diff --git a/docs/transcription.md b/docs/transcription.md
index 05b33ff..95ca239 100644
--- a/docs/transcription.md
+++ b/docs/transcription.md
@@ -71,8 +71,14 @@ updates `want_article` on a running one. With a transcript already there it retu
 `{state: "done"}` straight away (and keeps `want_article`). `GET` on the same address returns
 `{state, chunks_done, chunks_total, error, want_article, started_at, finished_at}`, with `state`
 one of `none`, `queued`, `downloading`, `transcribing`, `done`, `error`. `DELETE` cancels a
-queued or running job. The server runs one job at a time; the others wait as `queued`. A YouTube
-episode returns 400 `{error: "youtube"}`, an episode over 800 MB 400 `{error: "too large"}`.
+queued or running job (its row is deleted, so `GET` then says `none`; a finished one stays). The server runs one job at a time; the others wait as `queued`. A YouTube
+episode returns 400 `{error: "youtube"}`, an episode over 800 MB 400 `{error: "too large"}`. The size is asked with a `HEAD`
+request (`Content-Length`; if that fails the job starts anyway) and checked again while
+downloading, where it ends the job with the error `too large`. `article: true` is only ever
+raised, never lowered, by a repeated `POST`; a `POST` after an `error` starts a new job (at the
+back of the queue). Jobs run in id order, which is why the notice below can use ids as its cursor.
+A feed transcript already there gives a job that is `done` with no `data`: it only holds the wish
+for an article and causes no `transcripts` notice.
 
 **Transcript.** The result is kept on the job (`TranscriptionJob.data`) in the format of
 `EpisodeTranscript.data`: `{segments: [{start, end, speaker, text}], source: {type: "whisper",
@@ -110,6 +116,11 @@ that want an article, have none and aren't reserved. `POST
 /podcasts/episodes/<id>/article/claim/` reserves one for 15 minutes for the calling device
 (200), or answers 409 when another device holds it, so phone and desktop don't both write it.
 `DELETE` on the claim releases it (the device gave up, e.g. no key or an error the user saw).
+The device names itself with `device` in the JSON body (or, if that is missing, the
+`X-Diora-Device` header): a short stable name such as `android`, `desktop` or `browser`, at most 60
+characters; a claim without one is 400. The same device claiming again renews its 15 minutes. A
+claim on an episode with no open wish (no job done, no article wanted, or an article already
+there) is 404. `DELETE` by a device that does not hold the claim is 409.
 
 **Notice.** `GET /feeds/notifications/` additionally takes `t_after` and returns
 `transcripts: [{job_id, episode_id, title, podcast, want_article}]` (jobs done after that id) and
@@ -129,7 +140,13 @@ run in a thread pool of `parallel` workers; each is retried up to three times wi
 pause; progress is written after each. Segment times are shifted by the piece's start; the
 segments are joined and smoothed with `transcripts.merge`. A job runs in a daemon thread, like
 `silence.ensure()`; one per server. A job found `downloading` or `transcribing` after a restart
-is started again.
+is started again. This happens when the first
+request (`GET`/`POST` on `/transcribe/` or `/transcription/pending/`) after a start reaches the server.
+Cancelling deletes the job's row; the worker notices at the latest after five seconds, stops
+sending pieces and removes its temporary files (they live in a temporary directory that is always
+removed). Only the worker's main thread writes to the database. The settings used are those of the
+episode's owner, read when the job starts. A refusal by the instance with a 4xx status other than
+408 and 429 is not retried and ends the job with `Whisper: HTTP <code>`.
 
 ## The article (`static/js/podcast-article.js`)
 
diff --git a/feeds/views.py b/feeds/views.py
index 9c6ce57..b096c80 100644
--- a/feeds/views.py
+++ b/feeds/views.py
@@ -752,17 +752,32 @@ def star(request, pk):
 def notifications(request):
     """What a device should announce: posts marked when they came in, still
     unread, of blogs that still have the bell on, after the id the device saw
-    last. Without `after` (a device's first time) nothing, only where to start."""
+    last. Without `after` (a device's first time) nothing, only where to start.
+    The same for finished transcripts (`t_after`, `transcripts`, `t_last`; jobs the
+    user's episodes have, docs/transcription.md)."""
     if (err := _auth(request)):
         return err
     qs = Item.objects.filter(user=request.user, notify=True)
     last = qs.order_by('-id').values_list('id', flat=True).first() or 0
+    # Jobs run in id order, one at a time, so a job never finishes below an id already seen.
+    # (A job that is done with no data only reflects a feed transcript: no notice for it.)
+    from podcasts.models import TranscriptionJob
+    jobs = TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(
+        episode__feed__user=request.user, state=TranscriptionJob.DONE, data__isnull=False)
+    t_last = jobs.order_by('-id').values_list('id', flat=True).first() or 0
+    out = {'items': [], 'last': last, 'transcripts': [], 't_last': t_last}
+    t_after = request.GET.get('t_after', '')
+    if t_after.isdigit():
+        out['transcripts'] = [{
+            'job_id': j.id, 'episode_id': j.episode_id, 'title': j.episode.title,
+            'podcast': j.episode.feed.title, 'want_article': j.want_article,
+        } for j in jobs.filter(id__gt=int(t_after)).select_related('episode__feed').order_by('id')[:50]]
     after = request.GET.get('after', '')
-    if not after.isdigit():
-        return JsonResponse({'items': [], 'last': last})
-    items = (qs.filter(id__gt=int(after), read_at=None, gone=False, source__notify=True)
-             .select_related('source').order_by('-published')[:50])
-    return JsonResponse({'items': [_item_data(i) for i in items], 'last': last})
+    if after.isdigit():
+        items = (qs.filter(id__gt=int(after), read_at=None, gone=False, source__notify=True)
+                 .select_related('source').order_by('-published')[:50])
+        out['items'] = [_item_data(i) for i in items]
+    return JsonResponse(out)
 
 
 @csrf_exempt
diff --git a/podcasts/test_transcribe.py b/podcasts/test_transcribe.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f751854
--- /dev/null
+++ b/podcasts/test_transcribe.py
@@ -0,0 +1,786 @@
+"""The transcription pipeline (podcasts/transcribe.py) against a fake Whisper instance, the
+endpoints around it and the notice in /feeds/notifications/."""
+import email
+import io
+import json
+import math
+import os
+import struct
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+import threading
+import time
+import wave
+from datetime import timedelta
+from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, ThreadingHTTPServer
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from django.db import OperationalError
+from django.test import TestCase, TransactionTestCase, override_settings
+from django.utils import timezone
+
+from feeds.models import Item, Source
+
+from . import transcribe, transcription, youtube
+from .models import (
+    EpisodeArticle, EpisodeTranscript, PodcastEpisode, PodcastFeed, TranscriptionJob, TranscriptionSettings,
+)
+
+RATE = 16000
+TOTAL = 120
+# Where the long pauses are (start, length): the pieces should be cut in these. The short
+# ones (0.3 s every 4 s) are only there to tempt.
+LONG_PAUSES = [(36.5, 1.6), (83.0, 1.4)]
+SEGMENTS = [{'start': 0.0, 'end': 2.0, 'text': ' Hallo '}, {'start': 2.0, 'end': 5.5, 'text': 'Welt.'}]
+
+
+def make_audio():
+    """~2 minutes of tones with pauses, as mp3 bytes (and the wav as a check of the length)."""
+    samples = []
+    t = 0.0
+    pauses = [(s, s + n) for s, n in LONG_PAUSES]
+    for i in range(RATE * TOTAL):
+        t = i / RATE
+        silent = any(a <= t < b for a, b in pauses) or (t % 4.0) > 3.7
+        value = 0 if silent else int(9000 * math.sin(2 * math.pi * (180 + 40 * ((i // 8000) % 5)) * t))
+        samples.append(value)
+    buf = io.BytesIO()
+    with wave.open(buf, 'wb') as w:
+        w.setnchannels(1)
+        w.setsampwidth(2)
+        w.setframerate(RATE)
+        w.writeframes(struct.pack('<%dh' % len(samples), *samples))
+    import imageio_ffmpeg
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
+        src, dst = os.path.join(tmp, 'a.wav'), os.path.join(tmp, 'a.mp3')
+        open(src, 'wb').write(buf.getvalue())
+        subprocess.run([imageio_ffmpeg.get_ffmpeg_exe(), '-loglevel', 'error', '-i', src, '-b:a', '64k', dst], check=True)
+        return open(dst, 'rb').read()
+
+
+_AUDIO = []
+
+
+def audio():
+    if not _AUDIO:
+        _AUDIO.append(make_audio())
+    return _AUDIO[0]
+
+
+def decoded_seconds(data, suffix):
+    """How long the uploaded piece is, by decoding it."""
