How Credits Work
Understand how the VoxScriber credit system works. How credits are calculated, consumed, and when they expire.
How Credits Work
Fully understand the VoxScriber credit system: how credits are calculated, when they are consumed, how to optimize their use, and save on your audio transcriptions.
Basic System Concepts
1 Cycle = 15 Seconds
4 cycles = 1 minute of audio
- Each cycle covers 15 seconds of processed audio
- 1 minute of audio = 4 cycles
- Billing is proportional to the actual file duration
- Example: a 2 min 30 sec file consumes 10 cycles
Practical example: A 5-minute file = 20 cycles (5 x 4)
Real-Time Consumption
Credits are verified before starting the transcription and deducted only after successful completion.
Quick Calculation Formula
Cycles = Duration (min) x Cycles/min of the Engine
| Component | Description | |---|---| | Duration | Minutes of the file (rounded up) | | AssemblyAI | 4 cycles/min (Premium, default) | | Whisper | 1 cycle/min (Normal, most economical) | | ElevenLabs | 10 cycles/min (Ultra, premium) |
Cost per Transcription Engine
| Engine | Cost | When to Use | Availability | |---|---|---|---| | AssemblyAI | 4 cycles/min | General use (default), with diarization and punctuation | All plans | | Whisper | 1 cycle/min | Noisy audio, most economical | Paid plans | | ElevenLabs | 10 cycles/min | Premium accuracy | PRO plan |
Cost Calculation Examples
30-Minute Meeting (AssemblyAI)
- Duration: 30 min
- Engine: AssemblyAI (4 cycles/min)
- Total: 30 x 4 = 120 cycles
1-Hour Interview (Whisper)
- Duration: 60 min
- Engine: Whisper (1 cycle/min)
- Total: 60 x 1 = 60 cycles
45-Minute Podcast (AssemblyAI)
- Duration: 45 min
- Engine: AssemblyAI (4 cycles/min)
- Total: 45 x 4 = 180 cycles
Smart Credit Management
Monitor your usage - Track on the dashboard how many cycles you are using per month
Choose the right engine - AssemblyAI (default) delivers great quality with diarization for most audio. For high volume spending fewer cycles, use Whisper (Normal): 1 cycle/min
Optimize your files - Remove long silences and unnecessary parts before transcribing
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Choosing the wrong engine
Impact: Unnecessary cycle spending Solution: Use AssemblyAI (default) for most. To save cycles at high volume, use Whisper; reserve ElevenLabs (Ultra) for cases needing premium accuracy. Prevention: Check the selected engine before starting.
Transcribing the wrong file
Impact: Cycles consumed without purpose Solution: Verify the file before starting the transcription. Prevention: Use descriptive file names.
Not checking credits beforehand
Impact: Transcription interrupted due to insufficient cycles Solution: Purchase additional cycles and restart. Prevention: Monitor your balance regularly.
Tips for Saving Cycles
- Use Whisper (Normal) for high volume - it's the cheapest engine: 1 cycle/min (vs 4 for AssemblyAI and 10 for ElevenLabs)
- Remove unnecessary parts - Cut silences and irrelevant sections
- Choose the appropriate quality - Do not use Premium for simple audio
- Test with short samples - Before transcribing long files
- Monitor your usage - Track spending on the dashboard
Ready to use your cycles?
Now that you understand how the cycle system works, use this knowledge to optimize your spending and get the most value from your cycles.
Continue learning
- Plan Differences - Compare plans and find the ideal one for your usage
- Quality Settings - Understand how to choose the ideal quality
- Cycle System - Details about the measurement system