Audio transcription, 3 easy and free techniques
Transcribing an audio file into text can be a real pain. Especially if you don't use the right techniques and tools to complete this time-consuming and tedious task. Fortunately, some techniques allow transcriptions to be carried out automatically.
However, automatic transcriptions are not 100% reliable and still require time, to perform the transcription but also and above all for the proofreading of the text.
The simplest and above all the most effective solution if you intend to use the texts of your audio transcription remains to go through a professional writer who will take care of transcribing your file and improving the text if necessary according to your instructions.
1. Google Docs voice typing
The free Google Docs tool is a good alternative to Word and other word processing software for typing content.
But it also has a very useful feature for transcribing an audio file: voice input.
To activate it, plug in your microphone and click on the "Tools" tab
Turn up the sound from your speakers and play your audio file to let voice typing do its job.
Please note that the voice input is not complete enough to perform a good quality transcription; however, she will be able to chew up your work by transcribing the text in outline.
Then all you have to do is fill in the gaps and correct the mistakes.
2. YouTube automatic subtitles
Another way to go about getting a “draft” audio transcript is to use YouTube's “automatic captions” feature.
To use it, you must first transform your audio file into a video so that it can be uploaded to YouTube.
If you have even very basic video editing software, all you need to do is add a still image to the audio file and then save it as MP4 to create a video.
Upload your video to your YouTube channel and upload it.
After a few hours, automatic transcription of the audio will be available. To access it, go to the video page and CK on the icon at the bottom right (...), then on Open the "Transcription" tab
A new tab appears in which you can view the automatic transcription of the video
3. Transcribe: free audio transcription software
The last method, that is, using audio transcription software, is even more effective if you have used any of the previous techniques before.
We suggest that you use oTranscribe, a free and efficient online tool.
Start by changing the language
Click on "Start transcription", then copy and paste the script obtained using Google Docs or YouTube (or a mixture of the two)
Import your audio file to see a player appear that will allow you:
- Listen to your audio file;
- To pause when you want (by pressing the Play button again, playback will resume 1 second before the pause, which is quite practical);
- Fast forward or rewind;
- To slow down or speed up the sound.
With this tool, you will be able to transcribe in the best conditions, while saving time by relying on your basic script from YouTube or Google Docs.
