Castle: The Podcast Player App With Transcripts. Does It Lower the Drawbridge? (2024)

Transcripts are a big deal for audiences and discovery, but they’re extra work for podcast producers. For independent podcast producers with limited time and money, transcripts are either a chore or an afterthought. Television has closed captioning, whether supplied by the channel or the device itself. YouTube has captioning, with varying amounts of accuracy. Podcasts have tried to catch up, and the burden falls on the podcast producer. Finally, Castle shows how a podcast player app can take responsibility for transcription. But how accurate is Castle’s transcription? And does it reach its goal?

Who Built Castle And Why?

This new podcast app was created by a self-described “mom and pop team,” Steve and Leigh, who wished they “could share that one part of that one conversation from that one podcast episode.”

“We have also talked about what it could be like if podcasts were searchable. You could type in part of the conversation you remember and be able to find which episode and where in that episode the conversation happened.” The motivation behind it is much like Podintelligence, but (thankfully) for once, the work doesn’t fall on the independent podcast producer.

If you search for “Castle” on a search engine or in an app store, you’ll find loads of games that emphasize building or swinging battle axes or casting spells, so make sure you search for “Castle the podcast player.”

Is Castle’s Transcription Feature Any Good?

Artificial intelligence powers Castle’s transcription engine. Users can generate a transcript for a new episode right away. Once generated, it’s available for all Castle users playing that episode, not only the user who generated it. I tried it with a few different podcast episodes to test its speed and accuracy.

I tested the app with four different podcasts that vary by voice, dialect, language, and speech impediments. These podcasts all vary by length, bitrate, multi-layered sound, and dynamic content. All of these can affect download efficiency, so let’s see how it worked out.

How Fast Is Castle’s Transcription?

Castle says that “this process usually takes about 10 minutes.” It depends on the episode’s length. That being said, each transcript generated more quickly than I expected. An episode of Pocket-Sized Podcasting took less than a minute to transcribe. The transcript will scroll along with the audio while in playback mode. Again, once the transcript is complete, it remains with the app so that others who want to consume the same podcast episode can use that transcript as well. After more Castle users have generated transcripts, time may no longer be an issue, especially for podcasts with many followers.

How Accurate Is Castle’s Transcription?

As Italian-Americans say, mezza mezza.

Castle’s sole caution message says that dynamic content can affect accuracy.

Castle: The Podcast Player App With Transcripts. Does It Lower the Drawbridge? (1)

Castle’s transcription software was fairly accurate with Up First from NPR.

Castle: The Podcast Player App With Transcripts. Does It Lower the Drawbridge? (2)

The transcription software substitutes “for Addy” for “Friday,” “rich” for “awake,” and “ProBasque Ball” for “pro basketball.” Most readers can use context clues to understand the intention, though it’s not perfect.

The transcription was vaguer with The White Vault, which has a variety of dialects and languages; British English, German, Norwegian and Mexican Spanish.

The least accuracy was when native English speakers ran words together or used words that aren’t traditional English words. For example, “you end up” became “Yendop,” and “Alitu” came out as “Alotube.” Again, this transcription isn’t a substitute for listening, but it aids sharing.

Other Than That, How’s the App?

Castle the podcast player reminds me of Overcast in its simplicity.

Castle: The Podcast Player App With Transcripts. Does It Lower the Drawbridge? (4)

The directory has no categories. The app displays 60 “trending podcasts” and lets you search by podcast title, or by entering the RSS feed URL. To enter an RSS feed, Castle asks for the podcast URL, and for some people, it might not be clear enough that they mean “RSS feed.”

Users can customize their own playlists by selecting which podcast to include, and it updates itself as episodes publish. The order options are “newest to oldest” or “oldest to newest.” Creating a custom order or selecting by episode isn’t available.

Castle: The Podcast Player App With Transcripts. Does It Lower the Drawbridge? (5)

Castle’s creators emphasized the shareability of text. You can select and copy text directly from the transcript into a note-taking app or an email, for example. Castle’s share feature shares a link to the mp3 file itself.

