The Pros and Cons of Audio-to-Text Converters

Converting audio to text can be a huge time-saver for people who are always on the go. There are a lot of audio-to-text converters available, but not all of them are created equal. This blog post will discuss the pros and cons of using audio-to-text converters. We will also recommend some of the best converters on the market!

What Audio-to-text Converters Are

An audio-to-text converter is software that will recognize and transcribe speech and audio formats into written format.

With the help of AI, we can now upload audio files and turn them into text quickly and easily.

Doing so allows us to use the content in different ways, such as for search engines, subtitles, Google Docs, or information gathering.

An audio-to-text converter is software that recognizes speech and converts it into written text.

In the past, someone would have to listen to an audio file and type out what was said word-for-word to transcribe the audio file. With recent advancements in AI technology, computers can now do the same task of transcribing popular audio formats into text. This feature makes the repurposing of spoken content for various uses, such as search engines, subtitles, or data analysis, much better.

How Audio-to-text Converters Work

Automatic transcription software uses machine learning algorithms to convert audio files into text. This technology ‘learns’ by processing a massive volume of example data. When you upload an audio file, it can recognize patterns and text and transcribe audio files or recordings.

Acoustic Component

The acoustic component is the software that will convert audio files into sequences of digital sound representation (acoustic units). These acoustic units make up the sound waves or vibrations you create when speaking.

Acoustic speech recognition technology can convert audio files to text in many languages. The conversion matches acoustic units to the sounds that make up the human language. For example, English has 44 phonemes that combine to form all the words in the language.

Linguistic Component

The acoustic component hears the word, while the linguistic understands and spells it. For example, though many words in English have the same pronunciation, they may be spelled differently.

The linguistic component processes all the previous words and their relationships. Doing so will guess which word is most likely to come next. Then, it transforms the sequence of acoustic units into understandable phrases for humans. This speech recognition technology works similarly to the auto-suggest function on your smartphone. This feature automatically provides recommendations for words as you are typing them out.

The Pros of Using Audio-to-text Converters to Transcribe Audio Files

Voice recognition software is a godsend for businesspeople. The main advantage of this technology is its speed and affordability. Automated transcription provides accurate transcripts at the cost traditional methods require. Let’s explore all the benefits of using automated transcription services:

It’s Mostly Free- FREE!

You might be wondering how we can provide a free transcription trial. It doesn’t seem possible.

There are a lot of free audio-to-text converters online that can transcribe audio files into text files fast. These converters can save you time and money, as there is no need to hire a professional transcriptionist.

Remember to proofread your Word document before you download it. The results have a reputation for not being the most accurate automated converters.

Speed!

We’ve discussed the speed of automated transcription. The rapidly developing AI technology of Voice Recognition makes it possible for you to get a meeting transcribed while it is happening! It is something we call “live transcription” and they’re becoming better and better each day.

In addition to receiving live transcriptions, you can also opt to receive bulk files of long audio recordings. These files will turn into typed text within a few hours.

No Misspellings.

We all know how phone autocorrect is a lifesaver. Well, automated software also has that feature. You don’t have to worry about misspelled words in your transcript. The software automatically checks spoken words against a digital dictionary. The software does it as it types them out for you, getting rid of typos instantly.

Humans are not as accurate as machines when transcribing audio files, right?

Low Price.

Automated transcription is a fraction of human transcription labor costs because much of the work is done by computer. If you’re working within a budget, automated transcription can save you quite a bit of money–usually no more than a few cents per minute.

Automated transcription can also help your employees work more efficiently. The employees won’t have to use time from their projects to make transcripts.

Timestamps.

In addition to saving you the hassle of manual transcription, automated software can timestamps your audio recording at preferred intervals.

The Cons of Using Audio-to-text Converters to Convert Audio Files

As beneficial as automated transcription can be, there are also some negative aspects to consider. The cons of automated transcription include:

Understanding Background Noise.

Ensure the audio file you plan to have transcribed has no background noise or unclear speech. Doing so is essential because AI-based transcription providers can’t tell the difference between actual speech and background noise.

Multiple Speakers.

If multiple people talk in a recorded audio file, the transcription provided by automated software will likely be poor. Because different voices ruin the accuracy of the transcription, resulting in many mistakes and inaccuracies.

Speakers with Accent.

If the audio file you need to transcribe has a speaker with a different accent, it is better to rethink your transcription method. Automated voice recognition software doesn’t have a great understanding of accents because it must be taught how to before being able to recognize them all.

English is spoken by everyone in 160 different dialects, making it hard to teach a computer to understand them all.

Customization.

If you want an AI-generated transcript, be aware that you cannot customize the audio format or punctuation. You have to do it yourself if you desire those specific changes.

Verbatim transcripts are essential for legal proceedings as they provide a clear and accurate account of what was said during the conversation.

Can’t Support All Kinds of Transcripts.

If you want an accurate, high-quality transcription of a lecture, AI Transcription is your best bet. However, if the audio file contains speakers with accents, background noise, or muffled audio, it’s better to have a human transcribe.

Software that automates the transcription process can only handle so much, and wouldn’t be able to understand or recreate a legal txt file or medical file. For those types of documents, you would need to hire a professional human transcriptionist.

