How do I transcribe voice recording to text for free?

Transcription is the process of converting audio recordings into text documents. People transcribe audio recordings for many reasons:

To have a written record of important information contained in the audio. This makes the content more accessible for referencing, searching, sharing or publishing (https://multilanguagenet.com/the-importance-of-transcription/).

To make audio content more usable in other formats like presentations, documents or books. Transcripts make it easy to identify and extract the most valuable content (https://gotranscript.com/blog/why-is-transcription-important).

To aid people who cannot listen to the audio, such as those with hearing impairments. Transcripts increase accessibility and inclusion.

To allow for editing, searching and analysis of the audio content. Transcripts are easier to work with than audio files.

For improved SEO, since search engines cannot listen to audio files. Transcripts help audio content get indexed.

Pros of Transcription

Transcribing audio files into text comes with many benefits that make the content more usable and accessible (https://www.3playmedia.com/blog/8-benefits-of-transcribing-captioning-videos/). The main advantages of transcription are:

Accessibility for people with disabilities – Creating text transcripts makes the content accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They can then easily read the transcript instead of listening to the audio (https://www.insightsforprofessionals.com/marketing/leadership/benefits-of-transcription).

Improved searchability – Search engines cannot index audio content. Transcribing creates text content that search engines can crawl, making the information much easier to find and more discoverable.

Shareability – Text transcripts can easily be shared on social media or email since they are lightweight. Audio files typically cannot be shared as easily.

Free Online Transcription Tools

There are several free online transcription tools that can help you transcribe audio recordings to text without spending any money. Some of the most popular options include:

Otter.ai – Otter uses advanced speech recognition technology to transcribe audio and video recordings. It offers 600 minutes of free transcription per month and integrates with apps like Zoom, Dropbox, and Google Drive. Otter is easy to use and very accurate. However, their paid plans can get expensive.

Descript – Descript is best for transcribing recordings under 30 minutes. It offers 2 hours of free transcription per month. Descript is extremely fast and accurate, with features like auto-punctuation. Its real strength is editing transcriptions and audio together. But accuracy declines for longer recordings.

Trint – Trint provides 60 minutes of free transcription per month. It is highly accurate and even identifies different speakers. Trint can transcribe audio and video files and integrates with services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Youtube, and Zoom. But the user interface is not very intuitive.

Whisper – Whisper provides unlimited transcription for shorter recordings under 40 minutes. It is very fast, easy to use, and integrates with various apps and services. However, Whisper is not as accurate as Otter.ai for longer recordings and lacks advanced editing features.

Overall, Otter.ai and Descript offer the best free options for transcribing recordings accurately. Whisper and Trint are better for shorter recordings. All provide generous free plans with advanced speech recognition to automatically transcribe audio and unlock the text.

Source: https://hostdebitmedia.com/en/best-audio-transcription-software/

Using Free Trial Versions

Many transcription services offer free trial versions of their software or services that you can take advantage of. This allows you to test out the transcription process and software before committing to a paid plan.

For example, Express Scribe offers a free trial version of their transcription software that provides unlimited audio playback with integrated hotkeys. You can use the free trial to test the software’s capabilities like variable speed playback, foot pedal support, and editing tools before deciding if you want to purchase the Pro version.

Some transcription service companies like GoTranscript also offer free trial transcription services. GoTranscript provides 5 minutes of free transcription so you can evaluate their accuracy, turnaround time, and experience before purchasing a full transcription. This allows you to ensure it will meet your quality and budget needs.

When using any free trials, make sure to take advantage of the full timeframe allowed, typically 5-14 days. Try transcribing different types of audio files, from meetings to interviews, to test capabilities. Also evaluate the accuracy of the transcripts produced to ensure it will be sufficient for your purposes. This will help you make the most informed decision when your free trial period ends.

Free Open Source Transcription Software

One great option for free transcription is to use open source transcription software. Open source software is free to download and use, with the source code openly available for anyone to view and modify. There are a few high quality open source transcription tools to consider:

OTranscribe (https://otranscribe.com/) is an easy-to-use web app that lets you transcribe audio in your browser. It has handy features like playback speed control, keyboard shortcuts, and cloud storage imports. OTranscribe is completely free with no limits on usage or recordings.

InqScribe (https://www.inqscribe.com/) is free transcription software for Windows and macOS. It allows you to transcribe interviews and audio files with custom keyboard shortcuts, timestamps, and more. The free version has all the core features but limits exports to 40 minutes.

Express Scribe (https://www.nch.com.au/scribe/) is professional transcription software for Windows that is free for non-commercial use. It supports foot pedal control, variable speed playback, and common audio/video formats. The free version displays a sponsor message on exports.

