A comparison of Google and Speechmatic’s ASR-driven speech engines
Speech recognition technology has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, making it an integral part of various applications, from virtual assistants to transcription services. Google’s ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) engine and Speechmatics Speech Engine are two prominent players in the field, each with its own set of features and capabilities.
So, which one is better?
To decide that we first must understand their pricing, accuracy, and accessibility.
Let’s compare.
Price
When it comes to choosing a speech recognition engine, cost can be a decisive factor for many users. Google’s ASR engine is often considered cost-effective due to its integration with Google Cloud services. The pricing model typically includes a pay-as-you-go structure, allowing users to scale their usage based on their needs. However, it’s important to note that the exact pricing can vary based on the specific use case, volume of requests, and additional features.
On the other hand, Speechmatics offers a transparent pricing model, allowing users to estimate costs based on the number of processed hours or transcriptions. While it may not be as tightly integrated into widely-used platforms like Google, the clear pricing structure can be advantageous for businesses looking for predictability in their budgeting.
Accuracy
Speech recognition accuracy is paramount, especially in applications where precision is crucial. Google’s ASR engine, powered by advanced machine learning algorithms and a vast amount of training data, is known for its high accuracy. It is capable of understanding a wide range of accents, languages, and contexts, making it a popular choice for various applications.
Speechmatics, too, boasts impressive accuracy, leveraging deep neural networks for robust speech recognition. The engine supports multiple languages and dialects, offering a versatile solution for users with diverse linguistic needs. While it may not have the same level of name recognition as Google, Speechmatics has made strides in delivering accurate and reliable speech recognition.
Accessibility
Accessibility encompasses the ease of integration and usage of a speech recognition engine within different applications and platforms. Google’s ASR, being part of the Google Cloud ecosystem, offers seamless integration with various Google services, making it accessible to developers and businesses using the Google Cloud Platform.
Speechmatics, while not as deeply integrated into widely used platforms, provides APIs and SDKs for easy integration into different applications. The accessibility of Speechmatics extends to support for on-premises deployment, offering flexibility to users who may have specific privacy or regulatory requirements.
Which is better?
Both Speechmatics and Google have created ASR speech engines that are low-cost, accurate, and easy to integrate into various platforms. How, then, can users determine which closed captioning service to use?
To start, look at this comparison chart:
Speechmatics offers a variety of additional features that Google doesn’t. Global accent and dialect coverage, feature parity for all languages, custom dictionaries, and automatic sample rate detection all improve the quality of Speechmatics’ output files. This means that the caption and transcription files that Speechmatics produces typically contain fewer errors than Google and require less editing time.
When compared to Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, Speechmatics produced the lowest Word Error Rate even when run at its lowest latency.
Although all four speech engines boast high accuracy rates, in the world of closed captioning, the difference in a few accuracy percentages can make a big difference in the number of errors that need to be fixed.
Closed captioning services that use Google’s speech engine often advertise at a lower cost but require more editing of their final product. This means that the user has to pay someone to edit their files or take their own time to do the editing.
SubCaptioner, on the other hand, uses Speechmatics’ speech engine to create accurate closed captions and transcriptions that require less editing time. This ultimately saves users money in the long run by allowing them to complete more work, more efficiently.
With SubCaptioner, users can trust that they’re utilizing the latest innovations in ASR technology and receiving highly accurate caption and transcription files. Test out SubCaptioner, driven by Speechmatics’ speech engine, by creating an account and receiving your first 40 minutes of captioning for FREE.
Learn more about how to use your free trial here.
