AzureSpeechProject

Azure Speech Recognition and Translation

A desktop application built with Avalonia UI that provides real-time speech recognition and translation using Azure Speech Services. Convert spoken words into text and translate them into multiple languages with professional-grade accuracy.

Features

🎤 Real-time Speech Recognition
- High-quality speech-to-text conversion
- Support for multiple audio formats and sample rates

🌍 Multi-language Translation
- Real-time translation to 9+ languages
- Support for Russian, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.
- Side-by-side original and translated text display

💾 Flexible Export Options
- Save transcripts in multiple formats (TXT, JSON, SRT)
- Automatic timestamping for all segments
- Organized file management with custom output directories

🔒 Secure Credential Management
- Encrypted storage of Azure Speech Service keys

⚙️ Advanced Audio Configuration
- Customizable sample rates (8kHz to 48kHz)
- Bit depth options (8-bit to 32-bit)
- Mono/stereo channel selection
- Optimized for Azure Speech Services (16kHz, 16-bit, mono recommended)

Prerequisites

Azure Account Setup

1. Create an Azure Account

   • Visit Azure Portal
   • Sign up for a free account or use your existing subscription

2. Create a Speech Service Resource

   • Use the Azure Portal:
   • Navigate to "Create a resource"
   • Search for "Speech" and select "Speech Services"
   • Fill in the required information:
   • Subscription: Your Azure subscription
   • Resource Group: Create new or select existing
   • Region: Choose your preferred region (e.g., East US, West Europe)
   • Name: Unique name for your service
   • Pricing tier: Select appropriate tier (F0 for free tier, S0 for standard)

3. Get Your Credentials

   • After deployment, go to your Speech Service resource
   • Navigate to "Keys and Endpoint"
   • Copy one of the keys and the region
   • You'll need these for the application configuration

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 11
• .NET Runtime: .NET 8.0 or later
• Microphone: Any compatible audio input device
• Internet Connection: Required for Azure Speech Services

Configuration

Initial Setup

1. Launch the Application

   • Open the application
   • Navigate to the "Settings" tab

2. Configure Azure Speech Service

   • Region: Enter your Azure Speech Service region (e.g., eastus, westeurope)
   • Key: Enter your Azure Speech Service key
   • Use the 🔒 Show/Hide button to verify your key entry

3. Audio Settings (Optional)

   • Sample Rate: 16000 Hz (recommended for Azure)
   • Bits Per Sample: 16 bits (recommended)
   • Channels: 1 (mono, recommended)

4. Output Directory

   • Click "Browse..." to select where transcripts will be saved
   • Default: Documents/Azure Speech Services/Transcripts

5. Save Settings

   • Click "Save Settings" to store your configuration

Advanced Configuration

Audio Quality Settings

For optimal Azure Speech Services performance:
- Sample Rate: 16 kHz (16000 Hz)
- Bit Depth: 16-bit
- Channels: Mono (1 channel)

Higher quality settings may not improve accuracy and will use more bandwidth.

Supported Languages

• Speech Recognition: English (en-US)
• Translation Targets: Russian (ru), Spanish (es), French (fr), German (de), Italian (it), Portuguese (pt), Japanese (ja), Korean (ko), Chinese Simplified (zh-Hans)

Usage

Basic Transcription

1. Start Recording

   • Click the "Start Recording" button
   • Grant microphone permissions if prompted
   • Speak clearly into your microphone

2. Monitor Progress

   • Real-time transcription appears in the left panel
   • Status bar shows recording progress

3. Stop Recording

   • Click "Stop Recording" when finished
   • Review the transcription results

4. Save Results

   • Click "Save" to export your transcript
   • Choose from TXT, JSON, or SRT formats

Translation Workflow

1. Enable Translation

   • Check "Enable Translation" in the control panel
   • Select your target language from the dropdown

2. Start Recording

   • Begin recording as normal
   • Translation appears in real-time in the right panel

3. Export Results

   • Save both original and translated versions
   • Files are automatically named with language suffixes

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Authentication Errors
- Verify your Azure Speech Service key and region
- Ensure your Azure subscription is active
- Check that your Speech Service resource is properly configured

Audio Issues
- Confirm microphone permissions are granted
- Test microphone functionality in system settings
- Try different audio quality settings

Network Connectivity
- Ensure stable internet connection
- Check firewall settings for outbound HTTPS traffic
- Verify Azure service availability in your region

Performance Optimization

For Best Results:
- Use a high-quality USB microphone
- Record in a quiet environment
- Maintain consistent speaking volume
- Speak clearly and at a moderate pace

Resource Management:
- Close unnecessary applications during recording
- Ensure sufficient disk space for transcripts
- Monitor Azure Speech Service usage quotas

Security Best Practices

🔐 Credential Security
- Never share your Azure Speech Service keys
- Use the show/hide feature to verify key entry
- Rotate keys periodically in Azure Portal
- Don't commit keys to version control

🛡️ Data Privacy
- Audio data is processed by Azure Speech Services
- Review Azure's data handling policies
- Consider data residency requirements
- Implement network security measures

Contributing

Contributions are welcome. Please fork the repository and create a pull request with your changes.

Author

Bohdan Harabadzhyu

License

MIT

This application is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation. Azure and Azure Speech Services are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

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