Transcription guide
Practical tips on audio quality, AI speed, and good transcripts — with sources and research.
Convert a WhatsApp voice message to text: every option compared
WhatsApp can now transcribe voice messages itself — but not in every language, not on every device, and not as a file. Which options exist, when each one fits, and how to save a message as a file.
5 min read
Creating subtitles: SRT or VTT, and how to get them onto YouTube
Subtitles make videos accessible and easier to find. What an SRT and a VTT file contain, how they differ, which rules make subtitles readable, and how to upload the file to YouTube.
6 min read
Transcribing recordings in other languages: what models do well and where they stumble
Arabic, Turkish, Chinese, Polish: modern models recognize about 100 languages. But dialects, tonal languages, closely related languages and switching languages mid-sentence push any recognizer to its limits. What to watch out for.
7 min read
Verbatim or clean verbatim? Transcription rules for theses and research
Interviews in a thesis usually have to follow fixed transcription rules. How clean verbatim and full verbatim differ, what an AI transcript already gives you and what you still add by hand.
6 min read
Transcribing long recordings: split them properly instead of hoping
Two-hour lectures and full conference days transcribe far more reliably when you cut them in the right places first. Where to split, how to fix timestamps afterwards, and the commands that do the work.
8 min read
Transcription and data protection: what to settle before you upload
Transcribing interviews, lectures, or meetings almost always means processing personal data. Which rules apply, when consent is required, and how to recognise a service that handles it properly.
9 min read
AI transcription limits: file size, length, and accuracy
File size is only one limit. Recording length, bitrate, audio quality, speakers, language, processing time, and privacy all shape an AI transcript.
9 min read
Transcribing interviews for journalism: getting quotes right
Verbatim accuracy, context, and consent decide whether a quote holds up. A practical workflow for interviews — from recording to a print-ready quote.
7 min read
Transcribing a podcast: turning audio into show notes and quotes
A transcript is the fastest starting point for show notes, quotes, and social clips. A practical workflow for podcasters — from recording to finished blog post.
6 min read
How fast is AI transcription? Times compared
Compare manual work with measured AI examples, and separate upload time, model processing and human review.
6 min read
Good audio files: how to get much better transcripts
Format, microphone, levels, and room acoustics drive recognition accuracy. Practical tips for lectures, interviews, and calls.
7 min read
What makes a good transcript
Readability, speakers, timestamps, and structure — when to transcribe verbatim vs. clean up. Criteria for university, journalism, and minutes.
6 min read
AI vs manual transcription: what studies actually show
Speed, accuracy, cost — the 2024 CISPA study in context. When Whisper-class tools are enough and when humans still win.
8 min read