Your Mac is drowning in voice memos, recorded meetings, and video files with career-making details. That killer presentation detail? It’s buried in a three-hour recording. Those client-specific requirements? Sorry – they’re lost somewhere in yesterday’s video call. Professionals everywhere are playing a risky game with their audio files. Now, your Mac is stuffed with everything, such as quick voice notes or lengthy video meetings, and fishing out important details feels like finding a needle in a haystack. Good thing you can transcribe video or audio to text on your Mac. Or, if you need expert help, you can get help from professional transcription companies. Let me show you how to do both those things.
In this article, you’ll learn how:
- Your updated Mac comes with built-in transcription tools, which are ideal for a grocery list but not much more than that.
- Free and paid third-party software, like MacWhisper and Microsoft Word 365, is available; however, they provide varying levels of transcription quality.
- Professional transcription services like Ditto Transcripts offer an accuracy guarantee thanks to our specialized expertise.
Why Is Transcribing Important?
Lawyers, doctors, and certain professionals can’t fully rely on their hastily scribbled notes from 3 AM, and these are just some of the reasons why transcribing is essential. It’s quite useful in scenarios where missing a single word could mean the difference between a successful legal defense and vice versa.
In medical settings, accurate transcripts can help ensure that “slightly elevated blood pressure” isn’t misinterpreted and leads to surgery—a perfect mistake that can ruin lives.
What about content creators? Well, transcribing videos means so many repurposing opportunities.
And let’s not forget market researchers; they can capture subtle consumer insights that might have been lost in the chaos of “everyone talking at once while Steve from marketing keeps munching his chips.”
Four Types of Transcription
Below are the four most common transcription types you might encounter in some of your projects.
| Type | Description |
| Verbatim Transcription | Captures everything exactly as the person spoke. This includes fillers and pauses and all the grammatical blunders in between. |
| Edited Transcription | Cleans up speech while preserving the underlying meaning of what was said. |
| Intelligent Transcription | Polishes text for professional readability while preserving the underlying meaning. |
| Phonetic Trancription | Uses phonetic symbols to show pronunciation. Useful for language learning and linguistics. |
Ways to Transcribe Audio and Video to Text on Your Mac
Can I transcribe on my Mac? Yes. Although there are different ways to do it, let’s discuss the most reliable approaches.
Mac’s Built-in Options To Transcribe Audio and Video
Your Mac’s native features. After all, Apple has packed some useful transcription tools into macOS – it turns out your fancy laptop was hiding some tricks up its sleeve this time.
- Built-in Dictation feature: This works pretty well when converting speech to text. Simply copy the shortcut (usually double-tapping the Function key) and start speaking – your Mac will transcribe your words in real-time. Head to System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation to get started, although you’ll occasionally find different interpretations of your mumbling.
- Live Captions: For those running newer versions of macOS, it’s another way to transcribe audio from any source on your Mac. This option can work with multiple speakers to some degree and even helps you follow along with YouTube videos.
Third-party Solutions To Transcribe On Your Mac
There’s no shortage of third-party software ready to help you convert speech to text with your MAC. These tools can quickly process any audio file, whether it’s an MP3 recording of your latest podcast or a video file from yesterday’s meeting.
Apple’s Voice Memos app: This one has certainly become a reliable recording and transcription tool. Create a recording, and the app will automatically transcribe it for you. It’s perfect for moments when inspiration strikes at the most inconvenient times. However, you can’t expect the highest transcription accuracy.
- MacWhisper: A free download app changing how users transcribe on Mac. It works offline so that you can convert audio to text anywhere, even without internet connectivity. If you’re working with a YouTube download or a voice memo, MacWhisper offers slightly better accuracy than built-in options.
- Microsoft Word: We can’t forget Microsoft when it comes to automated transcriptions. It offers built-in features for Microsoft 365 subscribers. The app can transcribe audio while distinguishing between speakers—it’s a pretty useful tool for interviews or meetings.
