# Whisper (`whisper`)

> OpenAI Whisper via fal. Accurate speech-to-text.

- Capability: Transcription (tool `transcription`) — Transcription
- Price: from $0.05 per run (1 credit = $0.01). Exact price for a request: POST https://api.varg.ai/v2/estimate
- Typical time: ~30 s
- JSON Schema: https://api.varg.ai/v2/tools/transcription?model=whisper (public, no key)
- Try it: https://varg.ai/dashboard/tools/playground?model=whisper

## Call it

REST: `POST https://api.varg.ai/v2/tools/transcription/call` with `Authorization: Bearer $VARG_API_KEY` (create a key at https://varg.ai/dashboard/api).
It answers `202` with a job right away. Poll `GET /v2/jobs/{id}` until `status` is `completed`, then read `output.outputs[0].url` — or pass `options.webhook_url` and get the finished job POSTed to you.

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.varg.ai/v2/tools/transcription/call \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VARG_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "model": "whisper",
  "audio_url": "https://example.com/audio.mp3"
}'
```

MCP: the varg server `https://mcp.varg.ai/mcp` (OAuth sign-in, no key) runs it with `call_tool`:

```json
{
  "tool": "transcription",
  "input": {
    "model": "whisper",
    "audio_url": "https://example.com/audio.mp3"
  },
  "wait": true
}
```

## Inputs

| field | type | required | default | allowed | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `model` | string | yes | — | `whisper` or a route key below | Which model runs the job. |
| `prompt` | string | no | — | — | — |
| `audio_url` | string (URL) | yes | — | — | — |
| `language` | string | no | — | e.g. en \| ru \| es \| de \| fr \| it \| pt \| ja \| ko \| zh \| hi \| ar | — |

Media inputs are URLs. Upload a local file first with `POST /v2/files` and pass the returned URL.

## Provider options

Optional, per provider, under `provider_options.<provider>`. Only the options of the provider that runs the job apply — pin a route to choose it.

### provider_options.fal

| field | type | required | default | allowed | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `prompt` | string | no | — | — | — |

## Routes

`"model": "whisper"` picks a route automatically (priority order, then the inputs you send). To pin one, pass its key as `model`.

| model key | provider | modality | price from | typical time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `fal:whisper` | fal | transcription | $0.05 | ~30 s |

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Catalog version 2026-11-11T12:59:09.901887+00:00. All models: https://varg.ai/models/llms.txt