Playback settings include speed and customizing skip intervals (between 5 and 90 seconds.) There is a toggle switch to make these settings stay for this podcast, or users can leave it alone to keep those settings until they change it.

Castle: The Podcast Player App With Transcripts. Does It Lower the Drawbridge? (6)

One banner Google ad at the bottom of the screen reminds you that this free app isn’t free to make.

Castle is a really straightforward podcast player. If you’re already comfortable with searching for podcasts that you want to hear, and need transcripts to aid listening (rather than replace it), it does the job.

What Does Castle’s Transcription Mean for the Average Podcaster?

Transcripts shouldn’t have to be an issue in podcasting. But they’re treated like a game of hot potato, usually landing in the producer’s lap. It’s often assumed that only people who are hearing impaired need a text-based version of content. Castle the podcast player solves this and more.

Who Needs Transcripts?

“With no regulations directly requiring access to podcasts, accessibility rests on the awareness and willingness of podcast producers,” says Bryan Gould, Director of Accessible Learning and Assessment Technologies at the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH (NCAM). “So, like TV and movie captions, it’s worth exploring different podcast platforms to see which, if any, are captioned or provide a transcript. If there is no access, advocate.”

What Can Transcripts Do?

This leaves out all the other things a transcript can do for a podcast, such as aiding understanding, or making it easier to share and promote its ideas. Good show notes can link to visual art, maps, recipes, or other resources to provide context. And, of course, they can link to affiliate marketing offers or a sponsor‘s site. Transcripts can do the same.

Who Should Be Responsible For Transcripts?

Large platforms with listening apps, such as Apple or Spotify, may have the resources to provide transcripts. Whether this is true or not, it hasn’t produced results yet. Media hosts offer transcripts as a feature, but it’s still the producer’s responsibility to make and use them. Media companies and well-funded podcast networks can afford to hire a staff to transcribe their episodes. Independent podcasters don’t have this option.

However, when podcasters rely on a third party for transcripts, they lose control and responsibility. We’ve all seen errors with autocorrect. What happens when an AI-generated transcript makes a podcast appear to spread misinformation or objectionable content? When podcasters take responsibility for their transcripts, they can ensure brand and message consistency.

In 2006, only about 22% of people knew what a podcast is. Sixteen years later, an estimated 177 million people listen to podcasts. How amazing is it that people love podcasts and want to share the content so much that they built a tool independent podcasters needed? If a “mom and pop shop” can develop Castle, the podcast player with transcripts, then media companies, podcast networks, and directory platforms can easily step up and help take the transcription workload.

Castle: The Podcast Player App With Transcripts. Does It Lower the Drawbridge? (2024)

FAQs

Are podcast transcripts worth it? ›

If your podcast is audio only, the transcript can significantly benefit your audience by allowing them to follow along as they listen. If you have a video podcast, your audience can peek at the transcript for greater context while watching your broadcast.

Which podcast app has transcription? ›

Spotify announced multiple updates to make its app more accessible across iOS and Android today, including a beta version of a podcast transcription feature. The company says it'll start auto-transcribing certain exclusive and original shows over the coming weeks as part of a beta rollout.

Can you get transcripts of podcasts? ›

You can get a podcast transcript by requesting it from the podcast provider, hiring a transcription service or by typing it yourself with the aid of transcription software. A low budget option for students is using speech to text software combined with human review and correction.

Do podcast transcripts help SEO? ›

Search engines can't listen to your podcast audio, so that is where podcast SEO comes in. Search engines determine how to index podcasts based on any written text found in the podcast. This is where a podcast audio transcription, or even a summary, is important.

What can you do with podcast transcripts? ›

A podcast transcript creates content you can repurpose

A podcast transcript is a valuable bank of written copy you can use to create other forms of content. You might use it for email marketing campaigns, social media posts, or infographics. Many podcasters use their transcriptions as sources for blog articles.

What is the purpose of a transcript on a podcast? ›

Put simply, a podcast transcript is a document that lays out, word-for-word, what was spoken during your podcast episode. You can type these yourself or hire a transcription company to do it for you.

