How do I text an audio recording?

Texting an audio recording refers to transcribing spoken audio into written text that can be sent in a text message. There are a few key reasons why someone may want to text an audio recording:

Convenience – Speech-to-text technology allows spoken words to be quickly transcribed without having to type them manually. This saves time and effort compared to traditional transcription.

Accessibility – Creating a text transcript makes audio content accessible to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Text transcripts increase accessibility of information.

Searchability – Audio recordings are difficult to search through. Transcribing them into text makes the content easily searchable for key words and phrases.

Sharability – Text transcripts can be easily copied and shared via messaging apps, email, social media etc. Audio files are more difficult to share and access.

Permanence – Unlike audio which disappears after being heard, text transcripts create a permanent record of the spoken information that can be referenced indefinitely.

Transcription Services

There are many third-party transcription services available that can automatically transcribe audio recordings into text. Some popular options include:

Trint – An AI-powered transcription service that can transcribe interviews, meetings, lectures, and other audio. It offers fast turnaround and integrates with tools like Zoom, YouTube, and Dropbox.
Otter.ai – A transcription service optimized for meetings, lectures, and interviews. It can generate transcripts in real-time and integrates with services like Zoom, Google Meet, etc.

Descript – A transcription editor that also allows editing audio and video. It uses AI to transcribe media and has collaboration features.

These automated services use speech-to-text technology to analyze audio files and convert them into text transcripts. They offer time savings compared to manual transcription, with some providing real-time capabilities. Accuracy can vary based on audio quality and speaker accents.

Smartphone Recording Apps

There are several smartphone apps that allow you to easily record audio and automatically transcribe it to text. Some popular options include:

Voice Memo App – The built-in voice memo app on iOS devices allows you to record audio and has an option to transcribe recordings to text using Apple’s speech recognition technology.
Otter – Otter is a highly accurate and easy-to-use smartphone app that transcribes meetings, interviews, lectures, and other audio recordings. It allows 600 minutes of free audio transcription per month.
Google Recorder – The Google Recorder app for Android devices can record audio and automatically transcribe it to text in real-time using Google’s speech recognition. Transcriptions can be edited or shared as text files.

These apps utilize speech-to-text technology so you can automatically get a text transcription without any typing or third-party services. They provide a quick and easy way to turn audio recordings into readable text on your smartphone.

Using Speech-to-Text Software

Speech-to-text software like Dragon allows you to easily transcribe audio files on your computer. Here’s how to use Dragon to transcribe an audio file:

Step 1: Install Dragon on your computer and set up your voice profile. This allows Dragon to learn your voice and speech patterns for more accurate transcripts.

Step 2: Import the audio file you want to transcribe into Dragon. Supported formats include WAV, MP3, WMA, DSS and more.

Step 3: Play back the audio file and have Dragon transcribe it for you in real-time. You can make corrections and edits as needed.

Step 4: Dragon will automatically create a text transcript from the audio. You can export this transcript as a Word doc, text file or other formats.

Step 5: Review and edit the transcript to correct any remaining errors before using or sharing the text file.

Dragon also allows you to train custom words, integrate with other apps, create voice commands and more. With some training, it can accurately transcribe long audio files with little editing needed.

Automated Transcription Tools

Automated transcription tools utilize speech-to-text technology to convert audio recordings into text. Popular automated transcription services include:

Amazon Transcribe – Cloud-based service that uses machine learning to transcribe audio. Transcriptions are typically returned within a few minutes. Accuracy varies based on audio quality and background noise. Pricing starts at $0.0004 per second (Gotranscript).
AssemblyAI – API for transcribing audio in real-time or batch. Claims high accuracy transcriptions and formatting options. Pricing starts at $0.006 per 15 seconds (Gotranscript).

Automated services can provide fast turnaround times at a low cost. However, accuracy is limited compared to human transcriptionists, especially with noisy audio or heavy accents. Automated transcripts usually require human editing to fix errors.

Editing the Transcript

Once an automated transcript has been generated, it will likely contain inaccuracies that need to be fixed. Carefully reviewing and editing the transcript is an essential step to ensure it is accurate.

