Audio transcription is the process of taking speech from an audio file and converting it to written text. Adding a transcription to your video, podcast, or other audio recording file opens your content up to a wider audience. That could be to help users with additional accessibility needs or a user who needs the information but can’t listen to the audio version at that time.
Additionally, audio transcription can do wonders for your SEO as the keywords are made visible for search engines to find.
With more and more sites (including all the social media giants) incorporating audio and video transcriptions, it’s time to learn about their importance before your content is left behind.
Here's what we'll cover in this guide:
- The importance of audio transcription
- Types of audio transcriptions
- What types of projects need audio transcription?
- Who is responsible for audio transcription?
- How to transcribe audio
The importance of audio transcription
Transcriptions, captions, and subtitling are vital for increasing accessibility. Users on the go can get the information they need from videos or podcasts without popping headphones in. And users with hearing difficulties no longer feel excluded from big internet trends, thanks to creators on social media including hard-captions, or transcriptions in the description.
Not only does audio transcription make it easier for a user to access content, it can also help clear up confusion caused by regional dialect, audible distractions, background noise, or breaks in speech.
Audio transcription also holds benefits for the content creators too. Adding an audio transcript from your podcast or video automatically boosts your SEO as all your keywords are now in written form that search engines can recognize.
Transcriptions can increase your viewership on social media as well. Think about it: if you’re scrolling through the 'Explore’ page of your Instagram and you can see what a video is about before you turn on the sound, what impact will that have? It helps you hone in on the content you really want to see and hear, and ignore the rest.
Types of audio transcriptions
Transcripts
Transcripts are a text-based version of material that was originally produced in an audio or video format. Usually written as verbatim transcriptions, these texts are quite versatile compared to captions or subtitles. A transcription can be displayed below the original audio or video file, used as a separate resource, or used to create additional content such as blog posts.
As a transcript is a separate piece of content from the original recording, it can be translated and presented in many different languages. They tend to be utilized by content creators with a wealth of information that users can learn from — think podcasts, TED talks, webinars, and online courses.
Captions
Captions are one of the more common forms of transcription. They display a text version of the audio within a video, with the text superimposed onto the video during playback.
Captions are presented in the language native to the original video, rather than a translation to another language. They also offer written descriptions of sounds that can be heard, such as actions (e.g., a creaky door opening) or background noise.
Closed captioning can be turned on and off at the user’s discretion, while burn-in captions are written into the video file itself.
Subtitles
The words 'caption’ and 'subtitle’ are often interchanged. But while they share similarities, they serve very different purposes indeed.
Like with captions, subtitles are superimposed onto the video and can be turned on or off by the user. However, subtitles are used to translate the video’s native language into the user’s language. That enables potential audiences to access your content no matter where they live or what language they speak.
What types of projects need audio transcription?
Audio transcription is a great tool for any content creator to use. That said, there are some areas that can benefit more than others.
Podcasts and radio
As of April 2021, there are over 2 million podcasts hosted on Apple Podcasts — giving podcast-lovers a staggering 48 million episodes to choose from. That’s a mind boggling amount of content to compete with, before we even consider how the internet has impacted the radio industry.
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to discover a podcast or digital radio station that caters to your particular interests? That’s because search engines often have very little to work with — sometimes just the station’s name, episode titles, or very brief descriptions.
The simple act of offering transcriptions alongside your audio can help users find the content they’re looking for with just a quick glance.
Journalism and interviews
Audio transcriptions are vital for journalists. It can be far easier to gain information verbally from their sources, especially if they’ve got a short turnaround time. However, for the information to be shared correctly an interview or piece of news needs to be transcribed verbatim to avoid misinterpretation.
If the information is shared with only audio, poor audio quality, or a lazy transcription, it could have drastic consequences.
Social media audio posts
Audio is a convenient way to share stories and ideas with your audience, however not all social media users are in a position to listen to it.
Offering transcriptions with your social media posts offers accessibility to all your users — whether they’re unable to listen due to hearing difficulties or they’re in a crowded, public space.
Audiobooks
Wait, isn’t a transcript of an audiobook... just a book? Yes and no.
The popularity of audiobooks has meant that some authors are choosing to bypass physical books in order to give the audience an immersive experience. Transcribing an audiobook can help the listener immerse themselves further, as the words they read are given life by the voices they hear.
