Fireflies.ai Migration Deep Dive
Current State
!npm list graphql graphql-request 2>/dev/null || echo 'No graphql packages'
Overview
Migrate to Fireflies.ai from other transcription platforms or custom recording systems. Covers historical recording import via uploadAudio, adapter pattern for gradual cutover, and data validation post-migration.
Migration Types
| Scenario | Approach | Timeline |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Fresh start (no history) | Configure Fireflies bot, done | 1 day |
| Import recordings | Batch uploadAudio | 1-2 weeks |
| Switch from competitor | Parallel run + gradual cutover | 2-4 weeks |
| Enterprise rollout | Phased department-by-department | 1-2 months |
Instructions
Step 1: Pre-Migration Assessment
// Inventory your current meeting data
interface MigrationInventory {
totalRecordings: number;
totalHours: number;
formats: string[]; // mp3, mp4, wav, m4a, ogg
averageDuration: number; // minutes
dateRange: { oldest: string; newest: string };
platforms: string[]; // Zoom, Teams, etc.
}
// Fireflies supports: mp3, mp4, wav, m4a, ogg
// Size limits: 200MB audio, 100MB video (free), 1.5GB video (paid)
// Minimum: 50KB (can bypass with bypass_size_check: true)
Step 2: Batch Upload Historical Recordings
const FIREFLIES_API = "https://api.fireflies.ai/graphql";
interface UploadJob {
url: string; // Must be publicly accessible HTTPS URL
title: string;
attendees?: { displayName: string; email: string }[];
referenceId: string; // Your internal ID for tracking
}
async function batchUpload(jobs: UploadJob[]) {
const results: { id: string; status: string; error?: string }[] = [];
for (const job of jobs) {
try {
const res = await fetch(FIREFLIES_API, {
method: "POST",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.FIREFLIES_API_KEY}`,
},
body: JSON.stringify({
query: `
mutation($input: AudioUploadInput) {
uploadAudio(input: $input) {
success title message
}
}
`,
variables: {
input: {
url: job.url,
title: job.title,
attendees: job.attendees,
client_reference_id: job.referenceId,
webhook: process.env.WEBHOOK_URL,
},
},
}),
});
const json = await res.json();
if (json.errors) {
results.push({ id: job.referenceId, status: "error", error: json.errors[0].message });
} else {
results.push({ id: job.referenceId, status: "uploaded" });
}
} catch (err) {
results.push({ id: job.referenceId, status: "error", error: (err as Error).message });
}
// Rate limit: wait between uploads
await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 2000));
}
return results;
}
Step 3: Upload with Authenticated URLs
If your recordings are behind auth (S3, GCS):
// Bearer token auth (e.g., pre-signed URLs with auth headers)
const upload = {
url: "https://storage.example.com/recordings/meeting-123.mp3",
title: "Q1 Planning",
download_auth: {
type: "bearer_token",
bearer: { token: "your-storage-access-token" },
},
client_reference_id: "meeting-123",
};
// Basic auth
const uploadBasicAuth = {
url: "https://recordings.example.com/files/meeting-456.mp3",
title: "Sprint Review",
download_auth: {
type: "basic_auth",
basic: { username: "api-user", password: "api-pass" },
},
client_reference_id: "meeting-456",
};
Step 4: Direct File Upload (No Public URL)
For files that can't be made publicly accessible:
// Step 1: Get a pre-signed upload URL from Fireflies
const { createUploadUrl } = await firefliesQuery(`
mutation($input: CreateUploadUrlInput!) {
createUploadUrl(input: $input) {
url
meeting_id
}
}
`, { input: { /* file metadata */ } });
// Step 2: Upload file directly to the pre-signed URL
await fetch(createUploadUrl.url, {
method: "PUT",
body: fileBuffer,
});
// Step 3: Confirm the upload
await firefliesQuery(`
mutation($input: ConfirmUploadInput!) {
confirmUpload(input: $input) {
success
}
}
`, { input: { meeting_id: createUploadUrl.meeting_id } });
Step 5: Track Migration Progress via Webhooks
// Webhook handler tracks which uploads have completed
const migrationTracker = new Map<string, { status: string; meetingId?: string }>();
async function handleMigrationWebhook(event: any) {
if (event.eventType === "Transcription completed" && event.clientReferenceId) {
migrationTracker.set(event.clientReferenceId, {
status: "completed",
meetingId: event.meetingId,
});
// Check progress
const completed = [...migrationTracker.values()].filter(v => v.status === "completed").length;
const total = migrationTracker.size;
console.log(`Migration progress: ${completed}/${total} (${Math.round(completed/total*100)}%)`);
}
}
Step 6: Validate Migration
async function validateMigration(expectedIds: string[]) {
const results = {
found: 0,
missing: [] as string[],
hasSummary: 0,
hasSentences: 0,
};
for (const refId of expectedIds) {
const tracker = migrationTracker.get(refId);
if (!tracker?.meetingId) {
results.missing.push(refId);
continue;
}
results.found++;
// Verify transcript quality
const { transcript } = await firefliesQuery(`
query($id: String!) {
transcript(id: $id) {
id title
sentences { text }
summary { overview action_items }
}
}
`, { id: tracker.meetingId });
if (transcript.summary?.overview) results.hasSummary++;
if (transcript.sentences?.length > 0) results.hasSentences++;
await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 1100)); // Rate limit
}
console.log(`Validation: ${results.found}/${expectedIds.length} found`);
console.log(`With summary: ${results.hasSummary}`);
console.log(`With sentences: ${results.hasSentences}`);
console.log(`Missing: ${results.missing.length}`);
return results;
}
Step 7: Adapter Pattern for Gradual Cutover
interface TranscriptionService {
getTranscript(id: string): Promise<any>;
searchTranscripts(query: string): Promise<any[]>;
}
class FirefliesService implements TranscriptionService {
async getTranscript(id: string) {
return firefliesQuery(`
query($id: String!) {
transcript(id: $id) {
id title date duration
sentences { speaker_name text start_time end_time }
summary { overview action_items }
}
}
`, { id });
}
async searchTranscripts(query: string) {
const data = await firefliesQuery(`
query($keyword: String) {
transcripts(keyword: $keyword, limit: 20) {
id title date duration
}
}
`, { keyword: query });
return data.transcripts;
}
}
// Gradual cutover with feature flag
function getTranscriptionService(): TranscriptionService {
if (process.env.USE_FIREFLIES === "true") {
return new FirefliesService();
}
return new LegacyTranscriptionService();
}
Error Handling
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| payload_too_small | File < 50KB | Set bypass_size_check: true |
| Upload rejected | Free plan | Uploads require Pro+ plan |
| Auth download fails | Token expired | Refresh storage credentials |
| Missing transcription | Audio quality poor | Check file format and audio clarity |
| Duplicate uploads | Re-running batch | Use client_reference_id for dedup |
Output
- Pre-migration inventory assessed
- Historical recordings uploaded via
uploadAudiomutation - Migration progress tracked via webhooks and
clientReferenceId - Post-migration validation confirming transcript quality
- Adapter layer enabling gradual platform cutover
Resources
Next Steps
For monitoring the migrated system, see fireflies-observability.