halfwayml - Open Source Transcription & Subtitling

A free, open-source alternative to commercial transcription services like Happyscribe, Notta, and Amberscript. Built for developers, content creators, and anyone who needs reliable transcription capabilities without the hefty price tag.

Why halfwayml?

Transcription isn't magic - it's technology that should be accessible to everyone. While most commercial services rely on the same speech-to-text models (like Whisper or AssemblyAI), they charge premium prices for their user interface.

halfwayml provides:

• Professional-grade transcription capabilities
• User-friendly interface
• Complete control over your data
• Self-hosted solution
• Transparent, open-source codebase

Currently, we support AssemblyAI (which offers $50 free credit to get started), with plans to integrate more models like Groq Whisper and other state-of-the-art options.

HalfwayML - Open Source Transcription & Subtitling A free, open-source alternative to commercial transcription services like Happyscribe, Notta, and Amberscript. Built for developers, content creators, and anyone who needs reliable transcription capabilities without the hefty price tag.

Quick Demo

[![Watch the demo video]] https://www.loom.com/share/6f612f9f9c4643d1a7229aeed359eb4a?sid=325246e8-c508-4d96-8b75-b07aa7ed156e

##join us

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you'll need to install three essential pieces of software on your computer:

1. Git

This is needed to clone the repository

• Download from: https://git-scm.com/downloads
• Choose the version for your operating system
• Follow the installation instructions

2. Node.js

This is a JavaScript runtime that powers our application

• Download from: https://nodejs.org/
• Choose the "LTS" (Long Term Support) version
• Follow the installation instructions for your operating system

3. Docker

This helps run our database and storage services

• Download from: https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/
• Install Docker Desktop for your operating system
• Make sure to start Docker Desktop after installation

Installation Steps

1. Clone and Setup

First, clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/moaljumaa/halfwayml_open.git

Navigate to the project directory:

cd halfwayml_open

Run the setup script:

./setup.sh

This script will:

• Start the required services (database and storage)
• Install project dependencies
• Set up the database

2. Configure Storage Service

1. Open your web browser and go to: http://localhost:9001
2. Login with:
   • Username: minioadmin
   • Password: minioadmin
3. Create a new bucket named "media"
4. Create access keys:
   • Click on "Access Keys" in the left sidebar
   • Click "Create access key"
   • Save both the Access Key and Secret Key somewhere safe

3. Update Environment Variables

1. Find the .env.local file in your project directory
2. Replace these values with the keys you just created:

MINIO_ACCESS_KEY=your_access_key_here
MINIO_SECRET_KEY=your_secret_key_here

4. Start the Application

npm run dev

The application should now be running at http://localhost:3000

Note

We apologize for the somewhat complex setup process. We're actively working on simplifying this in future updates.

Need Help?

If you run into any issues or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out:

• Email: [email protected]
• Create an issue on GitHub
• Join our Discord community

We also offer a cloud version at halfwayml.com if you prefer a managed solution.

Troubleshooting

• Make sure Docker Desktop is running before starting the setup
• join discord: https://discord.gg/MH2Uq6rPMs
• If you get permission errors running the setup script, try: chmod +x setup.sh
• If the services don't start, try stopping any existing databases running on port 5432