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How to Transcribe Audio to Text for Free?

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How to Transcribe Audio to Text In [2023]?

Are you looking forward to learning Transcribe Audio to text?. If yes, then you are in the right place. 

Do you know that transcribing audio into files can be time-consuming? And therefore in 2023 converting an audio to a text transcript is now way easier than before.

One of the topmost comprehensive and secure online transcription software for transcribing audio and video is none other than ‘Transcribe’. It is 2-3 times faster and it uses both automatic and manual transcription modes.

How to Transcribe Audio with Automatic Transcription?

Are you looking for accurate steps to transcribe your audio file to text. Well then below you will find just the thing you need.

Select Automatically Transcribe Audio to Text  

The automatic transcription works best if the audio is clear and well-recorded. This machine learning-based automatic transcription feature is designed to transcribe audio files to a text transcript with complete accuracy. The users can easily convert speeches, interviews, phone calls, and audio notes into good cultures within a few minutes. They can even edit or export the transcript as a Microsoft Word file.

Almost all popular audio and video file formats are supported such as mp3, mp4, wav, etc.

Upload the Transcribing audio files

The transcribe feature provides a few transcription options that allow the users to customize before they upload the Transcribing audio files. Such as preview transcription, speaker identification, insertion of timecodes in the transcription, and subtitle formatting.

Download the Transcript in Various Formats

When you are done uploading, then you can easily track the status of your transcript. This is so because the transcription software transcribes the audio faster than the length of the audio uploaded.

On average, if the audio or video file is an hour long it will be transcribed in less than 30 minutes. You will also be sent an email notification regarding the same as soon as the transcription is completed.

Now when the text transcript is ready then you can go ahead and export it as a ‘Word’ document or as a subtitle (SRT or VTT) file, but this is only if you had enabled the option during the upload.

How to Transcribe Audio Faster Using Manually?

If you prefer to transcribe audio files to text by yourself, Transcribe helps you to make the process many times faster. Here’s a step-by-step guide to convert audio to text.

Select the Self Transcript mode for an audio file

If you want, you could choose to use self-transcription to create a new transcript by yourself using the time-saving feature that is provided.

Then you also have the option to use the self-transcription feature to edit transcripts generated by the automatic transcription mode.
If you like you can even edit an automatic transcript for which you just need to click on the ‘Edit Transcript’ button given in the sidebar of the transcript page.

However, if you would like to create a new self-transcription, then you can click on the ‘New Self Transcription’ button given above in step 1.

Choose the audio or video file that needs to be transcribed.

You should know that the self-transcription editor interface provides an integrated editor + media player. All you need to do is click on the ‘Choose audio/video’ button to start loading the recording that you want to transcribe as several common audio and video file formats are supported here.

When you are done choosing the file, then a media player will open immediately just above the text editor.

Follow the below instructions to slow down the audio and transcribe it.

You will find several keyboard shortcuts mention below for controlling the playback of the media file that is use to slow it down, rewind, or skip forward:

  • Esc – key to pause/resume.
  • F1 – to slow down.
  • F2 – to speed up.
  • F3 – rewind 2 seconds.
  • F4 – to forward 2 seconds.
  • F6 – for inserting the timestamp.

For Mac users switch the F1 to F11 key to function as standard keys.

The integrated player and editor can still halve the time otherwise you would be switching between a media player and editor while juggling with the mouse and keyboard.

Additionally, you can slow the audio or video down, by listening to it and typing along.

You also need to be sure that you use the handy keyboard shortcuts given above to control the audio playback effortless.

After doing so, transcribe with save everything automatically; you will find the store file in your browser. Now even if you restart your browser or computer and you do not clear the cookies or cache the data will still be persist.

Transcribing the audio via dictating (voice typing)

If you are feeling tired while typing, then you can use the dictation features to give rest to your fingers.

All you would need to do is click on the green ‘Dictate’ button. And when it turns orange, you need to start speaking.

You have to use headphones to listen to the audio and then repeat what you hear in your own voice.

Due to Transcriber’s fast and highly accurate dictation engine, it will convert your voice to text in no time. The method has been prove to be 2-3 times faster than typing.

Templates, auto loop, and foot pedal features

You should explore the ‘Templates’ feature as it has certain shortcuts where you can expand into longer words or sentences. E.g., you can set ‘S1’ to expand to ‘Speaker 1’ automatically when you simply type ‘S1’.

Then the ‘Auto loop’ feature helps to get the audio or video to pause for a few seconds automatically while you’re typing and then resume, without you pressing the pause and play button each time.

You should also know that transcribe also supports the use of a foot pedal for efficient transcription.

It allows you to free up your hands to focus on typing when you use your feet for controlling the audio playback.

Therefore, if you usually do a lot of transcriptions or are a professional transcriptionist then you will sure save yourself a lot of time using the foot pedal.

You can save up to 2 seconds with every play/pause and it will quickly add up to a good increase in productivity.

This also allows you to hyper-optimize your workflow and do more transcriptions within the least time possible.

When you have loaded the audio and video files, click on the foot pedal icon. To start it, you can see it in the toolbar option just below the player.

Exporting your Transcript 

Now you have to export the text to your computer as a .doc file by clicking on the ‘Export’ icon in the toolbar above the editor.

The date and time will be affixes to the end of the download file’s name so that you can easily track multiple versions of the same.

If you have enabled the subtitles feature in automatic transcription software, you should download the transcript as a subtitle or caption file in SRT or VTT formats.

Final Verdict

Now that you have gone through the above information you should be able to Transcribe an audio files. For Further Assistance, you can call us at +1-888-652-9580. You can also connect with us via dragon naturally speaking support. It is our free tech support service.

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