First Run

How to start using Cowslator

The first-run experience should be simple: open the app, choose media, let the runtime evaluate your hardware, and begin with a model that your browser can sustain. Local-first transcription is easiest when expectations are set clearly from the start.

Recommended first session

Open the app in a modern browser.
Start with a short audio or video file so the runtime can warm up with minimal risk.
Let the browser complete capability checks before assuming GPU acceleration is available.
If performance is unstable, step down to a smaller or more quantized model rather than forcing the largest option.

What “local processing” means here

In the intended workflow, your browser performs the inference on your own device. That is different from a service that requires uploading every file to a remote server before transcription begins. Local processing improves control, but it also means your device capabilities directly influence speed and stability.

Good starting assumptions

Prefer stability first

For a first session, a model that finishes reliably is more informative than a larger model that stresses the browser.

Test your real workload later

After the first run succeeds, move on to longer recordings or folders that better represent your actual workflow.