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Convert audio files to text using Docling’s ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) pipeline with Whisper models.

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Overview

This example demonstrates:
  • Transcribing audio files to Markdown
  • Automatic model selection for your hardware
  • Using different Whisper model sizes
  • Getting timestamped transcriptions

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Basic Audio Transcription

minimal_asr_pipeline.py
from pathlib import Path
from docling.datamodel import asr_model_specs
from docling.datamodel.base_models import InputFormat
from docling.datamodel.pipeline_options import AsrPipelineOptions
from docling.document_converter import AudioFormatOption, DocumentConverter
from docling.pipeline.asr_pipeline import AsrPipeline

# Configure ASR pipeline with automatic model selection
pipeline_options = AsrPipelineOptions()
pipeline_options.asr_options = asr_model_specs.WHISPER_TURBO

converter = DocumentConverter(
    format_options={
        InputFormat.AUDIO: AudioFormatOption(
            pipeline_cls=AsrPipeline,
            pipeline_options=pipeline_options,
        )
    }
)

# Transcribe audio file
audio_path = Path("tests/data/audio/sample_10s.mp3")
result = converter.convert(audio_path)

# Print transcription with timestamps
print(result.document.export_to_markdown())

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Automatic Hardware Selection

The ASR pipeline automatically selects the best Whisper implementation:
1

Apple Silicon Detection

On M1/M2/M3 Macs with mlx-whisper installed, uses MLX Whisper for optimal performance.
2

Fallback to Native Whisper

Otherwise, uses the native Whisper implementation (works on CPU/CUDA).
from docling.datamodel import asr_model_specs

# Automatically selects best implementation:
# - MLX Whisper Turbo for Apple Silicon
# - Native Whisper Turbo as fallback
pipeline_options = AsrPipelineOptions()
pipeline_options.asr_options = asr_model_specs.WHISPER_TURBO

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Available Models

from docling.datamodel import asr_model_specs

pipeline_options = AsrPipelineOptions()
pipeline_options.asr_options = asr_model_specs.WHISPER_TURBO

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Output Format

Transcriptions include timestamps in the Markdown output: 
[time: 0.0-4.0]  Shakespeare on Scenery by Oscar Wilde

[time: 5.28-9.96]  This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.

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Complete Example

from pathlib import Path
from docling_core.types.doc import DoclingDocument
from docling.datamodel import asr_model_specs
from docling.datamodel.base_models import ConversionStatus, InputFormat
from docling.datamodel.document import ConversionResult
from docling.datamodel.pipeline_options import AsrPipelineOptions
from docling.document_converter import AudioFormatOption, DocumentConverter
from docling.pipeline.asr_pipeline import AsrPipeline

def get_asr_converter():
    """Create a DocumentConverter configured for ASR.
    
    Uses WHISPER_TURBO which automatically selects:
    - MLX Whisper Turbo for Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)
    - Native Whisper Turbo as fallback
    """
    pipeline_options = AsrPipelineOptions()
    pipeline_options.asr_options = asr_model_specs.WHISPER_TURBO
    
    converter = DocumentConverter(
        format_options={
            InputFormat.AUDIO: AudioFormatOption(
                pipeline_cls=AsrPipeline,
                pipeline_options=pipeline_options,
            )
        }
    )
    return converter

def transcribe_audio(audio_path: Path) -> DoclingDocument:
    """Transcribe audio file and return DoclingDocument."""
    assert audio_path.exists(), f"Audio file not found: {audio_path}"
    
    converter = get_asr_converter()
    result: ConversionResult = converter.convert(audio_path)
    
    assert result.status == ConversionStatus.SUCCESS, (
        f"Conversion failed with status: {result.status}"
    )
    return result.document

if __name__ == "__main__":
    audio_path = Path("tests/data/audio/sample_10s.mp3")
    doc = transcribe_audio(audio_path)
    print(doc.export_to_markdown())

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Supported Audio Formats

Docling ASR supports common audio formats:
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • M4A
  • FLAC
  • Other formats supported by ffmpeg
Some audio formats require ffmpeg to be installed and available on your system PATH.

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Requirements

  • Python 3.9+
  • docling with ASR extras: pip install docling[asr]
  • For Apple Silicon optimization: pip install mlx-whisper
  • For some formats: ffmpeg installed on system

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Installation

# Basic ASR support
pip install docling[asr]

# Apple Silicon optimization
pip install mlx-whisper

# Install ffmpeg (if needed)
# macOS:
brew install ffmpeg

# Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

# Windows:
# Download from https://ffmpeg.org/

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