What is audio transcription?

Danilo Coviello

Updated Date:


You may have come across the term audio transcription recently, and wondered what it means.

If you have, then you’re in luck because we’re going to take a complete look at the term today. Plus, we’re also going to talk about the differences between doing it yourself vs hiring a transcriptionist.

So, what is audio transcription?

The definition of audio transcription is the process of converting audio to text format. That’s really all the term means, but there is a lot more to learn on the topic.

For example, there are various ways you can transcribe audio files. And choosing the wrong transcription method could give you an audio file that is not suited for your purpose.

Why Might You Need To Get Audio Transcribed?

There are many reasons why you might need to get an audio recording transcribed. Quite often, it’s for professional reasons, while sometimes it can also be for personal ones.

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For example, it may be an online lecture that you need on a piece of paper. Or, you might have a podcast, and converting the audio to text would help you get more organic traffic.

Some other common reasons include:

  • Academic Research
  • Market Research & UX
  • Journalists needing to get an interview transcribed

Should You Do It Yourself or Look For a Transcription Service?

Whether you should transcribe the audio yourself, or look for a professional to do it depends on the purpose of the transcripts.

If you are using the files for professional or legal reasons, it’s probably best to get a professional to help you.

On the other hand, if you are using the transcripts for your own purpose like using them as rough notes, then you should be fine doing it yourself or even using transcription tools that transcribe for you.

Can You Use Automatic Transcription Software?

With automatic transcription tools, you’ll often find that they aren’t very accurate. This is especially the case if you have many people talking at once (for example in interviews) or with other types of audio that are hard to understand.

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The quality of the final transcript will be a little lower, and a lot harder to read. However, for some purposes, software like this does the job.

The way it works is you upload your audio, and it will try to listen and figure out what the speakers are saying.

Of course, transcription software doesn’t always get it right. But, that’s just something to keep in mind.

How Much Does a Professional Transcription Service Cost Per Audio Minute?

The prices of professional transcription services range from company to company and are also affected by the audio file.

The harder the audio recordings are to understand, the higher the cost of transcribing them.

However, in most cases, you can expect to pay between 90p to £2 per audio minute. But, again this range depends on various factors.

If you would like to learn more about transcription services rates and what affects them you can do so.

Final Words

We hope you have been able to find lots of valuable information from this article, and that it helped cleared some of your questions up.

The reasons why you might need an audio transcription do vary, as it is needed in lots of industries.

If you’re unsure what type of transcription service you need, you can also check out our transcription services below.

When you request a free quote, you can let us know about your project, and we’ll guide you in the right direction.

Check Out Our Transcription Services

We are a professional transcriptionist company that offers custom solutions tailored to your transcription needs.

Whether you need your interviews, lectures, or any other type of audio or video files transcribed, we’re here to help.

We also offer free quotes before you work with us, so you will know exactly how much the cost is beforehand.

If you would like to receive your quote (usually within 1 hour from the request), you can tell us a little more about your project here.

What Is Audio Transcription: Frequently Asked Questions

Last but not least w also wanted to cover some frequently asked questions around audio transcription.

If you have any further questions, however, you can also contact us.

Read Also: How to Convert Audio to Text

How Long Does It Take To Transcribe 1 Hour of Audio?

As a general rule of thumb, it will usually take 3 hours for every hour of audio. However, this is a very general rule of thumb as there are so many factors.

We recently covered this in more detail in how long does it take to transcribe an hour of audio.

What Tools Can I Use For Transcription?

There are various tools out there to help you transcribe faster and more accurately. If you would like to see a full list of them you can check out the best online transcription tools.

What Are The Factors That Affect The Price of an Audio File’s Transcription?

The main factor that affects the price is understandability. If the audio file is hard to understand which can be for a lot of reasons, it will take much longer to transcribe. Therefore, the price will go up.

Can You Transcribe Audio Files From Specialist Industries?

Yes, we can.

We have transcriptionists that specialize in certain industry’s which allows us to offer transcriptions in them.

You can check out some of our specialist industry transcription services below.

Legal Transcription

Business Transcription

Digital Transcription

Subtitling Transcription

If you’re unsure about your industry, you can also request a free quote.

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