+    import imageio_ffmpeg
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
+        path = os.path.join(tmp, 'p' + suffix)
+        open(path, 'wb').write(data)
+        out = subprocess.run([imageio_ffmpeg.get_ffmpeg_exe(), '-loglevel', 'error', '-i', path, '-f', 's16le',
+                              '-ac', '1', '-ar', str(RATE), '-'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, check=True).stdout
+    return len(out) / 2 / RATE
+
+
+class Fake:
+    """A local HTTP server: GET /ep.mp3 is the test audio, POST /v1/audio/transcriptions a Whisper."""
+
+    def __init__(self, fail_first=0, fail_status=500, delay=0, on_call=None):
+        self.fail_first, self.fail_status, self.delay, self.on_call = fail_first, fail_status, delay, on_call
+        self.calls = []   # {'fields', 'filename', 'body', 'auth'}
+        self.lock = threading.Lock()
+        fake = self
+
+        class Handler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
+            def log_message(self, *a):
+                pass
+
+            def do_GET(self):
+                if self.path == '/missing.mp3':
+                    self.send_response(404)
+                    self.end_headers()
+                    return
+                body = audio_holder.data or audio()
+                self.send_response(200)
+                self.send_header('Content-Type', 'audio/mpeg')
+                self.send_header('Content-Length', str(len(body)))
+                self.end_headers()
+                self.wfile.write(body)
+
+            def do_POST(self):
+                raw = self.rfile.read(int(self.headers['Content-Length']))
+                msg = email.message_from_bytes(
+                    b'Content-Type: ' + self.headers['Content-Type'].encode() + b'\r\n\r\n' + raw)
+                fields, filename, body = {}, '', b''
+                for part in msg.get_payload():
+                    name = part.get_param('name', header='content-disposition')
+                    if part.get_filename():
+                        filename, body = part.get_filename(), part.get_payload(decode=True)
+                    else:
+                        fields[name] = part.get_payload(decode=True).decode()
+                with fake.lock:
+                    fake.calls.append({'fields': fields, 'filename': filename, 'body': body,
+                                       'auth': self.headers.get('Authorization')})
+                    n = len(fake.calls)
+                if fake.on_call:
+                    fake.on_call(n)
+                if fake.delay:
+                    time.sleep(fake.delay)
+                if n <= fake.fail_first or fake.fail_first < 0:
+                    self.send_response(fake.fail_status)
+                    self.send_header('Content-Length', '0')
+                    self.end_headers()
+                    return
+                out = json.dumps({'language': 'german', 'segments': SEGMENTS}).encode()
+                self.send_response(200)
+                self.send_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
+                self.send_header('Content-Length', str(len(out)))
+                self.end_headers()
+                self.wfile.write(out)
+
+        self.server = ThreadingHTTPServer(('127.0.0.1', 0), Handler)
+        self.server.daemon_threads = True
+        self.port = self.server.server_address[1]
+        threading.Thread(target=self.server.serve_forever, daemon=True).start()
+
+    @property
+    def whisper(self):
+        return f'http://127.0.0.1:{self.port}/v1'
+
+    def url(self, path='/ep.mp3'):
+        return f'http://127.0.0.1:{self.port}{path}'
+
+    def stop(self):
+        self.server.shutdown()
+        self.server.server_close()
+
+
+def leftovers():
+    base = tempfile.gettempdir()
+    return {d for d in os.listdir(base) if d.startswith('diora-transcribe-')}
+
+
+FAST = dict(CHUNK_SECONDS=40, CUT_WINDOW=8, MIN_TAIL=10, RETRY_PAUSES=(0, 0, 0))
+
+
+def wait_for(cond, timeout=30):
+    end = time.time() + timeout
+    while time.time() < end:
+        if cond():
+            return True
+        time.sleep(0.05)
+    return False
+
+
+class PipelineBase(TransactionTestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        for k, v in FAST.items():
+            patcher = patch.object(transcribe, k, v)
+            patcher.start()
+            self.addCleanup(patcher.stop)
+        self.user = User.objects.create_user(username='alice', password='pw12345678')
+        self.feed = PodcastFeed.objects.create(user=self.user, rss_url='https://example.org/f', title='Der Podcast',
+                                               author='Anna Autorin')
+        self.fake = Fake()
+        self.addCleanup(self.fake.stop)
+        self.before = leftovers()
+
+    def job(self, audio_path='/ep.mp3', **kw):
+        n = PodcastEpisode.objects.count()
+        ep = PodcastEpisode.objects.create(feed=self.feed, guid=f'g{n}', title=f'Folge {n}',
+                                           audio_url=self.fake.url(audio_path), duration_seconds=TOTAL)
+        return TranscriptionJob.objects.create(episode=ep, state=TranscriptionJob.QUEUED, **kw)
+
+    def reload(self, job):
+        for _ in range(50):   # the in-memory test database may be locked for a moment by the worker
+            try:
+                return TranscriptionJob.objects.get(pk=job.pk)
+            except OperationalError:
+                time.sleep(0.05)
+        return TranscriptionJob.objects.get(pk=job.pk)
+
+    def assertClean(self):
+        self.assertEqual(leftovers(), self.before)
+
+
+class PlanTests(PipelineBase):
+    def test_cuts_land_in_the_long_pauses(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
+            src, pcm = os.path.join(tmp, 'a.mp3'), os.path.join(tmp, 'a.pcm')
+            open(src, 'wb').write(audio())
+            transcribe._decode(src, pcm)
+            total = os.path.getsize(pcm) / 2 / RATE
+            pieces = transcribe.plan(total, transcribe.pauses_of(pcm))
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(total, TOTAL, delta=0.5)
+        self.assertEqual(len(pieces), 3)
+        cuts = [p[1] for p in pieces[:-1]]
+        for cut, (start, length) in zip(cuts, LONG_PAUSES):
+            self.assertTrue(start <= cut <= start + length, f'{cut} not in the pause {start}+{length}')
+        self.assertEqual(pieces[0][0], 0)
+        self.assertEqual(pieces[-1][1], total)
+        self.assertEqual([a[1] for a in pieces[:-1]], [b[0] for b in pieces[1:]])
+
+    def test_plan_without_pauses_cuts_at_the_target(self):
+        self.assertEqual(transcribe.plan(100, []), [(0.0, 40), (40, 80), (80, 100)])
+        self.assertEqual(transcribe.plan(30, []), [(0.0, 30)])
+        # a short tail is joined to the last piece
+        self.assertEqual(transcribe.plan(85, []), [(0.0, 40), (40, 85)])
+
+
+@override_settings(WHISPER_URL='')
+class RunTests(PipelineBase):
+    def configure(self, **kw):
+        conf = TranscriptionSettings(user=self.user, **kw)
+        conf.save()
+        return conf
+
+    def test_builtin_run_end_to_end(self):
+        with override_settings(WHISPER_URL=self.fake.whisper):
+            self.configure(language='de', parallel=2)
+            job = self.job()
+            started = time.time()
+            transcribe.run(job.pk)
+            took = time.time() - started
+        print(f'\n[pipeline run of the {TOTAL} s test audio took {took:.1f} s]')
+        job = self.reload(job)
+        self.assertEqual((job.state, job.error), ('done', ''))
+        self.assertEqual((job.chunks_done, job.chunks_total), (3, 3))
+        self.assertIsNotNone(job.finished_at)
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.fake.calls), 3)
+        for c in self.fake.calls:
+            self.assertEqual(c['fields']['model'], 'whisper-1')
+            self.assertEqual(c['fields']['language'], 'de')
+            self.assertEqual(c['fields']['response_format'], 'verbose_json')
+            self.assertEqual(c['fields']['prompt'], 'Der Podcast. Folge 0. Anna Autorin')
+            self.assertTrue(c['filename'].endswith('.flac'))
+            self.assertIsNone(c['auth'])   # the token only goes to custom instances
+        # the uploaded pieces are the planned ones: the same total, cut at the pauses
+        lengths = sorted(decoded_seconds(c['body'], '.flac') for c in self.fake.calls)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(sum(lengths), TOTAL, delta=0.5)
+        data = job.data
+        self.assertEqual(data['source'], {'type': 'whisper', 'model': 'whisper-1', 'language': 'de'})
+        segs = data['segments']
+        starts = [s['start'] for s in segs]
+        self.assertEqual(starts, sorted(starts))
+        self.assertTrue(all(s['speaker'] == '' for s in segs))
+        # every piece answered "Hallo Welt." at 0 to 5.5 s: its start is where the piece starts,
+        # which lies on a cut in a long pause, and the first at zero
+        self.assertEqual(starts[0], 0)
+        cuts = starts[1:]
+        self.assertEqual(len(cuts), 2)
+        for cut, (p, n) in zip(cuts, LONG_PAUSES):
+            self.assertTrue(p <= cut <= p + n, f'{cut} not in {p}+{n}')
+        self.assertEqual(segs[0]['text'], 'Hallo Welt.')
