8 interview transcription apps

1. Google Docs

The most primitive option. Use it only if you don't want to deal with other applications. Open voice input in "Google Docs" and play the recording of your interview. In the browser version, you need to click "Tools" → "Voice input", in the mobile application - click on the microphone icon on the keyboard.

Oddly enough, the mobile version recognizes text even better than the desktop one. In addition, voice input on mobile devices works not only with the office from Google, but in general in any application where you can call the keyboard.

The result obtained is not ideal: you will need to edit the text, placing punctuation marks and replacing incorrectly recognized words. But if you think it's better than typing all the interviews by hand, give it a try.

Open "Google Docs" →

2. Google Keep

Google's note-taking mobile app has a handy feature - voice recording with simultaneous transcription. To do this, click on the microphone icon on the toolbar. The conversation in audio format will be saved along with the decrypted text.

For fixing lengthy interviews Google Keep not an assistant for you, because it stops the recording after short pauses in the dialogue. But it can be used to decrypt ready-made records piece by piece. A small fragment was translated into text, processed, repeated.

For some reason, Keep's voice recognition works better than Google Docs: the app even guesses the beginning of a new phrase and marks it with a capital letter.

3. RealSpeaker

This service runs in the browser. The principle is simple: choose the language of the interview, upload the audio recording, click the "Transcribe" button. After a while, a window with decrypted text will open in front of you. Naturally, it will require proofreading and editing.

The service transcribes up to 1.5 minutes of the interview for free. Then you have to pay 8 rubles per minute of audio recording. However, the site does not prohibit downloading several short passages at once, so the restriction, with patience, can be bypassed.

Open RealSpeaker →

4. oTranscribe

A free web application that allows you to listen to a recorded interview while typing in the same window. You can upload an audio or video recording or provide a link to YouTube, and then control the speed of speech playback, pause the dialogue or quickly rewind it back and forth without taking your hands off the keyboard.

Interactive timestamps make navigation through the text especially convenient: you press the button and leave a bookmark on the desired fragment of audio or video. The finished text can be exported to Markdown or Google Docs.

Open oTranscribe →

5. Dictation.io

An elementary application that works directly in the browser. Select your language, click on the microphone icon and start your audio recording. The interface is extremely simple - you will not get confused. The finished text can be exported to TXT format or sent by mail.

Recognition accuracy leaves much to be desired, so you should read the text carefully and feed the interview program in small pieces. But Dictation.io is absolutely free.

Open Dictation.io →

6. Express Scribe

The application has versions for Windows and macOS. Load an audio recording from a folder or voice recorder, adjust the audio playback speed and type text. If necessary, you can easily pause or rewind the recording back and forth. The finished result is exported to Word.

A separate interesting feature of Express Scribe is the ability to control audio playback using pedals connected to a computer. Ordinary, from game sets will do. This is useful for professional stenographers, typing with high speed.

The basic version of Express Scribe is priced at $60, but you can also use the application in trial mode. True, it does not support video files and it displays a request to buy a license at startup. Also, please note that the interface in Express Scribe is in English only.

Download Express Scribe →

7. Transcribe

You upload your audio recording or copy a link to a YouTube video in Transcribe - the service gives you a transcript. There is nothing easier. True, as in all such tools, the result will not be perfect at all, so editing and proofreading will still not get rid of.

In the editor of the finished text in Transcribe, you can place timestamps, as well as listen to interviews at a slow speed and correct places incorrectly recognized by the service.

Transcribe is free to try, but you'll need to buy a subscription for $20 a year to use the service regularly. For additional features like machine transcription and automatic time codes, you will have to pay another $ 6 per hour. The service is in English, but it also supports Russian.

Open Transcribe →

8. Punto Switcher

The Punto Switcher program is designed to automatically switch keyboard layouts. But it can also be used to speed up typing.

You create a set of rules in the AutoCorrect section that replaces your chosen characters with frequently used words and sentences. For example, you type "pzh" - "please" is inserted into the text, "vdsh" - "leader", "nv" - "probably", and so on. A very necessary thing for stenographers.

Download Punto Switcher →

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What decryption app do you use?