a user's experience with Whisper, where an episode of their podcast was transcribed into Welsh despite being in English. It explores potential reasons for this behavior, including audio quality issues, and suggests methods to enforce English transcription.
This source presents another user's inquiry about the same issue, seeking guidance on ensuring English output from Whisper. It highlights the confusion surrounding language detection and the need for specific settings to avoid unexpected translations.
This article reports on a broader issue where OpenAI's systems, including ChatGPT, have mistakenly responded in Welsh to English queries. It discusses the underlying problems with language detection in AI systems, which parallels the user's complaint about Whisper's transcription errors.
This document discusses issues with Whisper's transcription accuracy, particularly instances where the model mixes languages, similar to the user's complaint about Welsh translations. It highlights user frustrations and the need for better handling of audio quality and language detection.