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(segs[0]['end'], 5.5)
+        self.assertClean()
+
+    def test_language_empty_takes_what_whisper_detects_and_custom_gets_opus_and_token(self):
+        conf = self.configure(engine='custom', url=self.fake.whisper, model='large-v3', language='')
+        conf.token_encrypted = transcription.logins.encrypt('tok')
+        conf.save()
+        job = self.job()
+        with patch.object(transcribe.chapters, 'assert_safe_url'), \
+                patch.object(transcribe.chapters, '_assert_peer_is_safe'):
+            transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        job = self.reload(job)
+        self.assertEqual((job.state, job.error), ('done', ''))
+        self.assertEqual(job.data['source'], {'type': 'whisper', 'model': 'large-v3', 'language': 'german'})
+        for c in self.fake.calls:
+            self.assertTrue(c['filename'].endswith('.ogg'))
+            self.assertNotIn('language', c['fields'])
+            self.assertEqual(c['auth'], 'Bearer tok')
+            self.assertLess(len(c['body']), decoded_seconds(c['body'], '.ogg') * 6500)   # 32 kbit/s: about 4 kB a second, ogg and VBR on top
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(sum(decoded_seconds(c['body'], '.ogg') for c in self.fake.calls), TOTAL, delta=0.5)
+        self.assertClean()
+
+    def test_custom_instance_on_a_private_address_is_refused(self):
+        self.configure(engine='custom', url=self.fake.whisper)
+        job = self.job()
+        transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        job = self.reload(job)
+        self.assertEqual(job.state, 'error')
+        self.assertIn('Whisper', job.error)
+        self.assertEqual(self.fake.calls, [])
+
+    @override_settings(WHISPER_URL='')
+    def test_retries_then_succeeds(self):
+        self.fake.fail_first = 2
+        with override_settings(WHISPER_URL=self.fake.whisper):
+            self.configure(parallel=1)
+            job = self.job()
+            transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        self.assertEqual(self.reload(job).state, 'done')
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.fake.calls), 3 + 2)
+
+    def test_gives_up_after_three_retries(self):
+        self.fake.fail_first = -1
+        with override_settings(WHISPER_URL=self.fake.whisper):
+            self.configure(parallel=1)
+            job = self.job()
+            transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        job = self.reload(job)
+        self.assertEqual(job.state, 'error')
+        self.assertEqual(job.error, 'Whisper: HTTP 500')
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.fake.calls), 4)   # the first try and three more
+        self.assertIsNone(job.data)
+        self.assertClean()
+
+    def test_a_refusal_is_not_retried(self):
+        self.fake.fail_first, self.fake.fail_status = -1, 401
+        with override_settings(WHISPER_URL=self.fake.whisper):
+            self.configure(parallel=1)
+            job = self.job()
+            transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        job = self.reload(job)
+        self.assertEqual((job.state, job.error), ('error', 'Whisper: HTTP 401'))
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.fake.calls), 1)
+
+    def test_download_failure(self):
+        with override_settings(WHISPER_URL=self.fake.whisper):
+            job = self.job('/missing.mp3')
+            transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        job = self.reload(job)
+        self.assertEqual((job.state, job.error), ('error', 'Download: HTTP 404'))
+        self.assertClean()
+
+    def test_not_audio(self):
+        with override_settings(WHISPER_URL=self.fake.whisper), patch.object(audio_holder, 'data', b'<html>no</html>'):
+            job = self.job()
+            transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        job = self.reload(job)
+        self.assertEqual(job.state, 'error')
+        self.assertTrue(job.error.startswith('ffmpeg:'), job.error)
+        self.assertClean()
+
+    def test_no_builtin_instance(self):
+        job = self.job()
+        transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        self.assertEqual(self.reload(job).error, 'Keine eingebaute Instanz eingerichtet')
+
+    def test_cancel_while_running(self):
+        job = self.job()
+
+        def cancel(n):
+            if n == 1:
+                TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(pk=job.pk).delete()
+                from django.db import connection
+                connection.close()
+        self.fake.on_call, self.fake.delay = cancel, 0.2
+        with override_settings(WHISPER_URL=self.fake.whisper):
+            self.configure(parallel=1)
+            transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        self.assertFalse(TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(pk=job.pk).exists())
+        self.assertLessEqual(len(self.fake.calls), 1)   # no further piece was sent
+        self.assertClean()
+
+    def test_cancelled_while_waiting_is_not_started(self):
+        job = self.job()
+        job.delete()
+        transcribe.run(job.pk)
+        self.assertEqual(self.fake.calls, [])
+
+
+class _Holder:
+    """Lets a test swap the audio the fake server sends."""
+    data = None
+
+
+audio_holder = _Holder()
+
+
+class QueueTests(PipelineBase):
+    """The runner and its queue. The work itself (_transcribe) is replaced by a stand-in the test
+    holds back, so only the runner thread writes to the database while the test looks at it."""
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        self.gate = threading.Event()
+        self.started = []
+        patcher = patch.object(transcribe, '_resumed', True)
+        patcher.start()
+        self.addCleanup(patcher.stop)
+        work = patch.object(transcribe, '_transcribe', side_effect=self.work)
+        work.start()
+        self.addCleanup(work.stop)
+        self.addCleanup(self.gate.set)
+        self.addCleanup(lambda: wait_for(lambda: transcribe._runner is None))
+
+    def work(self, job_id):
+        self.started.append(job_id)
+        self.gate.wait(30)
+        return {'segments': [{'start': 0, 'end': 1, 'speaker': '', 'text': 'x'}], 'source': {'type': 'whisper'}}
+
+    def test_one_job_at_a_time_oldest_first(self):
+        first, second, third = self.job(), self.job(), self.job()
+        transcribe.kick()
+        self.assertTrue(wait_for(lambda: self.started == [first.pk]))
+        transcribe.kick()   # a second runner doesn't start
+        time.sleep(0.3)
+        self.assertEqual(self.started, [first.pk])
+        self.assertEqual([self.reload(j).state for j in (first, second, third)], ['downloading', 'queued', 'queued'])
+        self.gate.set()
+        self.assertTrue(wait_for(lambda: transcribe._runner is None))
+        self.assertEqual(self.started, [first.pk, second.pk, third.pk])
+        jobs = [self.reload(j) for j in (first, second, third)]
+        self.assertEqual([j.state for j in jobs], ['done'] * 3)
+        self.assertEqual(sorted(j.finished_at for j in jobs), [j.finished_at for j in jobs])
+
+    def test_a_job_queued_while_the_runner_works_is_taken_too(self):
+        first = self.job()
+        transcribe.kick()
+        self.assertTrue(wait_for(lambda: self.started == [first.pk]))
+        second = self.job()
+        transcribe.kick()
+        self.gate.set()
+        self.assertTrue(wait_for(lambda: transcribe._runner is None))
+        self.assertEqual(self.started, [first.pk, second.pk])
+
+    def test_a_cancelled_waiting_job_is_skipped(self):
+        first, second, third = self.job(), self.job(), self.job()
+        transcribe.kick()
+        self.assertTrue(wait_for(lambda: self.started == [first.pk]))
+        second.delete()
+        self.gate.set()
+        self.assertTrue(wait_for(lambda: transcribe._runner is None))
+        self.assertEqual(self.started, [first.pk, third.pk])
+
+    def test_a_crashing_job_does_not_stop_the_queue(self):
+        first, second = self.job(), self.job()
+        self.gate.set()
+        calls = []
+
+        def work(job_id):
+            calls.append(job_id)
+            if job_id == first.pk:
+                raise RuntimeError('boom')
+            return self.work(job_id)
+        with patch.object(transcribe, '_transcribe', side_effect=work):
+            transcribe.kick()
+            self.assertTrue(wait_for(lambda: transcribe._runner is None))
+        self.assertEqual(calls, [first.pk, second.pk])
+        self.assertEqual((self.reload(first).state, self.reload(first).error), ('error', 'RuntimeError: boom'))
+        self.assertEqual(self.reload(second).state, 'done')
+
+    def test_stuck_jobs_start_again_after_a_restart(self):
+        self.gate.set()
+        job = self.job()
+        TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(pk=job.pk).update(state='transcribing', chunks_done=2, chunks_total=3)
+        with patch.object(transcribe, '_resumed', False):
+            transcribe.kick()
+        self.assertTrue(wait_for(lambda: transcribe._runner is None))
+        self.assertEqual(self.started, [job.pk])
+        self.assertEqual(self.reload(job).state, 'done')
+
+    def test_nothing_queued_starts_no_runner(self):
+        transcribe.kick()
+        self.assertIsNone(transcribe._runner)
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------- endpoints
+
+class EndpointBase(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.user = User.objects.create_user(username='alice', password='pw12345678')
+        self.client.force_login(self.user)
