Diarization describes who spoke when
Speaker diarization assigns segments to speaker identities within a recording. It is an annotation layer, not a promise that each person has a clean independent audio track. Ask whether speaker identifiers remain consistent within a call and how overlapping speech is represented.
Separate tracks describe the recording
A channel or track may contain one participant, several people, or a shared mix. Inspect representative files to establish which case applies. Source and export documentation should explain any mixing, resampling, or channel conversion performed before delivery.
Match the requirement to the task
A dialogue analysis project may primarily need reliable turn boundaries; another speech pipeline may need isolated speech. Specify both the desired audio structure and the annotation structure. Avoid using “diarized” as shorthand for every aspect of speaker separation.
Review difficult moments
Check interruptions, transfers, silence, background speakers, and changes in speaker count. Decide how uncertain segments are labeled. Keep the evaluation criteria consistent across the audio, transcript, and diarization files so a technically valid export is also meaningful to your pipeline.
Review checklist
- Languages, dialects, and regions
- Call scenarios and real-versus-staged requirements
- Hours, call lengths, and channel layout
- Transcript and redaction specifications
- Intended model use and licensing terms