Add the industry terms, names, and acronyms that matter to you, and Plaud is more likely to transcribe them the way you intend.
What is Custom Vocabulary?
Custom Vocabulary lets you tell Plaud's AI which specialized terms to watch for, so brand names, technical jargon, and proper nouns that standard speech models often miss are more likely to be transcribed correctly.
You can start from a pre-built industry library for the legal, medical, or technology sectors, and you can also add your own project names and client-specific acronyms. The two methods work together to cover more of the terms unique to your recordings.
Custom Vocabulary settings sync with your account, so your library follows you across every device you sign in to.
How do I set up Custom Vocabulary?
- Select an industry preset. Choose a pre-built library optimized for the legal, medical, or technology sectors. Each preset helps Plaud recognize the specialized jargon common in that field.
- Add your own words. Tap Add Word and enter the term exactly as you want it to appear in your transcript. Use this for internal project names, client acronyms, and the names of people you record often.
Two things to know when you add words:
- Capitalization matters. Custom Vocabulary is case-sensitive, so the AI outputs each term exactly as you typed it. iPhone and iphone are treated as two different entries. Enter brand names in their official style, such as YouTube, iPad, or GPT-4.
- You can add up to 500 words. If you reach the limit, remove terms you no longer need before adding new ones, and keep the words that are most often misrecognized or most important to your recordings.
How does Custom Vocabulary affect my transcripts and summaries?
Custom Vocabulary is applied first at the raw transcript stage. Because every other output is built on top of the raw transcript, your terms can carry through to the rest of the processing chain, but the effect weakens the further an output sits from the transcript.
| Output | Affected by Custom Vocabulary | Notes |
| Raw Transcript | Yes, primary effect | Terms are corrected here first |
| Polished Text | Yes | Built from the raw transcript |
| Summary | Yes | Built from the raw transcript |
| Outline | Limited | Built from the transcript, but may paraphrase or omit terms |
| Auto-generated Title | Limited | Based on the Summary, so the effect is indirect |
For outputs like the Outline and the auto-generated title, the AI may rephrase or leave out a specific term, so do not rely on Custom Vocabulary alone to make sure a word appears there. If accurate titles matter to you, rename the recording manually after it is processed.
What are the current limitations?
- No variant-to-standard mapping. Each entry is matched independently, so you cannot map several spellings to one output (for example, KDEX and Cadex both becoming KAEDIX). If a term has common misspellings, add the most frequently spoken form, and add alternate spellings as separate entries to improve coverage.
- No phonetic hints. Custom Vocabulary does not accept pronunciation guides, and the AI matches sounds with its own acoustic model. A term whose pronunciation differs greatly from common English sounds may still be misrecognized. If that happens, try an alternate spelling that better matches how the word sounds, such as Kaydex instead of KAEDIX.
- New recordings only. Custom Vocabulary applies from your next recording onward and is not applied automatically to recordings that were already processed. To update an older recording, re-transcribe it after saving your changes.
FAQ about Custom Vocabulary
Which terms should I add?
Add terms that need to be spelled precisely: internal project names, client-specific acronyms, niche industry jargon, and the names of people you record often.
Can I combine an industry preset with my own terms?
Yes. Select a preset for the legal, medical, or technology sector, then add your own personalized terms on top of it for broader coverage.
Does capitalization matter when I add a word?
Yes. Custom Vocabulary is case-sensitive, so enter each word exactly as you want it to appear. iPhone and iphone produce different results.
Can I add multiple spellings of the same word?
Not as a mapping. Each entry is matched independently, so you cannot set KDEX and Cadex to both output as KAEDIX. Add the most commonly spoken form, and add alternate spellings as separate entries if needed.
Can I add phonetic spellings to help Plaud hear a word?
Not currently. Custom Vocabulary does not support phonetic hints. If a term is often misrecognized, try an alternate spelling that better matches its pronunciation.
Does Custom Vocabulary update my existing recordings?
No. It applies to new recordings only. To update an older recording, re-transcribe it after saving your terms.
Is there a limit to how many words I can add?
Yes, you can add up to 500 words. When you reach the limit, remove terms you no longer need and prioritize the ones that are most often misrecognized.