> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developer.audioshake.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Lyric Transcription

> Generate time-synced lyrics from a song

Extract word- and line-level timestamped lyrics from a song. Use the output for karaoke rendering, subtitle generation, music search, or analytics.

## Create a Task

```python transcribe_lyrics.py theme={null}
import requests

API_KEY = "your_api_key"
HEADERS = {"Content-Type": "application/json", "x-api-key": API_KEY}

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.audioshake.ai/tasks",
    headers=HEADERS,
    json={
        "assetId": "your_asset_id",
        "targets": [
            {"model": "transcription", "formats": ["json"]}
        ]
    }
)

task_id = response.json()["id"]
print(f"Task created: {task_id}")
```

```javascript transcribeLyrics.js theme={null}
const API_KEY = "your_api_key";
const headers = { "Content-Type": "application/json", "x-api-key": API_KEY };

const createRes = await fetch("https://api.audioshake.ai/tasks", {
  method: "POST",
  headers,
  body: JSON.stringify({
    assetId: "your_asset_id",
    targets: [
      { model: "transcription", formats: ["json"] }
    ]
  })
});

const { id: taskId } = await createRes.json();
console.log(`Task created: ${taskId}`);
```

```bash curl theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://api.audioshake.ai/tasks" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-key: $AUDIOSHAKE_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "assetId": "your_asset_id",
    "targets": [
      { "model": "transcription", "formats": ["json"] }
    ]
  }'
```

[Check Task status](https://developer.audioshake.ai/check-task-status.md) to monitor progress and download results, or use [webhooks](https://developer.audioshake.ai/api-reference/tasks/webhooks.md) to be notified when each target completes.

> [!TIP]
>
> Use clean, full-length source audio for best results. Heavily compressed or low-bitrate files reduce transcription accuracy.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Need **word-level timing** for karaoke or subtitles? Use the `alignment` model instead — it provides precise per-word timestamps. See [Models](https://developer.audioshake.ai/models.md#lyric-transcription) for details.

## Use cases

* Render karaoke-style highlighted lyrics in real time
* Convert to SRT or VTT subtitle formats
* Build searchable lyric databases with per-line timestamps
* Power lyric-synced visual experiences

> [card] [Build Karaoke Tracks](https://developer.audioshake.ai/create-karaoke-tracks.md)
>
> Combine lyric transcription with stem separation.

> [card] [Models](https://developer.audioshake.ai/models.md)
>
> See all available transcription and alignment models.


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