- Google Docs’ voice typing feature (in Chrome browser): Google Docs’s feature is quite conventional. But hey, it’s still another way to convert your speech to text. While it might not be the most sophisticated option, it’s free and does the job for basic transcription needs.
Automated Services
Automated services are always ready to convert your speech to text, except when they’re on maintenance. These platforms work with various file formats, so they’re a pretty versatile tool in your transcription arsenal. Most automated services can handle MP3 recordings or even YouTube video downloads.
However, AI powers automated transcription, and research suggests that AI transcription can only be up to 61.92% accurate at BEST. So, it may churn out transcripts faster than anything else; you may have to spend significant time polishing the output.
Should You DIY, Use AI, Or Get A Professional Transcription Service?
If you’re running a content creation or online video business, we all understand that keeping expenses low and profits high is the essence of running a business. Transcription can present an additional expense, so creators might want to shop around for the most affordable way to get it.
And, of course, the very first thing that comes to people’s mind when trying to save money on something is doing it themselves. As I’ve discussed, your Mac has the capability to transcribe audio or video to text. I wouldn’t advise it, though.
Remember, learning to transcribe audio and video on your Mac or any computer can take three to four times longer. It will likely take you longer, too. Plus, you might not have the training, expertise, or equipment to handle transcription.
Then, there’s automatic transcription with real-time results and cheap (or even free) services. Video-sharing platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube have their own automatic captioning and transcription features.
But again, they’re only about 61% accurate, so there’s a big chance that an awkwardly transcribed line can rip away your audience’s attention and immersion. It’s not exactly the best way to keep them watching.
The best option to make your content more accessible without settling for silly errors is to have a professional transcription service do it for you. It’s easier, faster, and involves less work. However, you don’t just get the first one on your Google Search. There are many considerations, and I can take the time to list them all.
Or, even better, I can tell you how Ditto Transcripts meets and exceeds all considerations.
Why Ditto’s Professional Transcription Service is Your Best Option
Transcribing videos or audio with your Mac or opting for automated solutions won’t cut it. That’s why professional transcription services like Ditto Transcripts are your best bet for converting audio to text. Taking this route means expecting the highest level of accuracy. Reliable companies employ real humans who understand context and accents and can even make sense of that recording you made while eating chips—though we might silently judge your awful eating habits.
Kidding aside, and though I can’t speak for all transcription companies, Ditto Transcripts can work with any type of audio or video file your Mac can play. Whether you need to transcribe a YouTube download, convert an MP3 interview, or get text from a QuickTime recording, we’ve got you back.
Another advantage of investing in professional companies is that we can handle specialized content. Specifically, AI might struggle with technical terms or industry-specific language, but we, professional transcribers, can accurately convert your speech to text while maintaining the precise meaning of your words—we have folks assigned to do the legal transcription, another for medical, and so on.
The best part? You don’t have to download any special software, learn new shortcuts, or spend significant time polishing the transcripts. Just send us your files, and we’ll do the heavy lifting.
Ditto Transcripts Can Help You Transcribe Audio to Text on Your Mac
Since 2010, Ditto has offered world-class transcription services that no other provider can match. Our services include:
- More than 99% accuracy on all social media content transcription
- 100% US-based, human transcription
- Fast turnaround times
- Different and affordable rates to fit different budgets
- Stringent security measures that meet different regulatory requirements
- No long-term commitments or contracts (pay as you go)
- Industry-leading customer service
- Flexible features for varying requirements
- Professional translation services for Arabic, French, Spanish, German, and more
So what are you waiting for? You don’t need to waste time manually transcribing Audio or Video on your Mac. You can Maximize your reach and retention with Ditto’s professional translation services and see the difference.
Ditto Transcripts is a Denver, Colorado-based transcription services company that provides fast, accurate, and affordable transcripts for individuals and companies of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote, and ask about our free five-day trial.