+        self.feed = PodcastFeed.objects.create(user=self.user, rss_url='https://example.org/f', title='Der Podcast')
+        self.ep = self.episode('e1')
+        kick = patch.object(transcribe, 'kick')
+        self.kick = kick.start()
+        self.addCleanup(kick.stop)
+
+    def episode(self, guid, **kw):
+        kw.setdefault('audio_url', f'https://example.org/{guid}.mp3')
+        return PodcastEpisode.objects.create(feed=self.feed, guid=guid, title=f'Folge {guid}', duration_seconds=600, **kw)
+
+    def post(self, url, body=None, **extra):
+        return self.client.post(url, json.dumps(body or {}), content_type='application/json', **extra)
+
+    def done_job(self, ep, **kw):
+        kw.setdefault('data', {'segments': [{'start': 0, 'end': 4, 'speaker': '', 'text': 'Hallo.'}],
+                               'source': {'type': 'whisper', 'model': 'whisper-1', 'language': 'de'}})
+        return TranscriptionJob.objects.create(episode=ep, state='done', finished_at=timezone.now(), **kw)
+
+
+class TranscribeEndpointTests(EndpointBase):
+    def url(self, ep=None):
+        return f'/podcasts/episodes/{(ep or self.ep).id}/transcribe/'
+
+    def test_requires_login_and_ownership(self):
+        other = User.objects.create_user(username='bob', password='pw12345678')
+        self.client.force_login(other)
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.get(self.url()).status_code, 404)
+        self.assertEqual(self.post(self.url()).status_code, 404)
+        self.client.logout()
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.get(self.url()).status_code, 401)
+
+    def test_none_before_a_job(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.get(self.url()).json(), {
+            'state': 'none', 'chunks_done': 0, 'chunks_total': 0, 'error': '', 'want_article': False,
+            'started_at': None, 'finished_at': None})
+
+    @patch('podcasts.transcription._too_large', return_value=False)
+    def test_post_queues_a_job_and_starts_the_runner(self, _):
+        r = self.post(self.url())
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        self.assertEqual((r.json()['state'], r.json()['want_article']), ('queued', False))
+        self.assertEqual(TranscriptionJob.objects.get(episode=self.ep).state, 'queued')
+        self.kick.assert_called()
+
+    @patch('podcasts.transcription._too_large', return_value=False)
+    def test_post_again_only_raises_the_article_wish(self, _):
+        self.post(self.url())
+        first = TranscriptionJob.objects.get(episode=self.ep).pk
+        r = self.post(self.url(), {'article': True})
+        self.assertTrue(r.json()['want_article'])
+        r = self.post(self.url(), {'article': False})   # never lowers it
+        self.assertTrue(r.json()['want_article'])
+        self.assertEqual(TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(episode=self.ep).count(), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(TranscriptionJob.objects.get(episode=self.ep).pk, first)
+
+    @patch('podcasts.transcription._too_large', return_value=False)
+    def test_post_with_article_true_sets_the_wish(self, _):
+        self.assertTrue(self.post(self.url(), {'article': True}).json()['want_article'])
+
+    def test_youtube_is_refused(self):
+        ep = self.episode('yt', audio_url=youtube.WATCH + 'abc123')
+        r = self.post(self.url(ep))
+        self.assertEqual((r.status_code, r.json()), (400, {'error': 'youtube'}))
+        self.assertFalse(TranscriptionJob.objects.exists())
+
+    @patch('podcasts.transcription._too_large', return_value=True)
+    def test_too_large_is_refused(self, _):
+        r = self.post(self.url())
+        self.assertEqual((r.status_code, r.json()), (400, {'error': 'too large'}))
+        self.assertFalse(TranscriptionJob.objects.exists())
+
+    def test_the_size_check_reads_the_content_length(self):
+        from . import silence
+        resp = type('R', (), {'headers': {'Content-Length': str(silence.MAX_BYTES + 1)}})()
+        with patch('podcasts.transcription.requests.head', return_value=resp):
+            self.assertTrue(transcription._too_large('https://example.org/x.mp3'))
+        resp.headers = {'Content-Length': '1000'}
+        with patch('podcasts.transcription.requests.head', return_value=resp):
+            self.assertFalse(transcription._too_large('https://example.org/x.mp3'))
+        with patch('podcasts.transcription.requests.head', side_effect=transcription.requests.ConnectionError):
+            self.assertFalse(transcription._too_large('https://example.org/x.mp3'))
+
+    def test_a_whisper_transcript_is_done_already(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep)
+        r = self.post(self.url(), {'article': True})
+        self.assertEqual((r.json()['state'], r.json()['want_article']), ('done', True))
+        self.kick.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertTrue(TranscriptionJob.objects.get(episode=self.ep).want_article)
+
+    def test_a_feed_transcript_is_done_already(self):
+        self.ep.transcripts = [{'url': 'https://example.org/t.vtt', 'type': 'text/vtt'}]
+        self.ep.save()
+        r = self.post(self.url(), {'article': True})
+        self.assertEqual((r.json()['state'], r.json()['want_article']), ('done', True))
+        job = TranscriptionJob.objects.get(episode=self.ep)
+        self.assertIsNone(job.data)
+        self.kick.assert_not_called()
+
+    @patch('podcasts.transcription._too_large', return_value=False)
+    def test_after_an_error_post_starts_again_at_the_back(self, _):
+        old = TranscriptionJob.objects.create(episode=self.ep, state='error', error='Whisper: HTTP 500')
+        r = self.post(self.url(), {'article': True})
+        self.assertEqual((r.json()['state'], r.json()['error']), ('queued', ''))
+        new = TranscriptionJob.objects.get(episode=self.ep)
+        self.assertGreater(new.pk, old.pk)
+
+    @patch('podcasts.transcription._too_large', return_value=False)
+    def test_delete_cancels_queued_and_running_but_not_a_finished_one(self, _):
+        self.post(self.url())
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.delete(self.url()).json()['state'], 'none')
+        self.assertFalse(TranscriptionJob.objects.exists())
+        TranscriptionJob.objects.create(episode=self.ep, state='transcribing', chunks_total=5, chunks_done=2)
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.delete(self.url()).json()['state'], 'none')
+        self.assertFalse(TranscriptionJob.objects.exists())
+        self.done_job(self.ep)
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.delete(self.url()).json()['state'], 'done')
+        self.assertTrue(TranscriptionJob.objects.exists())
+
+    def test_get_shows_progress(self):
+        TranscriptionJob.objects.create(episode=self.ep, state='transcribing', chunks_total=38, chunks_done=7,
+                                        started_at=timezone.now())
+        d = self.client.get(self.url()).json()
+        self.assertEqual((d['state'], d['chunks_done'], d['chunks_total']), ('transcribing', 7, 38))
+        self.assertIsNotNone(d['started_at'])
+        self.kick.assert_called()   # a restart's first request starts the queue again
+
+
+class TranscriptTests(EndpointBase):
+    def transcript(self, ep=None):
+        return self.client.get(f'/podcasts/episodes/{(ep or self.ep).id}/transcript/')
+
+    def detail(self, ep=None):
+        return self.client.get(f'/podcasts/episodes/{(ep or self.ep).id}/').json()
+
+    def test_404_as_before_without_any(self):
+        self.assertEqual((self.transcript().status_code, self.transcript().json()), (404, {'error': 'no transcript'}))
+        d = self.detail()
+        self.assertEqual((d['has_transcript'], d['transcript_origin'], d['transcription'], d['article_item_id']),
+                         (False, None, None, None))
+
+    def test_falls_back_to_the_whisper_transcript(self):
+        job = self.done_job(self.ep)
+        r = self.transcript()
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(r.json(), job.data)
+        d = self.detail()
+        self.assertEqual((d['has_transcript'], d['transcript_origin']), (True, 'whisper'))
+        self.assertEqual(d['transcription']['state'], 'done')
+
+    def test_a_running_job_has_no_transcript_yet(self):
+        TranscriptionJob.objects.create(episode=self.ep, state='transcribing', data=None)
+        self.assertEqual(self.transcript().status_code, 404)
+        d = self.detail()
+        self.assertEqual((d['has_transcript'], d['transcript_origin'], d['transcription']['state']),
+                         (False, None, 'transcribing'))
+
+    def feed_transcript(self, error=''):
+        ep = self.ep
+        ep.transcripts = [{'url': 'https://example.org/t.vtt', 'type': 'text/vtt'}]
+        ep.save()
+        EpisodeTranscript.objects.create(
+            episode=ep, sources=['https://example.org/t.vtt'], error=error,
+            data=None if error else {'segments': [{'start': 0, 'end': 1, 'speaker': 'A', 'text': 'Aus dem Feed'}],
+                                     'source': {'url': 'https://example.org/t.vtt'}})
+
+    def test_the_feeds_transcript_wins(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep)
+        self.feed_transcript()
+        self.assertEqual(self.transcript().json()['segments'][0]['text'], 'Aus dem Feed')
+        self.assertEqual(self.detail()['transcript_origin'], 'feed')
+
+    def test_an_unusable_feed_transcript_gives_way(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep)
+        self.feed_transcript(error='invalid')
+        self.assertEqual(self.transcript().json()['segments'][0]['text'], 'Hallo.')