FromThePage (https://fromthepage.com/) is an open source tool originally designed for transcribing handwritten documents. But the web app can also be used to transcribe audio files for free without limits. It even supports collaborative transcription.

These open source options provide full transcription features without the cost. With a little time investment to learn the software, you can transcribe audio effectively for free.

Using Free Cloud Storage

Many free cloud storage platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and Microsoft OneDrive provide enough free storage space to store audio recordings and text transcripts. You can upload audio files to these platforms and then share access to collaborators who can help transcribe the recordings. Popular options include:

Google Drive – Offers 15GB of free storage to store and share audio files. Supports creating and sharing Google Docs which can be used for collaborative transcription.
Dropbox – Provides 2GB of free space to upload audio and text files. File requests can be created to allow collaborators to access transcripts.

Box – Has 10GB of free storage for uploading and sharing audio recordings. Comments can be used to transcribe within the platform.

The key benefit of leveraging free cloud storage is being able to store, organize, share, and collaborate on transcripts without any costs. Just be mindful of the storage limits when uploading large audio files. Using these platforms to enable multiple transcribers can significantly speed up the transcription process.

Source: https://www.cloudwards.net/best-free-cloud-storage/

Leveraging Free Audio Editing Tools

Before transcribing an audio recording, it’s often helpful to clean up the audio first by removing background noise, normalizing audio levels, and applying filters. There are several excellent free audio editing tools that can be used for this purpose:

One of the most popular free options is Audacity. This open source software is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It provides tools for cutting, copying, pasting, and deleting sections of recordings. You can also apply effects like noise reduction, equalization, and amplification. Audacity makes it easy to improve your audio before transcribing.

Another good free audio editor is WavePad from NCH Software. The free version supports basic editing features like cut, copy, paste, delete, insert, silence, auto-trim, and amplify. WavePad works on Windows and iOS devices. While not as full-featured as the paid version, the free edition can handle many audio cleanup tasks.

For Mac users, GarageBand is a solid option. You can reduce background noise, adjust equalization, compress dynamics, and more to optimize audio files before transcription. GarageBand comes pre-installed on Mac computers, so it’s very accessible.

Leveraging free audio editing tools before transcription can save a lot of time and effort in the transcribing process. Cleaning up the audio first results in higher accuracy and less manual editing later.

Finding Low Cost Transcription Services

If you have a large volume of audio that needs to be transcribed, it can get expensive to use a professional service. However, there are ways to find affordable services by crowdsourcing the work.

Sites like Fiverr and Upwork allow you to connect with freelancers who offer transcription services at very reasonable rates. You can find transcribers who will transcribe short files for just a few dollars. For longer files, rates may range from $0.50 to $1.00 per audio minute. These freelancers may not be as experienced as professional services, but can provide an affordable option if you have a budget constraint.

Another option is using a crowdsourced transcription platform like Rev, Trint, or Speechpad. Here, your audio file is distributed across a large network of independent transcribers. The transcription is done quickly and the cost per audio minute is quite low, often under $1.00. However, you have less control over the individual transcriber’s quality and turnaround time.

Overall, crowdsourcing transcription through freelance marketplaces or dedicated platforms allows you to get audio files transcribed at affordable rates. The tradeoff is usually lower guarantees on accuracy and speed compared to a professional service. But for simple transcription projects, it can be a cost-effective solution.

Transcribing Yourself

Doing the transcription yourself is one of the most cost-effective options. While it can be time consuming, with the right tools and techniques, you can transcribe recordings into text yourself without paying a professional service.

Here are some tips for transcribing your own audio recordings for free:

Use free transcription software like Whisper.cpp to get an AI-generated transcript as a starting point. You can then go through and correct any errors.

Break up long recordings into smaller segments that are easier to transcribe one at a time.
Use a foot pedal to more efficiently control playback while you transcribe.
Listen with high-quality headphones to clearly hear every word.

Take breaks regularly to avoid fatigue and errors.
Read over the finished transcript while listening to the recording again to catch any missed words.

While transcribing your own recordings takes time and effort, it can be done for free with focus and the right tools. The end result is an accurate transcript without the cost of hiring a professional service.

Conclusion

Transcribing voice recordings into text can be accomplished for free in a variety of ways. While fully automated transcription tools may not provide perfect accuracy, they can get you a good first draft to work from. Using free cloud storage and audio editing tools can help improve the quality of automated transcriptions. If you have the time, transcribing recordings yourself is the most accurate option, though it requires effort. When done correctly, transcription opens up voice recordings to new possibilities for search, analysis and sharing. With the right approach and tools, anyone can transcribe audio into text, even without a budget.

In summary, free transcription options range from automated online services to roll-your-own solutions using free software tools. Each has its own trade-offs in terms of accuracy, convenience and time investment. With a thoughtful process, it’s possible to transcribe voice recordings to text for free.