# Stage: merge

## Purpose

Normalize raw transcript inputs and merge into base transcript via Seriatim.

## Inputs

- `transcripts/raw/*.json`
- `inputs/speakers.yml`
- `inputs/autocorrect.yml`

## Outputs

- `transcripts/base.json`
- optional `artifacts/seriatim.report.json`

## Key Behavior

- discovers and validates raw transcript inputs.
- normalizes each raw transcript (`seriatim.Normalize`) into run-local scratch output.
- merges normalized inputs (`seriatim.Run`) into base transcript.
- validates merged transcript and optional report JSON.
- materializes canonical outputs and records stage logs/generated configs.

## Invariants

- merge always consumes normalized forms of raw inputs.
- base transcript must validate before stage success.
- report output is config-gated.

## Related Contracts And Tests

- [Seriatim](../integrations/seriatim.md) owns subprocess and output semantics.
- [Configuration](../config.md#pipeline) owns operator-selected Seriatim values.
- Implementation and tests: `internal/stage/merge.go`,
  `internal/stage/merge_test.go`