+        self.assertEqual(self.detail()['transcript_origin'], 'whisper')
+
+    def test_a_feed_transcript_that_cannot_be_loaded_now_gives_way_too(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep)
+        self.ep.transcripts = [{'url': 'https://example.org/t.vtt', 'type': 'text/vtt'}]
+        self.ep.save()
+        from . import chapters
+        with patch('podcasts.views.transcripts_mod.load', side_effect=chapters.FetchUnavailable('x')):
+            self.assertEqual(self.transcript().json()['segments'][0]['text'], 'Hallo.')
+
+    def test_article_item_id(self):
+        source = Source.objects.create(user=self.user, url='diora://podcast-artikel', title='Podcast-Artikel',
+                                       kind='blog')
+        item = Item.objects.create(source=source, user=self.user, kind='blog', guid_hash='x', title='A',
+                                   published=timezone.now())
+        EpisodeArticle.objects.create(episode=self.ep, item=item)
+        self.assertEqual(self.detail()['article_item_id'], item.id)
+
+
+class WishTests(EndpointBase):
+    PENDING = '/podcasts/transcription/pending/'
+
+    def claim(self, ep=None, method='post', **kw):
+        return getattr(self.client, method)(
+            f'/podcasts/episodes/{(ep or self.ep).id}/article/claim/', json.dumps(kw.pop('body', {})),
+            content_type='application/json', **kw)
+
+    def test_pending_lists_open_wishes_only(self):
+        wished = self.done_job(self.ep, want_article=True)
+        e2, e3, e4, e5 = (self.episode(g) for g in ('e2', 'e3', 'e4', 'e5'))
+        self.done_job(e2)   # no wish
+        TranscriptionJob.objects.create(episode=e3, state='transcribing', want_article=True)   # not done
+        self.done_job(e4, want_article=True, claimed_by='tablet', claimed_until=timezone.now() + timedelta(minutes=5))
+        job5 = self.done_job(e5, want_article=True)
+        source = Source.objects.create(user=self.user, url='diora://podcast-artikel', title='P', kind='blog')
+        item = Item.objects.create(source=source, user=self.user, kind='blog', guid_hash='x', title='A',
+                                   published=timezone.now())
+        EpisodeArticle.objects.create(episode=e5, item=item)   # written already
+        r = self.client.get(self.PENDING).json()
+        self.assertEqual(r, [{'episode_id': self.ep.id, 'title': 'Folge e1', 'podcast': 'Der Podcast',
+                              'duration_seconds': 600}])
+        self.assertTrue(wished.want_article and job5.want_article)
+
+    def test_pending_is_per_user_and_needs_login(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep, want_article=True)
+        other = User.objects.create_user(username='bob', password='pw12345678')
+        self.client.force_login(other)
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.get(self.PENDING).json(), [])
+        self.client.logout()
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.get(self.PENDING).status_code, 401)
+
+    def test_an_expired_claim_is_open_again(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep, want_article=True, claimed_by='tablet',
+                      claimed_until=timezone.now() - timedelta(seconds=1))
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.client.get(self.PENDING).json()), 1)
+
+    def test_claim_blocks_the_other_device_until_it_expires(self):
+        job = self.done_job(self.ep, want_article=True)
+        r = self.claim(body={'device': 'phone'})
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(r.json()['claimed_by'], 'phone')
+        job.refresh_from_db()
+        left = job.claimed_until - timezone.now()
+        self.assertTrue(timedelta(minutes=14) < left <= timedelta(minutes=15))
+        self.assertEqual(self.client.get(self.PENDING).json(), [])
+        r = self.claim(body={'device': 'desktop'})
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 409)
+        self.assertEqual(r.json()['error'], 'claimed')
+        self.assertEqual(self.claim(body={'device': 'phone'}).status_code, 200)   # the holder renews
+        TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(pk=job.pk).update(claimed_until=timezone.now() - timedelta(seconds=1))
+        self.assertEqual(self.claim(body={'device': 'desktop'}).status_code, 200)
+        job.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(job.claimed_by, 'desktop')
+
+    def test_the_device_may_come_in_a_header(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep, want_article=True)
+        self.assertEqual(self.claim(HTTP_X_DIORA_DEVICE='phone').status_code, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(self.claim(HTTP_X_DIORA_DEVICE='desktop').status_code, 409)
+
+    def test_a_device_name_is_required(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep, want_article=True)
+        self.assertEqual(self.claim().status_code, 400)
+
+    def test_release(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep, want_article=True)
+        self.claim(body={'device': 'phone'})
+        self.assertEqual(self.claim(method='delete', body={'device': 'desktop'}).status_code, 409)
+        self.assertEqual(self.claim(method='delete', body={'device': 'phone'}).status_code, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.client.get(self.PENDING).json()), 1)
+
+    def test_no_wish_no_claim(self):
+        self.done_job(self.ep)   # done, but no article wanted
+        self.assertEqual(self.claim(body={'device': 'phone'}).status_code, 404)
+        self.assertEqual(self.claim(self.episode('e9'), body={'device': 'phone'}).status_code, 404)
+
+
+class NotificationTests(EndpointBase):
+    def get(self, **q):
+        return self.client.get('/feeds/notifications/', q).json()
+
+    def test_first_time_only_the_cursor(self):
+        j = self.done_job(self.ep, want_article=True)
+        d = self.get()
+        self.assertEqual((d['transcripts'], d['t_last'], d['items']), ([], j.id, []))
+        self.assertEqual(d['last'], 0)
+
+    def test_jobs_done_after_the_cursor(self):
+        e2, e3 = self.episode('e2'), self.episode('e3')
+        a = self.done_job(self.ep)
+        b = self.done_job(e2, want_article=True)
+        TranscriptionJob.objects.create(episode=e3, state='transcribing')   # not done: no notice
+        d = self.get(t_after=a.id)
+        self.assertEqual(d['transcripts'], [{'job_id': b.id, 'episode_id': e2.id, 'title': 'Folge e2',
+                                              'podcast': 'Der Podcast', 'want_article': True}])
+        self.assertEqual(d['t_last'], b.id)
+        self.assertEqual(self.get(t_after=b.id)['transcripts'], [])
+        self.assertEqual([t['job_id'] for t in self.get(t_after=0)['transcripts']], [a.id, b.id])
+
+    def test_only_the_users_own_and_not_feed_only_jobs(self):
+        other = User.objects.create_user(username='bob', password='pw12345678')
+        feed = PodcastFeed.objects.create(user=other, rss_url='https://example.org/o', title='O')
+        ep = PodcastEpisode.objects.create(feed=feed, guid='o', title='O', audio_url='https://example.org/o.mp3')
+        self.done_job(ep)
+        self.done_job(self.episode('e2'), data=None)   # only the wish for an article from a feed transcript
+        d = self.get(t_after=0)
+        self.assertEqual((d['transcripts'], d['t_last']), ([], 0))
+
+    def test_items_still_work_beside_it(self):
+        d = self.get(after=0)
+        self.assertEqual((d['items'], d['last'], d['transcripts'], d['t_last']), ([], 0, [], 0))
diff --git a/podcasts/transcribe.py b/podcasts/transcribe.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fac15be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/podcasts/transcribe.py
@@ -0,0 +1,378 @@
+"""Transcribe an episode with a Whisper instance (docs/transcription.md, "Transcribing").
+
+The server downloads the episode (as silence.py does, with the same size limit), decodes it
+once to 16 kHz mono, cuts it into pieces of about eight minutes where there is a pause (so no
+word is cut), sends the pieces in parallel to the instance's OpenAI-compatible
+`/audio/transcriptions` and joins the answers into one transcript, which is kept on the job
+(TranscriptionJob.data).
+
+A job runs in a daemon thread, one at a time per server; the others wait as `queued` and are
+taken oldest first (by id). A job found `downloading` or `transcribing` when the process has
+just started (a restart killed it) is queued again. Cancelling deletes the job's row: the
+worker notices when it next writes progress and stops.
+"""
+import logging
+import os
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+import threading
+import time
+from concurrent.futures import FIRST_COMPLETED, ThreadPoolExecutor, wait
+
+import requests
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.db import close_old_connections
+from django.utils import timezone
+
+from . import chapters, silence, transcripts
+from .models import TranscriptionJob, TranscriptionSettings
+from .transcription import DEFAULT_MODEL, for_user, token_of
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+CHUNK_SECONDS = 8 * 60      # about this long a piece
+CUT_WINDOW = 30             # a cut moves to the longest pause within this many seconds
+MIN_TAIL = 60               # a last piece shorter than this is joined to the one before
+RATE = 16000                # Hz, mono, 16-bit
+WINDOW = silence.WINDOW
+RETRIES = 3
+RETRY_PAUSES = (3, 10, 30)  # seconds before each retry
+UPLOAD_TIMEOUT = (10, 3600)  # a CPU instance may need many minutes for a piece
+DECODE_TIMEOUT = 3600
+OPUS_BITRATE = '32k'
+MAX_PROMPT = 500            # characters
+ALIVE_CHECK = 5             # seconds between looks whether the job was cancelled
+
+_lock = threading.Lock()
+_runner = None              # the thread working through the queue, or None
+_resumed = False            # whether jobs left over from before a restart were queued again
+
+
+class Cancelled(Exception):
+    """The job's row is gone: the user cancelled it."""
