How to Get a Doubao ASR API Key
WhaleLink uses your phone's built-in speech recognition by default — free and good enough. But if you want more accurate results — removing filler words, automatic punctuation, number normalization — you can bring your own Doubao (Volcengine) API Key and enable cloud recognition.
It takes about five minutes and requires one identity verification. After getting the key and enabling the model, see how to fill it into WhaleLink.
Step 1: Register Volcengine
Open the Volcengine console, register with a phone number or email, then complete identity verification.
- Entry: console.volcengine.com
- Identity verification: ID card and face recognition. A personal account is fine; this is a standard requirement for cloud services.
Step 2: Open the speech recognition page and click "API Call"
Open the Doubao speech recognition service page and click the API Call button in the top-right corner. A "Quick API Access" panel will pop up.
- Entry: console.volcengine.com/speech/
- API Call: the top-right button opens "Quick API Access", which has two steps — "Get API key" and "Quick access test".
Step 3: Get your API Key
In the "Quick API Access" panel, click the first step "Get API key" to obtain your API Key. Copy and save it.
- Note: the key is shown only once — keep it safe.
Step 4: Enable the model
Getting the key isn't enough — you also need to enable the model you'll use, or the key won't work for it. In the second step "Quick access test", do the following:
- Choose a model: select "Doubao Streaming Speech Recognition Model" (currently 2.0; the version may change with official updates — just pick the latest).
- Agree: check the "enable agreement" box.
- Enable: click the "Enable Model" button.
Fill it into WhaleLink
Open the WhaleLink app, go to Settings → Speech Recognition, select Cloud, tap Configure Cloud Recognition, paste your API Key and save.
During recognition, audio is sent directly to Volcengine — it never passes through our servers. Your API Key is stored only on your phone.
About billing
Cloud recognition is billed by Volcengine on usage. You pay Volcengine directly; WhaleLink is not involved in billing.
- Free quota: new users usually get some free hours, until it runs out. See the Volcengine console for details.
- Pay-as-you-go: after the free quota, billing is by actual usage. See Volcengine's site for pricing.
FAQ
- Is identity verification required? Yes. It's a standard requirement for Volcengine cloud services.
- Is my API key safe? It's stored only on your phone and never uploaded to our servers. Audio also goes directly to Volcengine, not through us.
- Can I skip cloud recognition? Absolutely. The default system recognition is free and good enough; cloud recognition is an optional enhancement.