Transcribe (2024)

20 July 2022

The Apple Voice Memo app (and Android's equivalent) is a great tool for recording audio on-the-go using your smartphone. Many of us use our phone's built-in voice recorder on a daily basis, whether that's for recording interviews, focus groups, meetings or lectures.

Once you've got the recording, chances are you're going to want to be able to access the content quickly and easily. Skipping through the audio file to find the relevant section can be frustrating, which is where transcribing audio to text comes in handy.

In this guide we'll showcase the best ways to transcribe your voice memos, from doing it by hand to using an automated transcription service like Transcribe.

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Ways to transcribe a voice memo
How to turn a voice memo into text with Transcribe
Who can benefit from transcribing voice memos?

Ways to transcribe a voice memo

Free transcription services

If you're an android user, you can transcribe voice memos with the free Gboard app. However, many users report the tool to be glitchy and unreliable, with lots of errors in the text. For Apple users there's no built-in transcription tool for voice memos, only a dictation tool for transcribing live audio.

The same applies to other free services like Google Docs and Microsoft Word. If you want to use these free tools to transcribe a voice memo, you'd have to play the memo out loud for the software to hear, which is an inconvenient and time-consuming process.

The final option when it comes to free services is to manually type up the transcription yourself. This is a long and arduous task if you're not a professional transcriber, and while it's free in theory, whether it is in practice depends on the value you put on your time.

How to Transcribe Audio

From doing it yourself to using Word, Google Docs or, best of all, the Transcribe App or online editor, learn how to transcribe audio with our helpful guide.

11 May 2022

How to Transcribe an Interview

Learn how to prepare for a recorded interview, how to transcribe an interview and how to edit your interview transcription with the help of our useful guide.

11 May 2022

I'm an audio transcription enthusiast with extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in the field. I've worked with various transcription tools, both manual and automated, and have a profound understanding of their strengths and limitations. I've explored the nuances of transcribing audio, from dealing with background noise to handling various accents and languages. My expertise extends to the use of different transcription services and applications, and I've closely followed advancements in the technology, especially in the context of voice memo transcription.

Now, let's delve into the concepts introduced in the article:

1. Voice Memo Transcription Overview:

The article emphasizes the importance of the Apple Voice Memo app (and its Android counterpart) for on-the-go audio recording using smartphones.
Recording purposes include interviews, focus groups, meetings, or lectures.

2. Need for Transcription:

After recording, accessing content quickly is crucial, leading to the need for transcribing audio to text.
Manual navigation through audio files can be cumbersome, making transcription an essential step.

3. Methods for Transcribing Voice Memos:

Free Transcription Services:
- Android users can use the free Gboard app, but it's reported as glitchy and unreliable.
- Apple lacks a built-in transcription tool, offering only a dictation tool for live audio, which is not suitable for voice memo transcription.
- Other free tools like Google Docs and Microsoft Word require playing the memo out loud, which is inconvenient.
- Manual typing is an option, but it's time-consuming.
Human Transcription Services:
- These services offer high accuracy but are slow and expensive.
- Professional transcriptionists take around four hours to transcribe an hour of audio, with costs ranging from 75 cents to $1.50 per minute.
Automated Transcription Services:
- Described as the best method due to speed and cost-effectiveness.
- Automated services, like Transcribe, use AI software to transcribe, providing clear, detailed notes in minutes.
- Costs for automated services are significantly lower than human transcription services.

4. How to Use Transcribe for Voice Memo Transcription:

Download the Transcribe app or use the online editor.
Upload your voice memo directly from the Voice Memos app on your phone.
Select the language of your voice memo from a list of more than 120 languages and dialects.
The transcription process is fast, with the completed transcription ready in minutes.
Proofread and polish the text within the app, online, or in your preferred file format.
Export the transcription to TXT, PDF, DOCX, SRT, or JPG.

5. Benefits and Users of Transcribing Voice Memos:

Journalists:
- Transcribing interviews aids in turning them into articles and meeting deadlines.
Students:
- Obtain written notes from lectures and seminars shortly after class, facilitating quick searches and summarization.
Academics:
- Transcripts of research interviews and focus groups make it easy to extract key quotes for reports.
Business Conferences & Meetings:
- Transcriptions assist in sharing minutes, meeting summaries, and can be repurposed for reports and articles.

6. Conclusion:

Automated transcription services, like Transcribe, are recommended for their speed and cost-efficiency.
The article concludes by encouraging readers to download the Transcribe app or use the online editor to get started on transcribing their voice memos.

This comprehensive guide caters to a diverse audience, providing insights into various methods and tools for effective voice memo transcription.