+
+
+class Failed(Exception):
+    """The job can't succeed; the message is shown to the user."""
+
+
+class Permanent(Exception):
+    """A request the instance refused for good (a client error): not worth a retry."""
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Queue
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def kick():
+    """Make sure queued jobs are being worked on. Called by the endpoints, so after a restart
+    the first request brings back what was running."""
+    global _runner, _resumed
+    with _lock:
+        if not _resumed:
+            _resumed = True
+            TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(
+                state__in=[TranscriptionJob.DOWNLOADING, TranscriptionJob.TRANSCRIBING],
+            ).update(state=TranscriptionJob.QUEUED, chunks_done=0, chunks_total=0)
+        if _runner is not None:
+            return
+        if not TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(state=TranscriptionJob.QUEUED).exists():
+            return
+        _runner = threading.Thread(target=_loop, name='transcribe', daemon=True)
+        _runner.start()
+
+
+def _next_job():
+    global _runner
+    with _lock:
+        job_id = (TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(state=TranscriptionJob.QUEUED)
+                  .order_by('id').values_list('id', flat=True).first())
+        if job_id is None:
+            _runner = None   # decided under the lock, so a job queued right now starts a new runner
+        return job_id
+
+
+def _loop():
+    global _runner
+    try:
+        while True:
+            close_old_connections()
+            job_id = _next_job()
+            if job_id is None:
+                return
+            try:
+                run(job_id)
+            except Exception:  # run() reports its own failures; this keeps the queue going
+                log.exception('transcription job %s crashed', job_id)
+    except BaseException:
+        with _lock:
+            _runner = None
+        raise
+    finally:
+        close_old_connections()
+
+
+def run(job_id):
+    """Work one job through to `done` or `error`, in this thread."""
+    started = TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(pk=job_id, state=TranscriptionJob.QUEUED).update(
+        state=TranscriptionJob.DOWNLOADING, started_at=timezone.now(), finished_at=None,
+        error='', chunks_done=0, chunks_total=0)
+    if not started:
+        return   # cancelled while it waited
+    try:
+        data = _transcribe(job_id)
+        _write(job_id, state=TranscriptionJob.DONE, data=data, error='', finished_at=timezone.now())
+    except Cancelled:
+        log.info('transcription job %s cancelled', job_id)
+    except Failed as e:
+        _fail(job_id, str(e))
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception('transcription job %s failed', job_id)
+        _fail(job_id, f'{type(e).__name__}: {e}')
+
+
+def _fail(job_id, message):
+    TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(pk=job_id).update(
+        state=TranscriptionJob.ERROR, error=(message or 'failed')[:500], finished_at=timezone.now())
+
+
+def _write(job_id, **fields):
+    """Update the job; Cancelled when its row is gone."""
+    if not TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(pk=job_id).update(**fields):
+        raise Cancelled()
+
+
+def _alive(job_id):
+    if not TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(pk=job_id).exists():
+        raise Cancelled()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# The work
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _target(conf):
+    """(url, headers, builtin) of the instance the settings point at."""
+    builtin = conf.engine == TranscriptionSettings.BUILTIN
+    base = settings.WHISPER_URL if builtin else conf.url
+    if not base:
+        raise Failed('Keine eingebaute Instanz eingerichtet' if builtin else 'Keine Adresse eingetragen')
+    headers = {'User-Agent': 'diora transcription'}
+    if not builtin and conf.token_encrypted:
+        headers['Authorization'] = 'Bearer ' + token_of(conf)
+    return base.rstrip('/') + '/audio/transcriptions', headers, builtin
+
+
+def _prompt(episode):
+    parts = [episode.feed.title, episode.title, episode.feed.author]
+    return '. '.join(p.strip() for p in parts if p and p.strip())[:MAX_PROMPT]
+
+
+def _transcribe(job_id):
+    job = TranscriptionJob.objects.select_related('episode__feed').get(pk=job_id)
+    episode = job.episode
+    conf = for_user(episode.feed.user)
+    url, headers, builtin = _target(conf)
+    options = {'model': conf.model or DEFAULT_MODEL, 'response_format': 'verbose_json'}
+    if conf.language:
+        options['language'] = conf.language
+    prompt = _prompt(episode)
+    if prompt:
+        options['prompt'] = prompt
+
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(prefix='diora-transcribe-') as tmp:
+        source = os.path.join(tmp, 'episode.audio')
+        _download(episode.audio_url, source, job_id)
+        pcm = os.path.join(tmp, 'episode.pcm')
+        _decode(source, pcm)
+        os.remove(source)
+        total = os.path.getsize(pcm) // 2 / RATE
+        if total <= 0:
+            raise Failed('Kein Ton in der Datei')
+        pieces = plan(total, pauses_of(pcm))
+        _write(job_id, state=TranscriptionJob.TRANSCRIBING, chunks_total=len(pieces), chunks_done=0)
+
+        results = {}
+        stop = threading.Event()   # set when the job ends early: no piece starts after that
+        suffix, mime = ('.flac', 'audio/flac') if builtin else ('.ogg', 'audio/ogg')
+
+        def work(index):
+            # Only the HTTP side runs here; the database is touched by this thread alone.
+            if stop.is_set():
+                return index, None
+            start, end = pieces[index]
+            path = _encode(pcm, start, end, tmp, index, opus=not builtin)
+            try:
+                with open(path, 'rb') as f:
+                    body = f.read()
+            finally:
+                os.remove(path)
+            return index, _send(url, headers, builtin, f'piece-{index}{suffix}', mime, body, options, stop)
+
+        pool = ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=max(1, min(conf.parallel, 8)))
+        try:
+            pending = {pool.submit(work, i) for i in range(len(pieces))}
+            while pending:
+                finished, pending = wait(pending, timeout=ALIVE_CHECK, return_when=FIRST_COMPLETED)
+                _alive(job_id)   # also while a long piece is out
+                for f in finished:
+                    index, answer = f.result()   # the first failure ends the job
+                    results[index] = answer
+                if finished:
+                    _write(job_id, chunks_done=len(results))
+        finally:
+            stop.set()
+            pool.shutdown(wait=True, cancel_futures=True)
+    return build(pieces, [results[i] for i in range(len(pieces))], options['model'], conf.language)
+
+
+def _download(url, path, job_id):
+    size = 0
+    with open(path, 'wb') as out, requests.get(
+            url, stream=True, timeout=(10, 60), headers={'User-Agent': 'diora transcription'}) as r:
+        if r.status_code >= 400:
+            raise Failed(f'Download: HTTP {r.status_code}')
+        if int(r.headers.get('Content-Length') or 0) > silence.MAX_BYTES:
+            raise Failed('too large')
+        for n, chunk in enumerate(r.iter_content(1 << 20)):
+            size += len(chunk)
+            if size > silence.MAX_BYTES:
+                raise Failed('too large')
+            out.write(chunk)
+            if n % 8 == 0:
+                _alive(job_id)
+    if size == 0:
+        raise Failed('Download: leere Datei')
+
+
+def _run_ffmpeg(args, input=None, timeout=DECODE_TIMEOUT):
+    import imageio_ffmpeg
+    proc = subprocess.run(
+        [imageio_ffmpeg.get_ffmpeg_exe(), '-nostdin', '-hide_banner', '-loglevel', 'error', *args],
+        input=input, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, timeout=timeout)
+    if proc.returncode != 0:
+        err = proc.stderr.decode('utf-8', 'replace').strip().splitlines()
+        raise Failed('ffmpeg: ' + (err[-1] if err else f'exit {proc.returncode}')[:200])
+
+
+def _decode(source, pcm):
+    """The audio at `source` as raw 16 kHz mono 16-bit samples in the file `pcm`."""
+    _run_ffmpeg(['-vn', '-sn', '-dn', '-i', source, '-ac', '1', '-ar', str(RATE), '-f', 's16le', '-y', pcm])
+
+
+def pauses_of(pcm):
+    """The pauses of the decoded audio as [(middle, length)] in seconds, found with
+    silence.py's rules (what it cuts out of a pause is centred on the pause)."""
