Transcribe Audio to Text: Make Your Meetings More Efficient

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Information flow is ten times faster now than it has ever been, especially in the business sphere. That’s why we need effective communication strategies. Learning how to transcribe audio to text, especially in a live setting, is a pivotal factor in transforming how we pass information without missing a single word. On top of that, transcription makes meetings more accessible and engaging. It provides a safe haven for people with hearing impairments or language barriers.

Before we dig into how you can best transcribe audio to text for your meetings, let’s first talk about what the concept actually is.

What is Transcribing?

Technically speaking, audio to text transcription goes all the way back to the first-ever conversation held over the phone in 1876: “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” The audio was by Alexander Graham Bell, and his assistant Thomas Watson turned it into text. Sure, it wasn’t exactly recorded audio (which came later in 1877), but it was still speech-to-text in its earliest form. We’ve come a long way since then.

To define transcribe in its modern sense, we refer to taking audio and converting it into written content. Nowadays, this is mostly done using advanced software that’s integrated into some sort of recording mechanism. There was a time when you could only transcribe meeting audio to text with pre-recorded files. But technology has progressed to a point where you can now use software that can transcribe audio to text in real time, as a meeting is in progress. Think of it as a reverse karaoke, where the words appear on screen after you sing them.

Benefits of Audio to Text Transcription

Trying to jot down every single detail during meetings can easily side-track you. With audio to text transcription set up, you can instead focus on writing down what matters most, such as meeting minutes and main takeaways. You’ll always have the script from the live recording to refer to after everything is said and done.

Speaking of the script, it can act as key documentation that you and your team can refer to when needed. Plus, when teams know they’re being recorded, they often become more engaged in the meeting and you can see an increase in active participation. Even if the transcription isn’t 100% accurate, you can still redact it. Last time we checked, you can’t redact voice recordings…yet!

You can also use audio transcription for quality control, but more on that later!

How to Transcribe Audio to Text

There are two ways you can do this. You can either opt for the analog approach, or use a software to transcribe audio to text.

Apply the Human Touch

Ever seen those people in courtrooms who type away everything that’s being said in court? They are human transcribers. In fact, that’s how audio to text transcription started. People with great skill on the typewriter and later the keyboard, typing away like there’s no tomorrow. Even though the digital age is here, you can still hire human transcribers to convert your audio to text. They are also great assets for days when the internet isn’t at its best.

If your project isn’t too big or time consuming, you can probably transcribe audio to text for free yourself. That’s where all that note-taking from high school will come to your rescue! But, doing this in a live situation over hour-long meetings can quickly become unmanageable. Luckily, there’s always a solution…

Level Up with an App for Audio to Text Transcription

With an automatic transcription software, you won’t lose sleep over how to transcribe audio into text during your meetings. These innovative tools are powered by AI and have been revolutionizing how we communicate in the 21st century. They also come at a lesser cost compared to hiring teams of human transcribers. Some apps like Krisp even have free plans that allow you to transcribe audio to text at zero cost.

If you’re interested in the mechanics behind AI-powered audio to text transcription, here’s a simple rundown:

The software first captures the meeting’s audio. You can pair it with a noise-canceling app like Krisp to minimize background noise and chatter for a better audio signal. After the meeting is recorded, the software segments the recording into manageable chunks and processes them using algorithms and machine learning. Then it applies NLP (natural language processing) and generates a transcript that you can then edit and archive as documentation. Because it’s AI that’s doing the heavy lifting, the results are fast and accurate.

The only downside is that AI might not pick up on accents or dialects correctly, as it’s used to a standard language database.

As you can see, both methods have their merits and potential issues. The key is knowing which one fits your business and is in your budget range.

Why Transcribe Audio to Text with an App?

• It’s efficient: the app transcribes meetings automatically and saves you a ton of time that you’d otherwise spend on manual transcription.
• It facilitates note-taking: Knowing that a software is transcribing a meeting will put your mind at ease and let you focus on taking notes that matter most.
• It helps with data management: the transcripts are in document form, which makes them super easy to store and refer to.

