BYOK — get your ASR / LLM keys

Vobot Record (BYOK) has no subscription — transcription & AI notes run on your own account (API key). You just need two things: an ASR (speech-to-text) and an LLM (for summaries). Go all-cloud, or fully local & offline for free. Below is how to sign up and get each key.

💡 How to pick: want it easy → use a “cloud combo”; cheapest / most private → use the “local combo”, data never leaves your machine (that’s the BYOK privacy edge). Three recommended combos at the bottom.

ASR speech-to-text LLM large model local free cloud · pay-as-you-go

🎙️ ASR · Speech to Text

Azure Speech ASRcloud

Microsoft speech-to-text, the app’s main ASR — stable, multilingual.

  1. Sign up for Azure (use a Microsoft account; new users get free credit)
  2. Azure Portal → search Speech services → create resource (pick region + tier F0 free / S0)
  3. Resource → Keys and Endpoint → copy Key1 + Region
  4. Paste Key + Region into the app’s Azure ASR settings
Cost: F0 free 5 hrs/mo, then pay-as-you-go · Site: portal.azure.com

Whisper ASRlocal free

OpenAI’s open-source transcription model — run locally for free, fully offline.

  1. Local (best for cost/privacy): install Faster-Whisper / whisper.cpp, run on your own computer — no key, free, offline
  2. Or via OpenAI API: call whisper-1 with your OpenAI key (see OpenAI card)
  3. Local mode: in the app pick “Local Whisper / Local Server” and enter the local address
Cost: local $0; API pay-as-you-go · Site: github.com/openai/whisper

🧠 LLM · Large Model (summary / notes / action items)

OpenRouter LLMcloud

One key to access many models (Claude / GPT / Gemini / Llama…). Easiest.

  1. Sign up at openrouter.ai (Google / GitHub login works)
  2. Avatar → Keys → Create Key → copy
  3. Add credits, then it’s ready
  4. Paste into the app’s LLM settings, switch models freely
Cost: pay-as-you-go across providers, some free models · Site: openrouter.ai/keys

OpenAI LLMASR

GPT models + Whisper transcription — one key does both.

  1. Sign up at platform.openai.com
  2. Left API keys → Create new secret key → copy (shown once)
  3. Add a card / credits (Billing)
  4. Paste into the app
Cost: pay-as-you-go · Site: platform.openai.com/api-keys

Claude (Anthropic) LLMcloud

Anthropic Claude — strong at long-form and note structuring.

  1. Sign up at console.anthropic.com
  2. Settings → API Keys → Create Key → copy
  3. Add credits (Billing)
  4. Paste into the app
Cost: pay-as-you-go · Site: console.anthropic.com

Gemini (Google) LLMcloud

Google Gemini — generous free tier, great to start.

  1. Open aistudio.google.com (Google account)
  2. Get API key → Create API key → copy
  3. Free tier works right away
  4. Paste into the app
Cost: generous free tier, then pay-as-you-go · Site: aistudio.google.com/apikey

Ollama LLMlocal free

Run open models on your own computer — no key, free, fully offline.

  1. Download from ollama.com/download and install
  2. Run ollama pull llama3 (or another model)
  3. It serves at localhost:11434
  4. In the app pick Ollama and enter the local address
Cost: $0, data stays on device · Site: ollama.com

✅ Three recommended combos

🟦 Easiest (all cloud)

Azure (ASR) + OpenRouter (LLM, one key many models). Two keys and you’re done.

🟩 Simplest (single vendor)

OpenAI one key: Whisper ASR + GPT notes. Pick this if you only want one key.

🟢 Cheapest / most private (all local)

Local Whisper + Ollama = $0, fully offline, data never leaves your computer. Privacy first.