Quick Start Guide
Get up and running with HeyDonna in just a few minutes.
Prerequisites
- An active HeyDonna account (invite-only beta)
- Audio files in MP3, WAV, M4A, or FLAC format
- A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)
Step 1: Sign In
- Go to heydonna.chat (opens in a new tab)
- Enter your invite code if this is your first time
- Sign in with your email or Google account
Welcome & Onboarding
When you first sign in, you'll see a Welcome modal with two options:
- Create Your First Project - Jump right into creating a transcript
- Explore Dashboard First - Look around before starting
A Getting Started checklist appears in your dashboard to guide you through:
- Creating your first project
- Opening the editor
- Using AI proofreading
- Reviewing track changes
- Playing audio (optional)
- Exporting (optional)
You can hide the checklist at any time by clicking the X button.
Step 2: Create a Project
- Click New Project from the dashboard
- Choose your project type:
- General - For standard transcription work
- Legal - For court reporting with legal formatting
- Enter a project title (e.g., "Smith v. Jones Deposition")
- Upload your audio file
Step 3: Wait for Processing
HeyDonna will automatically:
- Transcribe your audio using AI
- Identify different speakers
- Generate a synchronized waveform
Processing typically takes 2-3 minutes per hour of audio.
Step 4: Edit Your Transcript
Once processing completes, click Edit to open the transcript editor where you can:
- Play audio synchronized with the text
- Edit and correct the transcript
- Assign speaker names
- Use AI tools to proofread and format
Step 5: Export
When you're satisfied with your transcript:
- Go to File → Export
- Choose your format (DOCX or PDF)
- Download your court-ready document
What's Next?
- Creating Your First Project - Detailed walkthrough
- Editor Overview - Learn the full editor interface
- Keyboard Shortcuts - Speed up your workflow