@namastexlabs/speak

# Robustness & Performance Guide ## 🎯 Optimizing Speak for Real-World Use Speak is designed to work reliably in challenging conditions. This guide helps you get the best performance in noisy environments, during long dictation sessions, and across different use cases. ## 🔊 Noisy Environments ### Understanding Audio Challenges **Background noise** is the #1 factor affecting transcription accuracy. Unlike Wispr Flow, Speak includes advanced preprocessing to handle real-world conditions. ### Microphone Selection #### Best for Noise - **Blue Yeti USB:** Professional-grade noise cancellation ($100-130) - **Audio-Technica AT2020:** Studio condenser with excellent rejection ($100) - **Shure SM58:** Dynamic microphone, great for loud environments ($100) #### Good Budget Options - **Fifine K669B:** USB condenser with noise reduction ($50) - **Blue Snowball:** Entry-level with decent noise handling ($50) #### Built-in Options - **MacBook Pro microphones:** Excellent noise cancellation - **Recent Windows laptops:** Often include good noise reduction - **Avoid:** Cheap earbuds or phone microphones ### Audio Settings Optimization #### Noise Reduction Levels ```yaml # Recommended settings for different environments quiet_office: noise_reduction: light sensitivity: balanced noisy_cafe: noise_reduction: medium sensitivity: sensitive construction_site: noise_reduction: heavy sensitivity: conservative ``` #### Advanced Audio Processing - **Echo cancellation:** Reduces room reverb - **Wind noise reduction:** For outdoor use - **Low-cut filter:** Removes rumble and bass noise - **De-essing:** Reduces harsh S sounds ### Environmental Optimization #### Room Setup - **Soft furnishings:** Carpets, curtains reduce echo - **Microphone position:** 6-8 inches from mouth, slightly off-axis - **Speaker distance:** Stay 2+ feet from external speakers - **Ventilation noise:** Position away from AC/heat vents #### Speaking Techniques - **Clear articulation:** Exaggerate consonants slightly - **Consistent volume:** Speak at steady level - **Pause between sentences:** Helps with sentence detection - **Face microphone:** Direct sound toward pickup pattern ### Testing Your Setup #### Noise Floor Test 1. Sit quietly and record 10 seconds of silence 2. Check audio levels - should be under -40dB 3. Play white noise or music at typical volume 4. Record and verify transcription quality #### Accuracy Benchmark - **Quiet:** >98% accuracy expected - **Moderate noise:** >90% accuracy with good microphone - **Heavy noise:** >80% accuracy with professional setup ## ⏱️ Long Session Optimization ### Memory Management #### Chunking Strategy - **Real-time processing:** 5-10 second audio chunks - **Memory cleanup:** Automatic buffer clearing - **Resource monitoring:** CPU/Memory usage tracking #### Session Limits - **Recommended:** 30-60 minute sessions with breaks - **Maximum:** 2+ hours possible with good hardware - **Recovery:** Automatic state preservation on interruptions ### Performance Monitoring #### System Resources - **CPU:** <20% usage during transcription - **Memory:** <200MB baseline, <500MB during processing - **Network:** <1Mbps for cloud mode - **Storage:** <100MB for models and cache #### Temperature Management - **Laptop cooling:** Ensure proper ventilation - **Background processes:** Close unnecessary applications - **Battery life:** Monitor power consumption ### Session Best Practices #### Break Planning - **Every 30 minutes:** Take 2-minute breaks - **Hydration:** Keep water nearby - **Posture:** Stretch and adjust position - **Calibration:** Quick microphone test between breaks #### Content Organization - **Chapter breaks:** Natural stopping points - **Save frequently:** Auto-save every 5 minutes - **Version control:** Track changes with timestamps ## 🚀 Performance Tuning ### Hardware Optimization #### CPU Selection - **Recommended:** 4+ cores, 2.5GHz+ for real-time processing - **Minimum:** Dual-core 2.0GHz for basic functionality - **Best:** Intel i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 5/7 series #### Memory Requirements - **4GB RAM:** Basic functionality - **8GB RAM:** Recommended for smooth operation - **16GB+ RAM:** Best for heavy usage and local models #### Storage Considerations - **SSD required:** For fast model loading - **50GB free space:** For models and cache - **NVMe preferred:** Faster loading times ### Network Optimization #### Connection Requirements - **Cloud mode:** 10Mbps+ stable connection - **Latency:** <100ms ping for best experience - **Backup:** Cellular hotspot for mobile work #### Bandwidth Usage - **Per minute:** ~500KB for standard quality - **Per hour:** ~30MB for continuous dictation - **Compression:** Automatic audio optimization ### Software Configuration #### Model Selection by Use Case ```yaml fast_drafting: model: gpt-4o-mini-transcribe quality: standard latency: <1 second professional_writing: model: gpt-4o-transcribe quality: high latency: 1-2 seconds meeting_transcription: model: gpt-4o-transcribe-diarize quality: high speakers: auto-detect ``` #### Quality vs Speed Trade-offs - **High quality:** Best accuracy, higher latency - **Balanced:** Good accuracy, moderate latency - **Fast:** Acceptable accuracy, low latency ## 📊 Benchmarking Your Setup ### Accuracy Testing #### Test Script ```bash # Record yourself reading standard text # Transcribe with different settings # Compare against original using diff tool # Calculate word error rate (WER) ``` #### Target Metrics - **Quiet environment:** <2% WER - **Office noise:** <5% WER - **Noisy environment:** <10% WER ### Latency Measurement #### Timing Breakdown - **Audio capture:** <100ms - **Network transfer:** <500ms (cloud mode) - **AI processing:** <1000ms - **Text insertion:** <100ms - **Total:** <2 seconds end-to-end #### Optimization Targets - **Real-time feel:** <1.5 seconds total - **Professional use:** <2 seconds acceptable - **Meeting notes:** <3 seconds maximum ## 🔧 Advanced Troubleshooting ### Performance Issues #### High CPU Usage - **Cause:** Background processes competing for resources - **Solution:** Close unnecessary applications - **Solution:** Update to latest Speak version - **Solution:** Check for malware/virus interference #### Memory Leaks - **Symptoms:** Increasing memory usage over time - **Solution:** Restart Speak periodically - **Solution:** Update system and drivers - **Solution:** Check for conflicting software #### Network Timeouts - **Cause:** Unstable internet connection - **Solution:** Use wired connection when possible - **Solution:** Switch to local models (roadmap) - **Solution:** Implement retry logic ### Audio Quality Issues #### Distortion - **Cause:** Microphone overload or clipping - **Solution:** Reduce microphone gain - **Solution:** Increase distance from microphone - **Solution:** Use pad attenuator if available #### Echo/Reverb - **Cause:** Reflective room acoustics - **Solution:** Add soft furnishings - **Solution:** Use close-talking microphone technique - **Solution:** Enable echo cancellation #### Background Noise - **Cause:** Environmental noise sources - **Solution:** Identify and minimize noise sources - **Solution:** Use directional microphone - **Solution:** Apply noise reduction filters ## 📈 Scaling for Enterprise Use ### Multi-User Deployments - **Self-hosted models:** Reduce network dependency - **Load balancing:** Distribute processing across servers - **Caching:** Shared vocabulary and model caches ### Integration Considerations - **API rate limits:** Plan for concurrent users - **Storage requirements:** Per-user customization data - **Network bandwidth:** Centralized processing needs ### Compliance & Security - **HIPAA compliance:** Local processing options - **Data retention:** Configurable cleanup policies - **Audit logging:** Usage tracking for compliance ## 🚀 Future Improvements ### Hardware Acceleration - **GPU processing:** Faster local model inference - **Neural processing units:** Specialized AI hardware - **Edge computing:** On-device processing ### Advanced Audio Processing - **Beamforming:** Multiple microphone arrays - **Active noise cancellation:** Real-time noise removal - **Voice isolation:** Extract target speaker from crowd ### Adaptive Systems - **Auto-adjustment:** Dynamic settings based on environment - **Learning:** Improve over time with user feedback - **Personalization:** Voice profile adaptation --- [← Back to Documentation](./) | [AI Polishing](./ai-polishing.md) | [Troubleshooting](./troubleshooting.md)