+    size = int(RATE * WINDOW) * 2
+    levels = []
+    with open(pcm, 'rb') as f:
+        while True:
+            data = f.read(size * 100000)
+            if not data:
+                break
+            for i in range(0, len(data) - size + 1, size):
+                levels.append(silence._level_db(data[i:i + size]))
+    return [((a + b) / 2, b - a) for a, b in silence.cuts(levels)]
+
+
+def plan(total, pauses):
+    """[(start, end)] in seconds covering 0..total: pieces of about CHUNK_SECONDS, each cut at
+    the longest pause within CUT_WINDOW of where it would fall (right there when there is none)."""
+    cuts = []
+    last = 0.0
+    k = 1
+    while k * CHUNK_SECONDS < total - MIN_TAIL:
+        target = k * CHUNK_SECONDS
+        k += 1
+        near = [p for p in pauses if abs(p[0] - target) <= CUT_WINDOW and p[0] > last + 1]
+        at = max(near, key=lambda p: p[1])[0] if near else target
+        if at <= last or at >= total:
+            continue
+        cuts.append(at)
+        last = at
+    edges = [0.0, *cuts, total]
+    return [(edges[i], edges[i + 1]) for i in range(len(edges) - 1)]
+
+
+def _encode(pcm, start, end, tmp, index, opus):
+    """The piece [start, end) of the decoded audio as FLAC or Opus (ogg), in a file."""
+    with open(pcm, 'rb') as f:
+        f.seek(int(round(start * RATE)) * 2)
+        data = f.read(int(round((end - start) * RATE)) * 2)
+    out = os.path.join(tmp, f'piece-{index}.' + ('ogg' if opus else 'flac'))
+    codec = ['-c:a', 'libopus', '-b:a', OPUS_BITRATE, '-f', 'ogg'] if opus else ['-c:a', 'flac', '-f', 'flac']
+    _run_ffmpeg(['-f', 's16le', '-ar', str(RATE), '-ac', '1', '-i', 'pipe:0', *codec, '-y', out], input=data)
+    return out
+
+
+def _post(url, headers, builtin, name, mime, body, options):
+    """One request; the parsed answer. Permanent for a refusal that won't change, RuntimeError
+    for trouble that may pass."""
+    files = {'file': (name, body, mime)}
+    try:
+        if builtin:
+            # The operator's own instance (DIORA_WHISPER_URL) may sit on a private network.
+            r = requests.post(url, headers=headers, files=files, data=options, timeout=UPLOAD_TIMEOUT)
+            if r.status_code >= 400:
+                if r.status_code < 500 and r.status_code not in (408, 429):
+                    raise Permanent(f'HTTP {r.status_code}')
+                raise RuntimeError(f'HTTP {r.status_code}')
+        else:
+            try:
+                r = chapters._open(url, headers, method='POST', timeout=UPLOAD_TIMEOUT, files=files, data=options)
+            except chapters.ChaptersInvalid as e:
+                raise Permanent(str(e))
+            except chapters.ChaptersUnavailable as e:
+                raise RuntimeError(str(e))
+        try:
+            return r.json()
+        finally:
+            r.close()
+    except requests.RequestException as e:
+        raise RuntimeError(e.__class__.__name__)
+    except ValueError:
+        raise RuntimeError('Antwort ist kein JSON')
+
+
+def _send(url, headers, builtin, name, mime, body, options, stop):
+    """A piece to the instance, retried up to RETRIES times with a growing pause."""
+    for attempt in range(RETRIES + 1):
+        if stop.is_set():
+            raise Cancelled()
+        try:
+            return _post(url, headers, builtin, name, mime, body, options)
+        except Permanent as e:
+            raise Failed(f'Whisper: {e}')
+        except RuntimeError as e:
+            if attempt >= RETRIES:
+                raise Failed(f'Whisper: {e}')
+            log.info('whisper piece %s failed (%s), retrying', name, e)
+            time.sleep(RETRY_PAUSES[min(attempt, len(RETRY_PAUSES) - 1)])
+
+
+def build(pieces, answers, model, language):
+    """{segments, source} from the pieces' places and the instance's verbose_json answers."""
+    fragments = []
+    detected = ''
+    for (start, end), answer in zip(pieces, answers):
+        if not isinstance(answer, dict):
+            continue
+        detected = detected or (answer.get('language') or '')
+        segments = answer.get('segments')
+        if not isinstance(segments, list):   # a plain {"text": …} answer: one segment for the piece
+            text = (answer.get('text') or '').strip()
+            segments = [{'start': 0, 'end': end - start, 'text': text}] if text else []
+        for s in segments:
+            if not isinstance(s, dict):
+                continue
+            text = ' '.join(str(s.get('text') or '').split())
+            try:
+                a, b = float(s.get('start', 0)), float(s.get('end', 0))
+            except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                continue
+            if text:
+                fragments.append((start + a, start + b, '', text))
+    merged = transcripts.merge(fragments)
+    if not merged:
+        raise Failed('Kein Text erkannt')
+    return {'segments': merged, 'source': {'type': 'whisper', 'model': model, 'language': language or detected}}
diff --git a/podcasts/transcription.py b/podcasts/transcription.py
index d39aac4..a9b6f72 100644
--- a/podcasts/transcription.py
+++ b/podcasts/transcription.py
@@ -10,13 +10,14 @@ from urllib.parse import urlsplit
 import requests
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.http import JsonResponse
+from django.utils import timezone
 from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
 from django.views.decorators.http import require_http_methods
 
 from feeds import logins
 
 from . import chapters
-from .models import TranscriptionSettings
+from .models import EpisodeArticle, PodcastEpisode, TranscriptionJob, TranscriptionSettings
 
 DEFAULT_MODEL = 'whisper-1'
 TEST_TIMEOUT = 60            # a cold CPU instance may load its model first
@@ -150,3 +151,147 @@ def transcription_test(request):
     except requests.RequestException as e:
         return JsonResponse({'ok': False, 'model': model, 'error': e.__class__.__name__})
     return JsonResponse({'ok': True, 'model': model, 'error': ''})
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Jobs
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+CLAIM_MINUTES = 15
+ACTIVE = (TranscriptionJob.QUEUED, TranscriptionJob.DOWNLOADING, TranscriptionJob.TRANSCRIBING)
+
+
+def job_state(job):
+    """The job as the API shows it; state `none` when there is no job."""
+    if job is None:
+        return {'state': TranscriptionJob.NONE, 'chunks_done': 0, 'chunks_total': 0, 'error': '',
+                'want_article': False, 'started_at': None, 'finished_at': None}
+    return {
+        'state': job.state, 'chunks_done': job.chunks_done, 'chunks_total': job.chunks_total,
+        'error': job.error, 'want_article': job.want_article,
+        'started_at': job.started_at.isoformat() if job.started_at else None,
+        'finished_at': job.finished_at.isoformat() if job.finished_at else None,
+    }
+
+
+def job_of(episode):
+    return TranscriptionJob.objects.filter(episode=episode).first()
+
+
+def _too_large(url):
+    """Whether the server says the file at `url` is over the size limit (a failed look doesn't count)."""
+    from . import silence
+    try:
+        r = requests.head(url, timeout=5, allow_redirects=True, headers={'User-Agent': 'diora transcription'})
+        return int(r.headers.get('Content-Length') or 0) > silence.MAX_BYTES
+    except (requests.RequestException, ValueError):
+        return False
+
+
+@csrf_exempt
+@require_http_methods(['GET', 'POST', 'DELETE'])
+def episode_transcribe(request, pk):
+    """POST starts the episode's transcription (or just raises `want_article` on one that exists),
+    GET tells how far it is, DELETE cancels a queued or running one."""
+    from . import transcribe, views
+    from .youtube import is_video
+    if (err := _auth(request)):
+        return err
+    ep = PodcastEpisode.objects.select_related('feed').filter(pk=pk, feed__user=request.user).first()
+    if ep is None:
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'not found'}, status=404)
+    job = job_of(ep)
+
+    if request.method == 'GET':
+        transcribe.kick()   # after a restart the first request brings the work back
+        return JsonResponse(job_state(job))
+
+    if request.method == 'DELETE':
+        if job is not None and job.state != TranscriptionJob.DONE:
+            job.delete()    # a running worker notices its row is gone and stops
+            job = None
+        return JsonResponse(job_state(job))
+
+    body = _body(request)
+    if body is None:
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'invalid JSON'}, status=400)
+    article = body.get('article') is True
+    if is_video(ep.audio_url):
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'youtube'}, status=400)
+
+    has_feed = views._has_transcript(ep)
+    if job is not None and (job.state in ACTIVE or (job.state == TranscriptionJob.DONE and (job.data or has_feed))):
+        if article and not job.want_article:
+            job.want_article = True
+            job.save(update_fields=['want_article'])
+        return JsonResponse(job_state(job))
+    if has_feed:   # the feed's own transcript is there: only the article is wanted
+        if job is None:
+            job = TranscriptionJob(episode=ep)
+        job.state, job.want_article, job.finished_at = TranscriptionJob.DONE, article or job.want_article, timezone.now()
+        job.save()
+        return JsonResponse(job_state(job))
+
+    if not ep.audio_url:
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'no audio'}, status=400)
+    if _too_large(ep.audio_url):
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'too large'}, status=400)
+    if job is not None:
+        job.delete()   # a failed or hollow earlier run: the new one starts at the back of the queue
+    job = TranscriptionJob.objects.create(episode=ep, state=TranscriptionJob.QUEUED, want_article=article)
+    transcribe.kick()
+    return JsonResponse(job_state(job))
+
+
+def _wishes(user):
+    """The user's jobs whose transcript is there and whose article is wanted but not written."""
