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Getting Started
Your First Project

Creating Your First Project

This guide walks you through creating your first transcription project in HeyDonna.

Starting a New Project

From your dashboard, click the New Project button to launch the project creation wizard.

Guided Tour

The first time you create a project, a guided tour will walk you through:

  1. Upload area - Where to add your audio file
  2. Project type - Choosing Legal or General
  3. Create button - Finalizing your project

You can skip the tour or navigate through it using the Next/Back buttons. The tour only appears once for new users.

Step 1: Choose Project Type

HeyDonna supports two project types:

TypeBest ForFeatures
GeneralStandard transcription, interviews, meetingsBasic formatting, speaker labels
LegalCourt reporting, depositions, hearingsLegal templates, Q&A formatting, certifications

Step 2: Enter Project Details

Provide the following information:

  • Project Title - A descriptive name (e.g., "Smith v. Jones - Day 1")
  • Date - The date of the proceeding (optional)
  • Notes - Any additional context (optional)

For Legal projects, you may also enter:

  • Case number
  • Court/jurisdiction
  • Witness names

Step 3: Upload Audio

Drag and drop your audio file or click to browse. Supported formats:

  • MP3 - Most common, good compression
  • WAV - Uncompressed, highest quality
  • M4A - Apple format, good quality
  • FLAC - Lossless compression

Tip: For best results, use audio with:

  • Clear speech
  • Minimal background noise
  • Separate microphones per speaker (if possible)

Step 4: Select a Template (Legal Projects)

For Legal projects, choose a formatting template:

  • Standard Deposition - Q&A format with witness examination
  • Court Hearing - Judge, attorneys, and parties
  • Custom - Start from scratch

Processing Your Audio

After uploading, HeyDonna processes your audio:

  1. Transcription - AI converts speech to text with timestamps
  2. Speaker Diarization - AI identifies different speakers
  3. Waveform Generation - Creates visual audio representation

Processing Times

Audio LengthTypical Processing Time
30 minutes~1 minute
1 hour~2-3 minutes
2 hours~4-5 minutes

You'll see a progress indicator and receive a notification when processing completes.

Opening the Editor

Once processing finishes:

  1. Click Edit on your project card
  2. The editor opens with your transcript and audio waveform
  3. Start reviewing and editing

Editor Guided Tour

The first time you open the editor, another guided tour introduces key features:

  1. AI Assistant (Donna) - Chat panel for proofreading and formatting
  2. Track Changes - See and review all edits
  3. Audio Player - Play synchronized audio
  4. Export - Download your finished document

You can restart the tour anytime from Help → Start Tour.

Tips for Success

Audio Quality

  • Use a good microphone when possible
  • Record in a quiet environment
  • Keep speakers from talking over each other

Speaker Identification

After processing, assign proper names to speakers:

  1. Open the Speaker Panel (right sidebar)
  2. Click on each speaker label (S1, S2, etc.)
  3. Enter the speaker's name and role

Save Regularly

While HeyDonna auto-saves your work, you can manually save anytime:

  • Press Cmd/Ctrl + S
  • Or use File → Save

Next Steps

Quick Start GuideOverview