> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.digitalsamba.com/reference/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.digitalsamba.com/reference/rest-api/rooms/transcription/start.md).

# Start

To start transcription for a room which has a live session, you need to execute a **POST** request against the **/rooms/:id/transcription/start** endpoint. Transcripts are saved and can later be exported through the [API ](/reference/rest-api/rooms/transcription/export.md)or dashboard.

{% hint style="info" %}
Transcription can also be started manually by a moderator inside the live session. Here we describe how to start the transcription through the REST API, so you can control start / stop transcription externally as an integrator. You can also configure transcription to auto-start for rooms by setting the room property **transcription\_auto\_start\_enabled** to true.
{% endhint %}

#### Request

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="cURL" %}
{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.digitalsamba.com/api/v1/rooms/c39d7c40-7ff7-4faa-b06f-698a639a9523/transcription/start \
  --user YOUR_TEAM_ID:YOUR_DEVELOPER_KEY
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Java" %}

```java
import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;

import java.net.URI;
import java.net.http.HttpClient;
import java.net.http.HttpRequest;
import java.net.http.HttpResponse;
import java.net.http.HttpResponse.BodyHandlers;
import java.util.Base64;
import java.util.Map;

String TEAM_ID = "YOUR_TEAM_ID";
String DEVELOPER_KEY = "YOUR_DEVELOPER_KEY";
String authorizationHeader = "Bearer " + Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString((TEAM_ID + ":" + DEVELOPER_KEY).getBytes());
//Put your room id or friendly_url (name) here - this value is just an example
String roomId = "c39d7c40-7ff7-4faa-b06f-698a639a9523";

HttpRequest request = HttpRequest.newBuilder()
  .POST(BodyPublishers.noBody())
  .uri(new URI("https://api.digitalsamba.com/api/v1/rooms/" + roomId + "/transcription/start"))
  .header("Authorization", authorizationHeader)
  .build();

HttpClient client = HttpClient.newHttpClient();
HttpResponse<String> response = client.send(request, BodyHandlers.ofString());

System.out.println("Status code: " + response.statusCode());
System.out.println("Body: " + response.body());
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

#### Response (200 OK) -> No Content

If no session is active for the room you will receive a generic **400 Bad Request** response.

```json
{
    "message": "Can not start transcription, this room is not active."
}
```


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.digitalsamba.com/reference/rest-api/rooms/transcription/start.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

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Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.