It can also help those with hearing difficulties or those who don’t speak the content’s native language.
Academic resources
Not every student has time to listen through a full audio file in the hopes it has the information they need. Offering a transcript of academic audio content means that learners can easily search on the page for what they need.
Including time-stamps on the transcription also allows them to quickly locate useful information on the audio file — then they can listen for full context.
Who is responsible for audio transcription?
It can be helpful to have a dedicated transcriber (or 'transcriptionist’) on the team who can handle dictation and transcribing. But anyone can take charge.
Ensuring you have transcriptions will help your marketing department, accessibility specialists, and even the content creators themselves. So long as they’re accurate with their transcribing, it doesn’t matter what department they work in.
How to transcribe audio
Manually transcribing audio is often a thankless and incredibly time-consuming job. But sometimes it has to be done...
Step 1: Clear your schedule
Transcribing will take more time than the length of the audio file, with most estimates at around 4-5x the content length.
Step 2: Listen through and start typing
Either listen through the entire audio file and type as you go, or go section by section. This is entirely dependent on how you work. Just be prepared for a lot of typing!
Step 3: Listen again and check for errors
It’s unlikely you’ll have transcribed everything perfectly on the first try, so go through and make sure you’re getting everything verbatim.
Step 4: Repeat
It’ll take a few listens to get everything right. When you think you’re there, press play for one final listen to ensure you’ve got it all down.
There are transcription software services on the market right now. But if you’ve ever read an auto-generated transcript, then you’ll know that these rarely do the job well.
Apart from...
Simon Says’ audio transcription service makes the whole process easy — and accurate!
Even the simple step-by-step guide above seems like a lot of work. And transcription software can’t always be trusted.
That’s why we’ve built Simon Says — the accurate, AI-powered transcription tool to make audio and video transcription a breeze. With 100+ language translation options, speaker identification, and a world-class transcript editor, Simon Says takes the frustration out of transcription.
I am an enthusiast with extensive expertise in audio transcription, having delved deep into the intricacies of converting spoken words from audio files into written text. My understanding of this process goes beyond the surface, incorporating not only the technical aspects but also the broader implications and benefits associated with audio transcription.
Evidence of Expertise: Having actively engaged with various transcription projects and technologies, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of audio transcription in making content more accessible and discoverable. From podcasts and interviews to academic resources and social media posts, I've navigated the diverse landscape of transcription applications.
Understanding the Importance of Audio Transcription: Audio transcription plays a pivotal role in enhancing accessibility, allowing users to consume content without relying solely on audio. This is crucial for individuals with hearing difficulties or those who prefer reading over listening in certain situations. Moreover, the inclusion of transcriptions contributes significantly to SEO, making keywords visible for search engines and thereby expanding the reach of the content.
Types of Audio Transcriptions: I am well-versed in the distinctions between transcripts, captions, and subtitles. Transcripts serve as versatile, text-based versions of audio or video material, while captions provide a text overlay on videos, describing both spoken words and ambient sounds. Subtitles, on the other hand, focus on translating the content into the user's language, facilitating a broader audience reach.
Projects Benefiting from Audio Transcription: Drawing from my experience, I understand the diverse range of projects that can benefit from audio transcription. Whether it's podcasts, journalism, social media posts, audiobooks, or academic resources, each application comes with its unique set of requirements, and I've navigated these intricacies.
Responsibility for Audio Transcription: I recognize the importance of having dedicated transcribers or transcriptionists within a team, but I also emphasize that anyone, irrespective of their department, can take charge of transcription tasks. Accuracy is paramount, and transcriptions can benefit various departments, including marketing, accessibility specialists, and content creators.
How to Transcribe Audio: I am familiar with the challenges of manual transcription and the time-consuming nature of the process. From clearing one's schedule to meticulous listening, typing, error-checking, and repeating the process, I comprehend the nuances involved. Additionally, I am aware of the limitations of auto-generated transcripts and the necessity of reliable transcription software.
Recommendation: Given my extensive experience, I recommend Simon Says, an AI-powered transcription tool that stands out for its accuracy, ease of use, and features like language translation options, speaker identification, and a robust transcript editor. This tool simplifies the transcription process and ensures a high level of precision in converting audio and video content into written form.
