Transcription software for transcription services is used in various industries. The use of sound in a film or a video is a major tool in the budding industry.
It helps a lot when a person is involved in a creative writing field, creative writing being among the most tricky of all the fields. Such software helps many creative writers with their different work pattern.
OTranscribe
OTranscribe is a free, open-source tool that can be used straight out of your web browser. It has a simple interface which lets you control the audio player and text editor in the same window, which means you don’t need to click out of tabs to stop and start the audio. Everything can be controlled through your keyboard, and interactive timestamps help you navigate the transcript. OTranscribe also saves your progress automatically as you go.
To start, just upload an audio or video file or enter a link to a YouTube video. The player will then sit to the left of the text box so you can do all your work in one window.
OTranscribe also allows you to adjust the keyboard shortcuts so you can tailor it to your transcribing style.
One thing to note: OTranscribe only saves work as an RTF file, so copy your transcript once it’s done if you want to keep it in another format.
Express Scribe
Express Scribe is a popular industry tool designed for professional transcribers. It can be installed for free on a Mac or PC and lets you control everything through your keyboard or by linking to a foot pedal. It has an easy-to-learn interface and features a broad range of hotkey controls for better speed and efficiency.
There is both a free version and a paid version of Express Scribe. The free version includes foot pedal support and can play a wide range of audio file types.
Express Scribe also allows you to adjust the playback options for your file to suit your typing speed.
The FTW Transcriber
Another popular option for professional transcribers, The FTW Transcriber is a downloadable tool with high-quality audio playback. It supports a range of audio and video file types and features automatic timestamps.
This tool appears as a small orange box on your screen, which you can move around to your preferred spot. Within the box, you can play, pause, adjust volume, and skip forward and backward on the audio.
The FTW Transcriber can be used on smartphones and tablets for added convenience. Something to note, however: It is only compatible with Windows and Android operating systems.
Inqscribe
Inqscribe is a downloadable tool with a simple interface that allows users to do all their transcription in one window. It features a wide range of keyboard shortcuts, which can be customised to your style and needs. Inqscribe allows you to create snippets, so you can insert any frequently-used expressions into your transcript with a simple keystroke. You can insert time codes anywhere in the transcript, and create a closed captions file from these later on.
The Inqscribe media player can play audio and video from a URL, a server, files from your hard drive, flash drive or CD.
Transcribe
Transcribe is a streamlined tool that provides two options for transcription, depending on your preferred style. Transcribe your file in the traditional method by typing it out, or use Transcribe’s dictation feature, which converts your voice into text using voice recognition.
Typing option
If you’re using the traditional transcription option, Transcribe features a tightly integrated player and editor that you can use to control the speed of the audio as you type. It also has an automatic text expander which allows you to use snippets instead of typing out long passages of text multiple times.
Dictation option
The dictation option is easy to use, and generally faster than typing. To use this option, you’ll need a microphone set-up. If you’re using just your voice, simply begin speaking into the app and see your words come up on screen. To transcribe from a file with audio, you will need to listen to the audio and repeat what you hear into the microphone. This is similar to how Ai-Media’s respeakers work to create live captions. It might take some practice!
Verbit
Verbit brings advanced transcription and captioning features using artificial intelligence (AI). The software specifically is meant to help enterprises, and educational institutes in faster, and precise speech-to-text conversion.
The software leverage multiple speech models including neural network models, and AI algorithms to suppress the background noise and improve the accuracy of the transcription by understanding the speakers regardless of accent. The AI algorithms also enable software to identify and incorporate contextual events from the speech.
Overall, Verbit is an ideal solution for transcription services, even though the software does offer direct speech-to-text service.
Speech Texter (Web Chrome, Android)
Speech Texter is a free speech-to-text conversion software that specifically works on Chrome browser or with Android. While the app’s privacy policy does mention that it doesn’t store any of the text, the text may be processed by Google’s server (since you will be doing it online through Chrome browser or Android app). So, one should keep that in mind.
The application offers easy transcription of speech, with great accuracy. The platform does allow live transcription, where you can click start and begin talking. Once the transcription is done, the text is shown in the main window with the “Result Confidence Wheel”, showing the estimated percent of accurately transcribed words.
Vocola3
Vocola3 is yet another great free speech-to-text converter. The software works in association with “Window Speech Recognition”, which helps to improve the accuracy and speed of the transcription service.