How much does it cost to transcribe a podcast? ›

Standard rates for professional transcriptionists (especially those professionals from North America) range from $1.5 to $3 per audio minute or $90 to $180 per audio hour. If your project has extra requirements, such as a quick turnaround time, you may be forced to pay more to have the job done.

Is there a free app that will transcribe audio? ›

Transcribe is your own Personal Assistant for transcribing videos and voice memos into text. Leveraging almost-instant Artificial Intelligence technologies, Transcribe provides quality, readable transcriptions with just a tap of a button.

What does a transcript look like for a podcast? ›

A podcast transcript references your podcast. It creates a word for word information on every word said on your podcast and also adds timestamps to let listeners know when it was mentioned. If you do not want to go through the trouble of transcribing your podcast show manual… this can be automated.

Where can I get podcast transcripts? ›

There are many options:
  • Use any speech-to-text tools that you can find on the Internet: Google "Speech To Text"
  • Transcribe the audio yourself: Listen to the audio, then write down words.
  • Hire a person to transcribe for you: Google "Hire Transcriber"
Oct 11, 2022

How do I transcribe a podcast while listening? ›

How to Auto Generate Podcast Transcripts
  1. Upload your audio file. Upload your podcast audio file to VEED. ...
  2. Click 'Auto Transcribe' Go to Elements from the left menu and click on 'Auto Transcribe' under Subtitles. ...
  3. Download the transcript. While you're on the Subtitles page, click on 'Options'.

Do recruiters look at transcripts? ›

Employers may appreciate reviewing your transcripts to see if you completed specific courses that relate directly to a skill you need for the job. To get your transcript, you probably need to contact the registrar's office or the records office at your school.

Does Spotify do podcast transcripts? ›

For original Spotify content, transcripts are included in the podcast file. This functions in much the same way as the platform's song lyrics feature. However, for third-party podcasts, the easiest way to open a transcript is to include a link in the show notes, so listeners can follow along using a web page.

What gain should you record at for podcast? ›

Generally, a peak level of -1.0 dB is good for podcasts, as this level will ensure your audio sounds good when it's converted to a lossy format like MP3 or AAC.

What not to do with your podcast? ›

10 Tips You Need to Rock your Podcast
  • Do: Target a Specific Niche.
  • Don't: Use Excessive Jargon.
  • Do: Maintain a Specific Routine.
  • Don't: Be Overly Rigid.
  • Do: Edit Thoroughly.
  • Don't: Make Editing Obvious.
  • Do: Keep Your Podcast to 30 Minutes or Less.
  • Do: Measure Success.

How do you make money from transcripts? ›

  1. QA World. In this platform, transcribers are hired as analysts. ...
  2. Rev. Rev is a very good platform for beginner transcribers with no prior experience. ...
  3. TranscribeMe. Claiming to pay more than anyone, TranscribeMe is a great work from home site. ...
  4. GoTranscript. ...
  5. Upwork.
Nov 19, 2020

How long does it take to transcribe a podcast? ›

Now that you know what factors contribute to transcription time, here is how the speed breaks down for the average person and the professional. The average person can transcribe one audio hour in about 4 hours. It takes most people about one hour to transcribe 15 minutes of a clear, slow audio file.

Is a transcript the same as a recording? ›

A transcription converts an audio or video recording into text only. It can be done manually or automatically. Automated transcription has been becoming more popular when compared to manual ones. One of the main contributing factors is the fact that automated transcription is a lot faster than manual one.

Why is a transcript effective? ›

It helps us capture facts and figures for case studies and systematic investigations and expands our knowledge and credibility. Many industries utilize research to develop theories based on the information they have gathered during their analysis, and this includes the education sector.

Why do you need your transcript? ›

A transcript is the record of everything you accomplished while in college, including the credit and non-credit classes you took, the degree or degrees you earned, your grades and more. You'll need this information in instances where you are required to provide proof of your academic accomplishments and proficiency.

How many podcasts have transcripts? ›

As of March 2022, only 1% of today's podcasts offer transcripts. That means 99% of podcasts are exclusionary to the 11.5 million Americans who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.