How to Convert Audio to Text with an App

If we’ve convinced you that an app is the best way to transcribe audio to text, we’ll now go over how you can have a fine-tuned transcription.

• Record in high quality: Before your meeting or call starts, make sure you have a decent recording set-up going. A good microphone and an isolated space will result in a better transcription, as the AI can detect speech patterns more easily.
• Cut down on noise: Use an app like Krisp to remove background noise and boost the clarity of your recording. This will increase quality, and it’ll come in handy later when you want to review the recording.
• Get everyone on the same page: Let all participants know that the meeting or call is being recorded and transcribed. Not only is this ethical, it also prepares everyone to participate and, well, speak loud and clear.
• Make sure it’s recording: Activate the app and have it up and running. Test your microphone beforehand to make sure it’s picking up the audio signal correctly.
• Let AI transcribe audio to text: Once the meeting takes off, the tool will start the transcription process automatically and in real time. You won’t even notice the process, and it won’t take your focus off the meeting.
• Review and edit your transcription: You can download the transcription in multiple formats. Go over it and fill in the blanks, if any. Make sure you refer to the recording if something isn’t clear.

That’s it! Your audio-to-text transcription is ready to roll.

Where to Use Audio to Text Transcription

Transcription comes in handy more than you can imagine. Here are some scenarios where it can be a lifesaver:

• Any business meeting or call: transcribing calls and meetings in real time helps participants stay focused and engaged. At the end of the meeting, you’ll have a reference point where you can find action items and main takeaways. This also works great for remote environments, especially if you’re working in a multicultural team with different accents and dialogues.
• Customer service agencies: Call centers and customer service agencies in any industry go through thousands of calls each day. “Your call is being recorded for quality assurance purposes.” Well, you can also transcribe them live to improve scripts and interactions.
• In the courtroom: Even a sneeze is transcribed in real time during court proceedings. Transcriptions in the legal industry play a key role in the entire judicial process and are regarded as invaluable records. Imagine vamping all of that up with AI!
• Podcasts and blogging: Use an AI audio to text transcription app to record and transcribe your podcasts and vlogs. You can then take the text and use it to create subtitles and captions for the hearing impaired.

How Long Does Transcription Take?

Audio to text transcription can take a bit longer if you’re doing the transcription yourself or have a team of transcribers working their magic. Even though the results will be more accurate, it’s not an ideal situation if the script is urgent.

With an AI transcription tool, you can transcribe audio to text in a matter of minutes thanks to the technology. While these might make sloppy mistakes here and there, the results are still accurate enough and you can always edit the documents.

Introducing Krisp’s Transcription Feature

If all this time you were thinking about what app can transcribe audio to text, rest easy. Krisp, a leader in AI-driven noise cancellation technology, now offers an innovative transcription feature as part of its AI Meeting Assistant toolset. This feature stands out for several reasons:

• Unlimited Transcriptions with the Free Plan: Whether you’re a freelancer, a student, or a professional, Krisp’s audio to text transcription service is designed to meet your needs without breaking the bank.
• Accuracy and Speed: Leveraging advanced AI, Krisp provides high-quality transcriptions quickly and in real time. You’ll get your hands on the transcripts minutes after a meeting or call.
• Integration: You can integrate Krisp seamlessly with any conferencing app, making it perfect for meetings, interviews, and more.

Transcribe Audio to Text with Krisp

Follow these easy steps to make sure you get the best out of Krisp’s AI transcribe audio to text feature:

1. Ensure Clear Audio: For best results, use Krisp’s signature noise cancellation feature to clear any background noise from your recordings.
2. Go Through Your Meeting: Krisp does things on its own as soon as the meeting starts. Focus on the meeting instead of the app, and let it do what it does best.
3. Review Transcriptions: While Krisp’s AI is highly accurate, you should still review the transcriptions for any minor adjustments. You never know!

Conclusion

Audio to text transcription is an essential tool to have in your digital toolkit. You can not only simplify the process with Krisp’s cutting-edge audio to text transcription feature, but also make it more accessible to everyone. Whether it’s a professional meeting, a casual work call, or a blog, Krisp is a valuable asset. Transform your audio into text effortlessly with Krisp and experience the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions