Editor
Audio Playback

Audio Playback

HeyDonna provides synchronized audio playback that stays in sync with your transcript, making it easy to review and edit while listening.

Waveform Display

The audio waveform at the bottom of the editor provides:

  • Visual representation of your audio file
  • Playhead indicator showing current position
  • Click-to-seek - click anywhere to jump to that point
  • Zoom controls for detailed viewing

Playback Controls

Basic Controls

ControlDescription
Play/PauseStart or pause playback
Play at CursorStart playing from current text cursor position
Skip Back 5sJump back 5 seconds
Skip Forward 5sJump forward 5 seconds

Speed Control

Adjust playback speed to match your editing pace:

SpeedBest For
0.5xDifficult audio, heavy accents
0.75xCareful review
1.0xNormal playback
1.25xQuick review
1.5xFast review
2.0xScanning content

Volume Control

Adjust the volume using the volume slider in the audio panel.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Master these shortcuts for efficient playback control:

ActionWindows/LinuxMac
Play/PauseCtrl+KCmd+K
Play at CursorCtrl+PCmd+P
Skip Back 5sCtrl+JCmd+J
Skip Forward 5sCtrl+LCmd+L
Decrease SpeedCtrl+,Cmd+,
Increase SpeedCtrl+.Cmd+.

Synchronized Editing

The audio waveform and transcript stay synchronized:

  1. Click on text - The playhead jumps to that word's timestamp
  2. Click on waveform - The cursor moves to the corresponding text
  3. During playback - The current word is highlighted as audio plays

Tips for Effective Playback

Reduce Speed for Accuracy

When editing difficult sections:

  1. Select the text you want to review
  2. Press Cmd/Ctrl+P to play at cursor
  3. Use Cmd/Ctrl+, to slow down if needed

Use Skip Controls

For quick navigation:

  • Skip Back (Cmd/Ctrl+J) is helpful to re-hear something
  • Skip Forward (Cmd/Ctrl+L) helps skip past clear sections

Zoom the Waveform

For precise editing:

  • Zoom in to see detailed waveform patterns
  • Helps identify speaker changes and pauses
  • Useful for timing adjustments

Troubleshooting

Audio Not Playing

  1. Check that audio file uploaded successfully
  2. Ensure your browser allows audio playback
  3. Try refreshing the page
  4. Check your device volume

Audio Out of Sync

If audio doesn't match the text position:

  1. Click on a word with a known timestamp
  2. The playhead should jump to that position
  3. If still out of sync, try refreshing the page

Waveform Not Showing

The waveform generates during processing. If it's missing:

  1. Check if processing completed
  2. Refresh the page
  3. Contact support if the issue persists