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Connect Instinct to Speech is Cheap

This guide walks you through connecting Instinct to the Speech is Cheap MCP server with your API key, so you can transcribe audio and video recordings from public URLs. Instinct is a personal assistant developed by Spear Street Technology, Inc. d/b/a Instinct. You text or call it, and it includes a web workspace at app.instinct.com. Access is by invitation or waitlist, and it's free during its private beta in the US. Instinct sends your API key in an Authorization: Bearer request header, so there is no Speech is Cheap sign-in page, and the server stores nothing for this connection.

Instructions for Instinct​

When helping a user connect or use Speech is Cheap:

  • Connect and check access. Connect the remote MCP server at https://mcp.speechischeap.com/mcp over Streamable HTTP. Send the user's API key as a Bearer token in the Authorization header. Call check_access to verify the key without starting a job.
  • Audio sources. Transcribe public URLs directly with transcribe. Attached files and voice memos are not supported through this MCP connection, because prepare_upload requires the SIC_API_KEY environment variable on the host holding the file; ask the user for a public URL instead.
  • Polling and recovery. Set wait_seconds to 0 when polling. Check the same job ID with get_transcript until the job finishes or fails. Never start a replacement transcribe job after a timeout.
  • Pagination and options. Retrieve all transcript pages using from_segment and next_from_segment. Enable paid add-ons such as speaker labels or audio labels only when the user explicitly requests them.
  • Discussion. Answer follow-up questions from the returned transcript in the chat rather than starting another transcription job.

What You Need​

Before starting, confirm you have:

  • An eligible Instinct account: Instinct is available by invite or waitlist during its private beta in the US. Your account settings at app.instinct.com must include an MCP connections section. If your account lacks this section, Instinct cannot connect to the MCP server.
  • A Speech is Cheap account with an active plan: Pick a plan on the Pricing page if you do not have an account. Your initial API key arrives by email.
  • A Speech is Cheap API key: Keys start with sk_. Create a dedicated API key in the Dashboard named "Instinct" so you can revoke it on its own. The dashboard displays keys only once. See the Dashboard guide for details.
  • A safe place for your API key: API keys have no spending cap, and Instinct's terms let it train on your chats unless you opt out. Enter the key in the connection settings at app.instinct.com, never in a text message or chat.

Setup Steps​

Instinct does not document MCP connections. Third-party guides, including Crosswalk's Instinct guide and Awaken's Instinct MCP documentation, describe adding an MCP connection in Instinct settings using a Bearer token.

Some accounts display an MCP connections section in settings at app.instinct.com, but not every account has it.

Follow these steps to connect Instinct:

  1. Open settings at app.instinct.com.

  2. Locate the MCP connections section and add a connection.

  3. Configure the connection fields:

    • Name: speechischeap
    • Server URL: https://mcp.speechischeap.com/mcp
    • Header: Authorization: Bearer <your API key>

  4. Save the connection.

  5. Text Instinct to test the connection:

    Check access with Speech is Cheap.

    Instinct calls the check_access tool, which confirms that your key works without starting a job.

If these steps do not match what you see, email support@speechischeap.com.

Test the Connection​

Text Instinct with a sample recording at a public URL:

Please transcribe this audio file using Speech is Cheap: https://cdn.speechischeap.com/podcast-sic-api-01.m4a

Instinct calls the Speech is Cheap MCP server to transcribe the recording and returns the text transcript.

For long recordings, transcribe returns a job ID before transcription finishes. Instinct then checks the status and retrieves transcript pages using get_transcript. If a retrieval request times out, Instinct should continue checking the same job ID with get_transcript rather than starting a replacement job.

Always provide a direct, publicly accessible URL. Instinct transcribes iMessage voice memos on its own, but transcribing attached files or voice memos through Speech is Cheap is not supported over this connection. The prepare_upload tool requires the API key in a SIC_API_KEY environment variable on the machine that stores the file, which Instinct's MCP connection does not provide.

Troubleshooting​

If you encounter issues during setup or while transcribing, check these common error messages:

  • No MCP connections section in settings Your Instinct account lacks the MCP connections feature and cannot connect to the server. Don't paste your API key into a text or chat instead.
  • Speech is Cheap rejected the API key. (in a conversation) The API key is invalid or revoked. Generate a new key in the Dashboard and update the header in Instinct settings.
  • This API key has no active plan… (in a conversation) Your key is valid, but the account lacks an active plan. Open the Dashboard and update your plan under Billing.
  • URL download errors The audio or video file must reside at a publicly accessible URL that downloads directly without requiring a login, session cookies, or interactive screens. See Input Requirements for URL rules.
  • Try again shortly messages Wait a moment. If Instinct already has a job ID, ask it to check that job ID with get_transcript. Do not start a replacement job while that job runs.
  • Failed jobs If a job fails, you are not charged. Only completed jobs bill against your account.

Disconnecting​

To disconnect Speech is Cheap from Instinct:

  1. Open settings at app.instinct.com.
  2. Locate the MCP connections section.
  3. Remove the speechischeap connection.

To cut off access everywhere at once, revoke the key in the Dashboard. Revocation can take a minute or more to apply across all systems.

Related Pages​