AssemblyAI Install & Auth
Overview
Install the assemblyai npm package and configure API key authentication for transcription, LeMUR, and streaming APIs.
Prerequisites
Instructions
Step 1: Install the SDK
npm install assemblyai
pip install assemblyai
Step 2: Configure API Key
export ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"
echo 'ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY=your-api-key-here' >> .env
Add to .gitignore:
.env
.env.local
.env.*.local
Step 3: Initialize the Client
import { AssemblyAI } from 'assemblyai';
const client = new AssemblyAI({
apiKey: process.env.ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY!,
});
export default client;
Step 4: Verify Connection
import { AssemblyAI } from 'assemblyai';
const client = new AssemblyAI({
apiKey: process.env.ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY!,
});
async function verify() {
const transcript = await client.transcripts.transcribe({
audio: 'https://storage.googleapis.com/aai-web-samples/5_common_sports_702.wav',
});
if (transcript.status === 'error') {
console.error('Transcription failed:', transcript.error);
process.exit(1);
}
console.log('Connection verified. Transcript ID:', transcript.id);
console.log('Status:', transcript.status);
console.log('Text preview:', transcript.text?.slice(0, 100));
}
verify().catch(console.error);
Python Setup
import assemblyai as aai
import os
aai.settings.api_key = os.environ["ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY"]
transcriber = aai.Transcriber()
transcript = transcriber.transcribe(
"https://storage.googleapis.com/aai-web-samples/5_common_sports_702.wav"
)
print(transcript.text)
Output
- Installed
assemblyai package in node_modules or site-packages
- API key stored in environment variable or
.env file
- Client initialized and connection verified with a test transcription
Error Handling
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
Authentication error | Invalid or missing API key | Verify key at https://www.assemblyai.com/app/account |
Cannot find module 'assemblyai' | SDK not installed | Run npm install assemblyai |
transcript.status === 'error' | Invalid audio URL or format | Check audio URL is publicly accessible |
ENOTFOUND api.assemblyai.com | Network/firewall issue | Ensure outbound HTTPS to api.assemblyai.com is allowed |
Resources
Next Steps
After successful auth, proceed to assemblyai-hello-world for your first transcription.