How long does it take to transcribe 1 hour of audio? ›

When it comes to individual transcribers, the average time to transcribe one hour of audio is approximately four hours. But, some transcribers quote four hours as the minimum since it can easily reach 10 hours. Transcription time by audio hour varies so much mostly because each audio file is different.

How much does it cost to transcribe 1 hour of audio? ›

A reasonable estimate is around $100 - $150 per audio hour to get a high-quality and accurate transcript. These transcription rates can be a significant cost for many companies who need to transcribe large volumes of videos.

How much does 1 minute transcription cost? ›

“Transcription rates per minute” is a common rate structure. Expect to pay $1-3.5 per minute. However, just because minute rates are quoted, it doesn't mean an organization now needs to track its transcription service providers' work minutes.

How do I transcribe audio to text automatically for free? ›

Upload your audio file to VEED and click on the Subtitles tool on the left menu. You can upload an MP3 file, WAV, and other popular audio file types. Click on 'Auto Transcribe' and VEED will transcribe the audio or speech to text for you. Then click on Options and download the TXT, VTT, or SRT file!

Is there an app that records and transcribes? ›

TranscribeMe offers an app that provides both human and ASR transcriptions. Similarly to Rev, TranscribeMe allows you to record high-quality audio within the app. The recording can then be transcribed into an unedited first draft of text, which comes at a baseline price of $0.79 USD (around 60p) per minute.

What is the best tool to transcribe audio to text? ›

Answer: Trint, Descript, Express Scribe, Inqscribe, Otter, Sonix, SpeedScriber, Rev, and Temi are some of the best software for transcribing.

Does Apple podcasts provide transcripts? ›

To search podcast transcripts in the Apple Podcasts app, you simply search for the key term in the search bar. Go to the Podcasts app, type your key term into the search bar, and search!

How do you transcribe audio easily? ›

Here are 5 of the best ways to transcribe audio files to text to help you out:
  1. Try AI-Powered Automated Transcription Software. Also Great. ...
  2. Use a Human Transcription Service. ...
  3. Try Microsoft Word's Transcription Feature. ...
  4. Manually Transcribe Your Audio Into Text. ...
  5. Check Out Google Keyboard.
Feb 28, 2023

How do I get transcripts from podcasts to my Iphone? ›

How to Transcribe Apple Podcasts Automatically?
  1. Upload your recording to the transcription platform.
  2. Allow it to transcribe the content, which should only take a few minutes.
  3. Read through the file and make any necessary changes.
  4. Download the text in your chosen file format.

Can you transcribe audio recordings to text? ›

Otter.ai

It's a real-time, cloud-based speech-to-text program that transcribes your audio files for you on smartphones and computers — and it's one of the most affordable options. You can use Otter to transcribe interviews, lectures or meeting recordings, or for live captioning and to collaborate between teams.

Does your transcript follow you? ›

Your transcript from your old institution will still be there, and you will be asked for it when you apply for any degree program. It may lessen your chances of admission, but probably not because fifteen years is a long time. The other is that you should be honest about your education history on your resume.

How do companies verify transcripts? ›

Other applications can require you to submit or order a sealed transcript. Another way a hiring manager may authenticate your education is by contacting the schools or universities that you attended. Sometimes companies will hire third-party verification services to screen their potential job candidates.

What GPA do employers look for? ›

What is considered a good GPA? Typically, applicants include their GPA when they have a high GPA, which many experts consider to be in the range of 3.5 to 4.0. Having a GPA in that range can indicate to employers that you put hard work and dedication into your schoolwork.

What program does Joe Rogan use to record podcast? ›

In addition to the Shure SM7B, Joe Rogan also uses a variety of other audio equipment, such as a Behringer Xenyx Q802USB mixer, a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface, and a Mac computer with Adobe Audition software for recording and editing his podcast.

Will Spotify pay me for my podcast? ›

Yes. Creators are free to choose the number of ads, and which types (based on which they qualify for), to include in their episodes, to maximize their earning potential. You can use ads and fan-support tools such as podcast subscriptions at the same time.