How to Choose the Right Audio-to-text Converter for Your Needs

There are many audio-to-text converters available today, from free and basic to expensive and complex.

Use these questions to help you figure out which option is better for you:

Do You Have Time to Proofread?

Although no audio-to-text app has perfect accuracy, some have close to 95% depending on the quality of the app and other discussed factors below. If you need an accurate transcription for any journalistic or podcasting purpose, then be sure to proofread it after using an audio-to-text converter. However, if you’re conducting research, re-listening to the audio recording is part of the process anyway.

How Many Speakers are There on Your Recording?

We’re all too familiar with how frustrating it can be when trying to have a conversation while also having to take notes. Audio-to-text converters are unfortunately not yet accurate enough, especially for audio with multiple speakers. Not only that, but you might find that making corrections would end up taking just as long as if you transcribed the whole thing by hand (if not longer).

If you primarily dictate or record audio of one person speaking, then an audio-to-text converter is likely your best option. However, if most of your audio consists of multiple speakers (interviews, focus groups, meetings, etc.), you might want to instead consider manual transcription or outsourcing the task.

How’s the Audio Quality?

If you want your audio-to-text converter to transcribe audio accurately, make sure the audio is clear. Some apps say they can cancel out background noise, but that usually falls short when the noise is loud. Other factors like low volume, echo, or slurred speech also hurt accuracy. So if you’re dictating or recording audio, use a good quality headset or external microphone for best results. But if all you have is the average laptop mic, don’t expect great typing from it.

Is the Rate of Speech Steady?

If you want your audio-to-text converter to be accurate, talk at an even pace and take regular pauses between the sentences. This is doable when you’re dictating or recording in a controlled space. But during interviews, lectures, and focus groups–when controlling the rate of speech for people is impossible–audio transcription has much higher error rates.

How Complex is the Vocabulary?

Most audio-to-text converters come with a comprehensive built-in vocabulary and would comprehend the general conversation. However, if your audio is more technical, you might need to ‘train’ the converter to recognize the jargon. Although this may seem like an inconvenience, it will ultimately make things easier down the line – it just requires a bit of initial effort.

Which Language and Dialect Do the Speakers Have?

The audio-to-text converter is useful for a wide variety of people as it can purportedly handle 30 to 100 different languages. However, keep in mind that its accuracy might differ based on the language being used. To be sure, why not test the program out with various languages beforehand?

Punctuation

An audio-to-text converter cannot automatically insert punctuation, which means that all commas, semi-colons, question marks, and periods must be dictated or inserted manually when proofreading the document.

What is the Format of Your Recording?

Some audio-to-text converters can only convert audio recordings that have been recorded using their specific software. If you use a voice recorder or other type of device to create your recordings in a txt format that the converter does not accept, this could be a deal-breaker for you.

Do You Require Time Coding?

None of the audio-to-converters available as of today can insert periodic time codes in transcripts. You will have to do this manually when you proofread.

The Best Audio-to-text Converters on the Market Today

Amberscript

Amberscript is a renowned audio and video transcription service provider that offers high-accuracy services to companies like Netflix, Disney, and Microsoft.

The intelligent online tool features AI speech recognition, meaning you can turn audio and videos into a text or subtitle file. You or one of their available human transcribers can edit the results to be 100% accurate using their online text editor.

Amberscript provides two alternatives for transcription: automatic via an AI tool or manual with the help of a professional transcriptionist. If you’re working on projects that need to be completed quickly, then it’s best to use the automatic option. However, if you want to do long-term work, manual transcription is ideal. In addition, Amberscript has competitive pricing and fast turnaround times for your convenience. Lastly, they offer GDPR compliance so you can rest assured knowing that your security is their top priority.

Otter

Otter is utilized by some of the world’s leading companies, such as Zoom, Dropbox, and IBM. Not only does it provide an audio transcription service, but it also offers speaker ID, notes, images, and key phrases – so you don’t need to waste time with other external tools.

GoTranscript

GoTranscript is different from other, automated solutions because it only uses human-based video transcription. With support for over 60 languages and professional transcribers who are native speakers, GoTranscript can convert audio and video files to text quickly and accurately.

In addition to audio transcription, GoTranscript also provides video file translation, captions, and add subtitles for your videos–each with unique benefits. Every caption order comes with a free transcript, and every subtitle order includes complimentary captions and a transcript so that you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.

At GoTranscript, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional accuracy (over 99%) for all audio and videotapes- even those with industry-specific jargon or strong accents.

Rev

Rev is an outstanding transcription service with skilled individuals rather than software. You will only pay $1.25 per minute for your audio, and the completed transcript will arrive within 12 hours with almost perfect accuracy. Rev also saves you time because all you have to do is upload the audio file formats–nothing more.

Nuance

Nuance offers various software versions depending on the user’s needs, including but not limited to transcription for speeches, legal work transcriptions, and more.

Nuance is a fantastic productivity tool, but you can also control every function using your voice. All you have to do is give commands, and the device will follow everything without input from you. It’s dedicated to assisting you in making incredible documents while reducing the pain they typically cause.

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