Overview
DeepGram is a leading speech-to-text API known for speed and accuracy. Their Nova-3 model delivers state-of-the-art transcription with sub-second processing times. Key Benefits:- ⚡ Ultra-fast - Sub-second transcription processing
- 🎯 High accuracy - Nova-3 achieves industry-leading word error rates
- 🌐 30+ languages - Auto-language detection included
- 🎁 $200 free credits - Generous free tier for new users
Free Tier
What You Get
- $200 in credits upon signup
- No credit card required for free tier
- No expiration on credits (for active accounts)
- All features included - Nova-3, streaming, punctuation, etc.
Getting Your Free API Key
1
Visit DeepGram Console
Go to console.deepgram.com in your browser.
2
Sign up for free
Click Sign Up and create an account with:
- Email address
- Password
- Or sign in with Google/GitHub
3
Verify your email
Check your email inbox for a verification link from DeepGram and click it to confirm your account.
4
Navigate to API Keys
Once logged in:
- Click on your project name (usually “Default Project”)
- Go to the API Keys section in the left sidebar
5
Create a new API key
- Click Create New Key
- Give it a name (e.g., “Stenox”)
- Copy the API key - you won’t be able to see it again!
6
Add key to Stenox
- Open Stenox Settings
- Go to Transcription tab
- Select DeepGram as provider
- Paste your API key
- Choose your model (Nova-3 recommended)
- Click Save
Keep your API key secure! Treat it like a password. Don’t share it publicly or commit it to version control.
Available Models
DeepGram offers several model variants:Nova-3 (Recommended)
Latest and best model:- State-of-the-art accuracy
- Fastest processing (< 1 second)
- Best for: All use cases, default choice
nova-3- Standard, multilingualnova-3-english- Optimized for English
Nova-2
Previous generation:- Still excellent accuracy
- Slightly cheaper than Nova-3
- Best for: Budget-conscious users
nova-2- Standard, multilingualnova-2-english- Optimized for English
Flux
Fast, cost-effective option:- Good accuracy for general use
- Cheaper than Nova models
- Best for: High-volume, non-critical transcription
Language Support
DeepGram supports 30+ languages with auto-detection: Supported Languages:- English (US, UK, Australian, Indian accents)
- Spanish (Spain, Latin America)
- French, German, Italian, Portuguese
- Dutch, Polish, Russian, Turkish
- Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean, Hindi
- And many more…
- Enable in Stenox profile settings
- DeepGram automatically identifies the language being spoken
- Works across all supported languages
Configuration in Stenox
1
Open Settings
Click Stenox menu bar icon → Settings
2
Go to Transcription tab
Select the Transcription tab
3
Select DeepGram
Choose DeepGram from the provider dropdown
4
Enter API key
Paste your API key (from console.deepgram.com)
5
Choose model
Select Nova-3 (recommended) or another model
6
Configure language
- For English-only: Select
English - For multilingual: Select
Auto-detector specific language
7
Save settings
Click Save to activate DeepGram
Features
Streaming Transcription
DeepGram uses WebSocket streaming for real-time results:- Audio is sent as you speak
- Transcription begins immediately
- Results return in < 1 second after you stop speaking
Automatic Punctuation
DeepGram automatically adds punctuation:- Periods, commas, question marks
- Capitalization of proper nouns
- Natural sentence structure
Speaker Adaptation
DeepGram adapts to your voice:- Learns your speaking patterns
- Improves accuracy over time
- Better recognition of frequently used terms
Performance
Expected processing times with DeepGram:| Recording Length | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| 5 seconds | < 0.5 seconds |
| 10 seconds | < 1 second |
| 30 seconds | 1-2 seconds |
| 60 seconds | 2-3 seconds |
Usage Tracking
Monitor your credit usage in the DeepGram console:- Visit console.deepgram.com
- Go to Billing in the sidebar
- View:
- Remaining credits ($200 initially)
- Usage this month
- Detailed usage logs
Stenox does not track your DeepGram usage. Check the DeepGram console for accurate credit balance.
Privacy Considerations
What DeepGram sees:- Your audio is sent to DeepGram servers for processing
- DeepGram may log audio and transcripts for quality improvement
- Data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS/WSS)
- Use WhisperKit (local) for 100% private transcription
- Or review DeepGram’s privacy policy and data retention settings
When to Use DeepGram
Maximum accuracy
Nova-3 delivers state-of-the-art transcription quality.
Speed matters
Sub-second processing for near-instant results.
Professional use
Reliable for business emails, documents, and presentations.
Free cloud option
$200 in credits provides generous free usage.
Troubleshooting
API key invalid or not working
API key invalid or not working
- Ensure you copied the entire key (no spaces or extra characters)
- Check that the key is active in DeepGram console
- Try creating a new API key
- Verify your DeepGram account is verified (check email)
Transcription fails or times out
Transcription fails or times out
- Check your internet connection
- Verify you have remaining credits in DeepGram console
- Try a different model (Nova-2 or Flux)
- Check Stenox logs for error messages
Poor accuracy or wrong words
Poor accuracy or wrong words
- Ensure you’re using Nova-3 (best accuracy)
- Check language setting matches your speech
- Reduce background noise
- Speak more clearly or use a better microphone
- Add custom vocabulary in Stenox settings
Running out of credits quickly
Running out of credits quickly
- Check usage in DeepGram console (Billing → Usage)
- Switch to Flux model for cheaper transcription
- Use WhisperKit (local) when privacy isn’t critical to preserve credits
- Create profiles to automatically switch based on use case
Pricing After Free Credits
Once your $200 in credits are used:| Model | Price per Minute | Price per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Nova-3 | $0.0125 | $0.75 |
| Nova-2 | $0.0100 | $0.60 |
| Flux | $0.0050 | $0.30 |
- 1 hour of dictation per day = ~$22.50/month (Nova-3)
- 30 minutes per day = ~$11.25/month (Nova-3)