How do I transcribe a podcast on Spotify for free? ›

On the mobile app:
  1. Go to Your Podcast and tap the episode which contains the segment you'd like to transcribe.
  2. Tap the 3 dots next to the segment then Create video.
  3. Once your transcription has been generated, tap Edit Video to check it's correct. ...
  4. Tap Done to generate your video.

How much do podcasts with 10,000 listeners make? ›

Typically, a podcaster with around 10,000 downloads per episode can expect to earn somewhere between $500 to $900. Very successful podcasts can earn much more, reaching up to $30 million in annual income. How much money you can make podcasting depends on a few factors.

How many podcast listeners is considered good? ›

5,000 listeners per episode almost guarantees a successful monetization. This is where a lot of interesting things start happening. Having more than 5,000 listeners per episode makes a podcast over 29 times more likely to be monetized successfully.

Is 500 downloads good for a podcast? ›

Your First 500 Downloads

It can be tempting to compare your podcast with those that receive thousands of downloads regularly, but it's important to acknowledge that reaching 500 downloads is a huge sign of success. The top 10% of podcasts receive around 3,400 downloads per episode.

Do employers actually look at transcripts? ›

Some companies require college transcripts, and the hiring manager will likely check your GPA in this case as well. Instead of making a decision based on your GPA, many hiring managers place importance on your experience, skills and general education.

Does making a podcast look good for college? ›

As a host, podcasting is a great way to dive deeper into a topic you're interested in, it gives you a reason to connect with people you admire, and it provides a platform to share your passion with others. Let's not forget that it can also look pretty good on your university applications!

How do employers verify transcripts? ›

Other applications can require you to submit or order a sealed transcript. Another way a hiring manager may authenticate your education is by contacting the schools or universities that you attended. Sometimes companies will hire third-party verification services to screen their potential job candidates.

Should I attach transcript to job application? ›

Ultimately, the decision to attach your full transcript to your application is up to you. If you do decide to attach it, make sure to explain any discrepancies or weaknesses in your academic record in your cover letter.

Do background checks check transcripts? ›

An employment background check doesn't typically involve your academic transcripts, but a hiring manager may ask you to provide that information. This happens in some exceptionally competitive entry-level positions.

Should I bring my transcript to an interview? ›

There is nothing wrong with having a short list of questions and thoughts- it shows you have done your research and want to know more about the organization and the position. Bring several copies of your resume. Also, bring a copy of your transcript. Carry your papers in an organized manner.

Can employers see your GPA? ›

It depends on the industry. Fortune 500 companies who need hundreds of new hires often use GPAs to quickly filter through thousands of applications. Smaller companies who need applicants with specific skills or work experience are more likely to ignore your GPA and focus on what you can bring to the company.

What is the hourly rate for transcription? ›

This transcription rate is what someone gets paid for an hour of work transcribing audio. This rate can fluctuate more depending on experience, unlike the other rates. You can pay someone $15 - $25 per work hour to transcribe your audio.

How much should I pay someone to edit my podcast? ›

Mid-level freelancers usually bill their clients around $30 to $50 per audio hour. Top editors are the most experienced and expensive in the field since they ensure top-quality services. Their services usually fall from $50 to $200 per hour of audio.

What to avoid when starting a podcast? ›

The 10 Biggest Podcasting Mistakes You Need to Avoid
  1. Mistake 1: Not Having A Clear Goal, Niche, or Target Audience. ...
  2. Mistake 2: Recording Without Proper Soundproofing. ...
  3. Mistake 3: Not Speaking Clearly. ...
  4. Mistake 4: Focusing On Quantity Over Quality. ...
  5. Mistake 5: Being Unprepared, Especially for Interviews or Guest Appearances.
May 7, 2023

What are the disadvantages of having a podcast? ›

Disadvantages of using podcasts in education
  • Can be quite time consuming to produce and edit.
  • Not easily searchable online.
  • Accessibility for some learners can be an issue. ...
  • Finding and reaching your audience can be challenge due to the wide number of podcasts available.
  • IP and content protection can be difficult.
Oct 5, 2022

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