Help & Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What formats can I upload?

Sidesly accepts standard audition sides in PDF and plain text (TXT) formats. Files must be 20 pages or fewer and under 2MB in size.

How does character detection work?

Our parser recognizes standard screenplay conventions:

• Character names in ALL CAPS on their own line (e.g. SARAH)
• Prefix-style cues (e.g. SARAH: Where were you?)
• Parenthetical stage directions (e.g. (turning away)) are automatically isolated so they are not vocalized during read-throughs.

What if my script format fails to parse?

If your PDF is a scanned photocopy without selectable text, the parser cannot extract dialogue. In that case, simply copy and paste the dialogue text directly into the "Paste Dialogue" tab on the rehearsal console.

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Rehearsal & Microphone

Why does Sidesly need microphone permission?

Sidesly listens to your spoken dialogue so it knows when you complete your line and can immediately deliver the opposing cue line. While it is your turn, short pieces of audio are sent live to our speech recognition provider (Deepgram) to tell when you have stopped speaking, and Sidesly does not save them. If that connection is unavailable, Sidesly detects your pauses on your device instead.

Is the microphone recording all the time?

No. Sidesly strictly opens the audio input stream during the LISTENING state when it is your turn to speak, and closes it immediately when you finish. We never leave the microphone open in background states.

What if my microphone fails or permission is denied?

If microphone access is rejected, Sidesly seamlessly switches to Manual Mode, displaying an "I'm done" button so you can advance dialogue with a single tap.

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Billing & Credits

How are rehearsal minutes calculated?

Minutes are counted only from active audio generation. Once dialogue is generated and cached for a script, replaying the same line does not consume additional credits.

Can I cancel my subscription?

Yes, at any time with one click from your billing dashboard. Your access will remain active through the end of your billing cycle.

Need additional help? Reach out directly to hi@sidesly.app.