Here are some tips for efficiently editing the automated transcript (cite.com, 2023):

Listen to the original audio while following along with the transcript to catch inaccuracies. Make corrections as you go.

Pay attention to punctuation like commas, periods, and question marks as these are often incorrect.
Proper names and industry-specific terms are frequently transcribed incorrectly. Double check these.
Use keyboard shortcuts to efficiently make corrections rather than retyping whole sections.

Focus edits on the most meaningful and accurate sections rather than trying to perfect every word.

While editing automated transcripts takes time, it remains less work than manual transcription. As speech-to-text technology continues improving, the editing required will decrease (typeology.co.uk, 2023). For now, carefully reviewing and fixing errors is key to an accurate transcript.

Sharing the Transcript

Once you have a text transcript of your audio recording, there are various ways to easily share it with others via messaging apps, email, and more. Many transcription services and apps provide built-in sharing options to distribute the transcript with just a few taps.

For example, the transcription service Sonix allows you to publish your transcript online and generate a custom link to share. You can then text or email this link to anyone you want to provide access. The recipient simply clicks the link to view the transcript through Sonix’s integrated media player. This also gives them the ability to play back the associated audio recording.

Alternatively, you can directly export the finished transcript as a text file, Word doc, or PDF. You can then easily attach and send these files via your messaging or email platform of choice. This gives the recipient a downloadable copy to view offline later.

Some smartphone recording apps like Otter.ai also have built-in sharing to popular messaging platforms. From within the app, you can send a copy of your transcript to services like Slack, Twitter, Facebook, and more. This seamlessly shares the file without needing to manually export and attach.

Uses for Text Transcripts

Having a text transcript of an audio recording can be beneficial in several ways. One key advantage is improved searchability. According to The key advantages of audio transcription, “Text transcripts make it easier for others to quote and reference your content without transcribing it themselves.” A text version of the audio enables keyword searches, making it much easier for people to find and reference relevant information.

Text transcripts also benefit accessibility. As explained on The Benefits of Auto Transcribe Audio and How to Use It, “Auto transcribing audio offers a range of advantages, simplifying the conversion of spoken content into text format. It enhances accessibility, making audio content usable for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.” Having the audio in an easily readable format opens up the information to more users.

Transcription Challenges

Transcribing audio recordings can be challenging for several reasons. A key issue is accuracy – transcripts created manually or using automated software can contain errors due to background noise, overlapping speech, mispronounced words, inaudible speech, and use of unfamiliar jargon (https://www.simultrans.com/blog/four-challenges-in-transcription-of-audio-files).

Background noise like music, chatter, or environmental sounds makes it difficult for transcriptionists and software to discern the spoken words clearly (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2021.797448). Overlapping speech from multiple talkers also reduces accuracy.

Cost is another major challenge. Professional transcription services can be expensive, especially for long recordings. Automated services are more affordable but may sacrifice quality. The tradeoff between cost, turnaround time, and accuracy should be evaluated based on the intended use of the transcript.

Overall, transcription of audio has inherent challenges regarding precision, background interference, unfamiliar terms, speaker clarity, and expense. Understanding these limitations is important when deciding the best approach to convert recordings to text.

Conclusion

Transcribing audio recordings into text format can be useful for many purposes, including sharing transcripts across different mediums, finding key information from spoken conversations, and making audio content more searchable and accessible. While automated transcription services have improved significantly, there can still be accuracy challenges, especially for specialized vocabulary or multiple speakers, so some manual review and editing is often required for best results.

Some key takeaways include:

Smartphone apps like Otter.ai or Google Voice Recorder provide free automated speech-to-text features

Dictation software can automatically transcribe recordings in real-time in return for a subscription fee
AI transcription services like Trint provide transcripts of decent accuracy, but usually require payment
Always review automated transcripts for errors, especially if sharing widely

In summary, while transcribing audio is not instantaneous, current technology allows individuals to turn speech into text with reasonable speed and accuracy. Reviewing output and correcting inevitable errors remains important. But overall, automated tools have simplified what was previously an arduous manual process requiring extensive labor.