+    return (TranscriptionJob.objects
+            .filter(episode__feed__user=user, state=TranscriptionJob.DONE, want_article=True)
+            .exclude(episode__in=EpisodeArticle.objects.values('episode')))
+
+
+@csrf_exempt
+@require_http_methods(['GET'])
+def transcription_pending(request):
+    """The open wishes for an article that no device holds right now."""
+    from . import transcribe
+    if (err := _auth(request)):
+        return err
+    transcribe.kick()
+    jobs = (_wishes(request.user).exclude(claimed_until__gt=timezone.now())
+            .select_related('episode__feed').order_by('id'))
+    return JsonResponse([{
+        'episode_id': j.episode_id, 'title': j.episode.title, 'podcast': j.episode.feed.title,
+        'duration_seconds': j.episode.duration_seconds,
+    } for j in jobs], safe=False)
+
+
+@csrf_exempt
+@require_http_methods(['POST', 'DELETE'])
+def article_claim(request, pk):
+    """Reserve the wish for an article for the calling device for CLAIM_MINUTES (POST), or give
+    it up (DELETE). The device names itself with `device` in the JSON body or the
+    X-Diora-Device header. 409 when another device holds it."""
+    from datetime import timedelta
+    if (err := _auth(request)):
+        return err
+    body = _body(request)
+    if body is None:
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'invalid JSON'}, status=400)
+    device = body.get('device') or request.META.get('HTTP_X_DIORA_DEVICE') or ''
+    if not isinstance(device, str) or not device.strip():
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'device missing'}, status=400)
+    device = device.strip()[:60]
+    job = _wishes(request.user).filter(episode_id=pk).first()
+    if job is None:
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'no open wish'}, status=404)
+    now = timezone.now()
+    if job.claimed_until and job.claimed_until > now and job.claimed_by != device:
+        return JsonResponse({'error': 'claimed', 'claimed_until': job.claimed_until.isoformat()}, status=409)
+    if request.method == 'DELETE':
+        job.claimed_by, job.claimed_until = '', None
+    else:
+        job.claimed_by, job.claimed_until = device, now + timedelta(minutes=CLAIM_MINUTES)
+    job.save(update_fields=['claimed_by', 'claimed_until'])
+    return JsonResponse({'claimed_by': job.claimed_by,
+                         'claimed_until': job.claimed_until.isoformat() if job.claimed_until else None})
diff --git a/podcasts/urls.py b/podcasts/urls.py
index 2c32eed..464703f 100644
--- a/podcasts/urls.py
+++ b/podcasts/urls.py
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ urlpatterns = [
     path('episodes/<int:pk>/favorite/', views.set_favorite, name='podcast_set_favorite'),
     path('transcription/settings/', transcription.transcription_settings, name='podcast_transcription_settings'),
     path('transcription/test/', transcription.transcription_test, name='podcast_transcription_test'),
+    path('transcription/pending/', transcription.transcription_pending, name='podcast_transcription_pending'),
+    path('episodes/<int:pk>/transcribe/', transcription.episode_transcribe, name='podcast_episode_transcribe'),
+    path('episodes/<int:pk>/article/claim/', transcription.article_claim, name='podcast_article_claim'),
     path('stats/', views.podcast_stats, name='podcast_stats'),
     path('queue/', views.queue_get, name='podcast_queue_get'),
     path('queue/add/', views.queue_add, name='podcast_queue_add'),
diff --git a/podcasts/views.py b/podcasts/views.py
index 60a5549..cf31492 100644
--- a/podcasts/views.py
+++ b/podcasts/views.py
@@ -29,11 +29,12 @@ from . import chapters as chapters_mod
 from . import silence as silence_mod
 from . import sponsor as sponsor_mod
 from . import feedext
+from . import transcription as transcription_mod
 from . import transcripts as transcripts_mod
 from . import youtube as youtube_mod
 from . import folders as folders_mod
 from .models import (
-    EpisodeProgress, EpisodeTranscript, PlayerDevice, PlayerState, PodcastEpisode, PodcastFeed, PodcastLater,
+    EpisodeArticle, EpisodeProgress, EpisodeTranscript, PlayerDevice, PlayerState, PodcastEpisode, PodcastFeed, PodcastLater,
     PodcastQueue, PodcastRadioHeard, MAX_SPEED, MIN_SPEED, PodcastSettings, counts_as_played,
 )
 from .shownotes import extract_timestamps, sanitize_html
@@ -1432,6 +1433,9 @@ def episode_detail(request, pk):
         chapters = _load_chapters(ep)
 
     progress = EpisodeProgress.objects.filter(user=request.user, episode=ep).first()
+    job = transcription_mod.job_of(ep)
+    origin = _transcript_origin(ep, job)
+    article = EpisodeArticle.objects.filter(episode=ep).first()
     return JsonResponse({
         'id': ep.id,
         'title': ep.title,
@@ -1439,7 +1443,10 @@ def episode_detail(request, pk):
         'timestamps': extract_timestamps(ep.description, ep.duration_seconds),
         'chapters': chapters,
         'transcripts': ep.transcripts,
-        'has_transcript': _has_transcript(ep),
+        'has_transcript': origin is not None,
+        'transcript_origin': origin,
+        'article_item_id': article.item_id if article else None,
+        'transcription': transcription_mod.job_state(job) if job else None,
         'feed': {'id': ep.feed.id, 'title': ep.feed.title, 'artwork_url': ep.feed.artwork_url},
         'audio_url': ep.audio_url,
         'link': ep.link,
@@ -1470,6 +1477,13 @@ def _has_transcript(ep):
     return not (cached and cached[0] == sources and cached[1])
 
 
+def _transcript_origin(ep, job=None):
+    """"feed" when the feed has a usable transcript, else "whisper" when we made one, else None."""
+    if _has_transcript(ep):
+        return 'feed'
+    return 'whisper' if job is not None and job.state == 'done' and job.data else None
+
+
 @csrf_exempt
 @require_http_methods(['GET'])
 def episode_silences(request, pk):
@@ -1512,20 +1526,28 @@ def episode_sponsor(request, pk):
 def episode_transcript(request, pk):
     """The episode's transcript as {"segments": [{start, end, speaker, text}],
     "source": {url, type, language}}, fetched and parsed on first use, then
-    kept. 404 {"error": "no transcript" | "unsupported" | "invalid"} when
-    there's none to show; 502 {"error": "unavailable"} when it couldn't be
-    loaded right now."""
+    kept. When the feed has none we can use, the one Whisper made (a finished
+    TranscriptionJob, docs/transcription.md). 404 {"error": "no transcript" |
+    "unsupported" | "invalid"} when there's none to show; 502
+    {"error": "unavailable"} when it couldn't be loaded right now."""
     if not request.user.is_authenticated:
         return JsonResponse({'error': 'authentication required'}, status=401)
     try:
         ep = PodcastEpisode.objects.get(pk=pk, feed__user=request.user)
     except PodcastEpisode.DoesNotExist:
         return JsonResponse({'error': 'not found'}, status=404)
+
+    def fallback(error, status=404):
+        job = transcription_mod.job_of(ep)
+        if job is not None and job.state == 'done' and job.data:
+            return JsonResponse(job.data)
+        return JsonResponse({'error': error}, status=status)
+
     if not ep.transcripts:
-        return JsonResponse({'error': 'no transcript'}, status=404)
+        return fallback('no transcript')
     sources = _transcript_sources(ep)
     if not sources:
-        return JsonResponse({'error': 'unsupported'}, status=404)
+        return fallback('unsupported')
 
     cached = EpisodeTranscript.objects.filter(episode=ep).first()
     if cached is not None and cached.sources == sources:
@@ -1536,7 +1558,7 @@ def episode_transcript(request, pk):
             error = ''
         except chapters_mod.FetchUnavailable as e:
             log.info('transcript of episode %s not available: %s', ep.id, e)
-            return JsonResponse({'error': 'unavailable'}, status=502)
+            return fallback('unavailable', 502)
         except transcripts_mod.Unsupported as e:
             log.info('transcript of episode %s unsupported: %s', ep.id, e)
             data, error, final = None, 'unsupported', True
@@ -1548,7 +1570,7 @@ def episode_transcript(request, pk):
                 episode=ep, defaults={'sources': sources, 'data': data, 'error': error},
             )
     if error:
-        return JsonResponse({'error': error}, status=404)
+        return fallback(error)
     return JsonResponse(data)