To be able to use the software, you would have to activate Windows Speech Recognition, before installing the Vocola3. Once the software is installed, simply turn on the settings of Vocol3 from the system tray and you are good to start transcribing. To further improve the features and functionalities of the software, different extensions can also be integrated into the Vocola3
Something to note: Transcribe only offers one week free use of its software.
Braina
Best for dictating text using the human language interface on any website or software.
Braina is a popular speech recognition software that allows dictation in over 90 languages with high accuracy. You can control apps and transcribe text on any application and website using the dictation software.
Features:
- Dictation software
- 99 percent accuracy
- AI-based voice recognition
- Personal virtual assistant
- Compatible with Windows, iOS, and Android devices
Verdict: Braina is by far the best dictation software available due to the precise voice recognition and AI-based learning. The price of the lifetime version is also affordable for not just large organizations, but individuals as well.
Price: Braina dictation software is available in three versions. The free version has basic features such as voice commands in English, text to speech, play search voice and videos, and search online information.
Braina Pro costs $49 per year and comes with additional features such as dictate to any software of a website in 90 languages, custom voice commands, voice music player control, AI-based voice recognition, teaching custom replies, and mathematics function. Braina Pro has all the features of the Pro, but you can purchase a lifetime license.
Website: Braina
Google Docs Voice Typing
Best for transcribing text for free on Google Docs online.
Google Docs had added a dictation feature a few years back in the free Google Docs online application. The dictation feature is currently available only if you use the online app in the Chrome browser. It allows you to transcribe text on Google docs and save the document on Google Cloud.
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Features:
- Voice dictation
- Google Cloud integration
- Supports PC and Mac devices
Verdict: Google Docs is a simple voice typing feature that is great for people who want to use voice commands to type text. The feature is also available in Google Slide allowing you to enter text in slides using your voice.
Price: Free.
Website: Google Docs Voice Typing
Apple Dictation
Best for transcribing text for free on Apple devices.
Apple’s dictation feature allows you to dictate messages and documents on your Mac devices. You can use this feature with applications where you can type including word processor, social media sites, presentation applications, and others.
Features:
- Keyboard dictation
- Share audio recordings
- Multi-language support
Verdict: The Apple dictation feature is similar to Windows speech recognition. Mac users can use the feature for using voice commands to transcribe text on any application and website.
Price: Free
Website: Apple Dictation
Dragon Speech Recognition Solutions
Best for students, legal, health care, and other professionals to transcribe text and share documents with high encryption.
Dragon Speech Recognition Solutions is a dictation application owned by Nuance. The software also supports cloud document management. It has AI-based speech recognition that learns the voice with greater accuracy over time.
Features:
- AI-powered speech recognition
- Cloud document management
- Control computer
- Accuracy of 99 percent
- 256-bit document encryption
Verdict: Dragon Speech Recognition software is great for legal professionals and students. The price may be a bit high, but it is worth it for professionals due to high accuracy and cloud document management feature.
Price: Price varies for professionals and students. Dragon Home is for students that have a onetime fee of $155. Professional firms are charged a yearly subscription which starts at $116 per user, per year. A free trial is available for 7 days that allows you to test the functionality of the software.
Website: Dragon Speech Recognition Solutions
Winscribe
Best for legal, health care, law enforcement, education, and other professionals to dictate text on Android and iPhone devices.
Winscribe is a dictation software company based in New Zealand. This dictation software is owned by Nuance, which allows you to transcribe and review documents on your smartphone. It also provides documentation workflow management to organize dictated text. It is available in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
Features:
- Dictation
- Supports Android, iPhone, PC, and Blackberry devices
- Document management
- Data encryption
- Reporting
Verdict: Winscribe is a speech recognition and document management application for professionals. Using the software allows the staff to be more productive. The price is affordable for medium and large corporations.
Price: Winscribe transcription service costs start at about $284 per user per year (or $24 per user, per month) for one to nine users. Discounts are available for larger workforce. A free trial is also available to test the features of the software.
Website: Winscribe
Conclusion
Free download of the best automatic transcription software, Express Scribe. Download for free and test the transcription software. Transcription software converts audio files to text documents on your computer. Free download of Express Dictate, the automatic audio to text converter, you never have to miss a word again.