FAQs
GETTING STARTED
Why do I need to enter my card details for a free trial?
A payment card is required to start your free 2 hour trial. Nothing will be charged
unless you choose to purchase additional hours. This helps us keep the trial
sustainable and available to as many people as possible. Details and payments are
handled securely by Stripe, one of the world’s leading payment providers, and your
card details are never stored by VO Sidekick.
Do my proofing hours expire?
No. Any proofing hours you purchase remain on your account until you use them.
Which script file types are supported?
Scripts can currently be uploaded as .txt or .pdf files. You also have the option of
pasting script text directly into the system.
Please note: the uploaded or pasted text should only contain the section that matches
the uploaded audio.
Which audio file types are supported?
.wav, .mp3 and .flac
Can I use the tool on my phone or tablet?
No, our tool is currently designed for desktop browsers.UPLOADING FILES
What if I upload the wrong script or audio file?
Simply upload the correct files and start a new proofing session. For the best results,
make sure the uploaded script matches the uploaded audio.
What’s the recommended maximum file length?
We’ve tested the tool with files up to 1 hour in length and continue to push this.
How good should my internet connection be?
A stable internet connection is recommended, especially when uploading longer audio
files. Slower or unstable connections may affect upload and processing times, but if
you are able to stream video comfortably, your connection should generally be
suitable.
Can I close my browser while my file is processing?
No. Please keep the browser tab open until processing has completed. Closing the tab or
browser may interrupt the process.
How long does it take to process a file?
With a stable internet connection, a 20 minute file will usually process within a minute
or two.
UNDERSTANDING THE RESULTS
What kinds of mismatches does the tool detect?
The tool looks for missed, added and potentially mispronounced words. It analyses the
words spoken against the script and does not currently assess performance, pacing,
pauses or audio quality. Because the system veers on the side of caution, it’s normalto occasionally see mismatches that you may disagree with. These can simply be
marked as IGNORE.
Why do I sometimes see false positives or inaccurate results?
VO Sidekick is currently in its paid pilot, and one of the main aims of the pilot is to
identify and refine areas where the platform can be improved.
One area we’re currently working on is how the platform handles UK and US spelling
variants. You may occasionally see false positives where equivalent spellings (such as
colour/color or channelled/channeled) are flagged as mismatches. We’re also
continuing to improve how the platform interprets hyphenated words and numerical
values, where the written form and spoken form don’t always match directly.
If you come across examples like these, we’d be very grateful if you could let us know.
Your feedback is helping us continue improving the platform and make it more
accurate for us all.
EXPORTING MARKERS
What DAWs currently support Marker export?
Currently Adobe Audition is supported. However, let us know which DAWs you would
like supported and we’ll look to add them as soon as possible.
TROUBLESHOOTING
What should I do if a file fails to process or the screen freezes?
Occasionally processing may fail due to connection issues or file-specific problems.
First, try refreshing the screen, as this will often resolve the issue. You can also try
re-uploading the file. If problems continue, please get in touch.
PRIVACY
Are uploaded files used for AI training?
No. Uploaded audio and scripts are only used for processing within the proofing
workflow and are not used for AI training or voice cloning.
EXTRAS
How does the referral scheme work?
Know someone who might find VO Sidekick useful? We’d love it if you spread the
word. If you refer a friend or colleague, you’ll both receive one free hour of proofing
once you’ve each purchased proofing hours on the platform.
All they need to do is send us a quick email saying that you referred them, and once
we’ve confirmed you’ve both made a purchase, we’ll add the free hour to both
accounts.
The referral must be mentioned before or at the time of the referred user’s first
purchase.
The offer is available only for new VO Sidekick customers.
Referrals must be between different individuals (not multiple accounts belonging to the
same person).
VO Sidekick reserves the right to decline referrals where the scheme is being misused.
In this pilot version of our proofing tool, you may occasionally come across bugs, false
positives or other inconsistencies while using the platform. The reduced pilot pricing
reflects the fact that we’re still refining the platform with the help of early users.
If you notice anything that doesn’t seem quite right, we’d really appreciate you letting
us know at info@vosidekick.com. Every report helps us make the platform better for
everyone.
Happy proofing!