Overwhelmed with seemingly endless voice recordings? Badly need to transcribe audio and video but can’t do it for some reason? You’re not alone – it’s a modern-day dilemma among professionals. It takes away your time and plays havoc with your peace of mind. Now, you can always transcribe audio to text with Google Docs. It’s quick and easy – also a giant pain to edit. That’s why it’s always best to consider professional transcription companies instead.
In this article, you’ll learn how:
- Google Docs can transcribe audio to text using different formats with its voice typing feature. However, its accuracy is limited since it relies on AI and speech-to-text solutions.
- Voice typing transcripts require significant post-processing work to correct errors, which can take longer than the actual transcription.
- Professional transcription services like Ditto offer higher accuracy, up to 99%, since transcriptionists can better decipher complicated human speech, especially with contextual and technical jargon.
Can You Transcribe With Google Docs?
Yes, you can use Google Docs to transcribe audio manually or use its Voice Typing feature, which allows users to transcribe spoken words into a document automatically. Google Docs’ voice typing feature also supports many languages, and you can transcribe your speech in real time by speaking into your device’s microphone.
Requirements to Transcribe with Google Docs
In case you’re missing something, below is what’s needed to convert audio with Google Docs’ voice typing.
| Requirements | Details |
| Google Account | Google account to access Google Docs. |
| Chrome Browser | For some reason, voice typing works best with the Chrome browser. |
| Microphone | Use an external working microphone – external for better results. |
| Internet Connectivity | You need a stable internet connection so you can transcribe in real-time. |
| System Permissions | Microphone access must be enabled for Chrome. |
Transcribing Audio with Google Docs
If you have all the requirements, simply follow the steps to start transcribing.
1. Prepare Your Setup
Of course, before anything else, open Google Docs with your Chrome browser and make sure your computer’s microphone works. Here’s a little secret: Get a mid-range or professional-grade external microphone for better results. Then, prepare what needs to be transcribed – audio recordings, your speech, etc.
2. Turn on the Voice Typing Option In The Google Docs
Then, activate the voice typing feature by clicking “Tools” in the menu bar, and then selecting “Voice typing”, like the one in the red circle in the image below. Or, to make life easier, just press Ctrl + Shift + S (if you’re a Windows user).
Once done, a microphone icon will appear on the left side of the document, and it should be like the image below.
3. Configure Your Audio Setup
If you’re transcribing an audio recording, look for a spot to place your speaker close to the microphone but not very close to it. I suggest playing the recording with your phone instead of relying on the computer’s speaker.
Then, set the appropriate volume levels and select your preferred language from the Google Docs’ mic dropdown option (expect lower accuracy rates for non-English languages).
4. Start Transcribing
Once all is set, you can let it start transcribing. Just click the microphone icon to start voice typing with the audio file playing nearby (or your speech), and the text will appear in real-time – if your internet connection is stable.
Also, you may pause the recording to include punctuation commands, like saying “period” or “question mark,” whenever necessary.
Of course, the transcripts will be far from “reliably accurate,” but you can still use this feature for personal projects or any audio files where accurate transcription isn’t a priority.
5. Make The Finishing Touches
Once everything is finished, polish the transcript.
Now, this may take you more time than the transcription process itself. Depending on the importance of the transcripts, you may need to spend hours on this step – replay the whole recording, search for technical terms, look for misspelled words and phrases that sound similar to the actual recording, review punctuation, formatting, paragraph structures, spacing, etc.
Why Are Transcripts Important?
I’m almost certain that after testing out Google Docs’ audio to text transcribe feature, you’ll wonder, “Why would anyone bother transcribing audio on Google Docs?” A fair question – and one that’s quickly answered. That’s because audio transcription offers a lot of benefits, including:
Improved Documentation And Archiving
Businesses from every industry now take advantage of how easy audio and video recordings are to produce. They can create and store complete and accurate records of important events that can be used for future reference.
However, audio and video files can take up a lot of disk space. A typical 1-hour video file shot in 1080p is about 1.2 to 1.4 gigabytes – that’s a lot of space. Before you know it, your 500GB solid-state drive is filled with videos, and now you have to choose which ones to delete.
Transcription neatly addresses that issue. Unlike audio or video content, transcripts require less space on a computer drive, making it an ideal form of record-keeping. They can be stored on any digital device without too much fuss. And even if you need to delete a video, you can rest assured that a complete transcript is saved somewhere.
Accessibility
Transcriptions provide accessibility to individuals with hearing impairment or those who prefer reading instead of watching. For businesses, this could increase your user or customer base, allow you to be more inclusive, and meet certain regulatory guidelines like the ADA.
Likewise, medical, law enforcement, and legal organizations using transcripts allow for improved inclusivity and meeting regulations.
SEO Improvements
Video content has proven to be one of the most effective ways to create customer engagement. However, unlike long-form written content like blogs and articles, videos cannot be crawled by search engines.
Imagine talking about an interesting topic throughout your video, naturally using high-quality keywords – and Google settles for just reading your title and video description.
Video content creators need more metadata real estate to attract search engine crawlers. Since search engines only crawl text, video transcription offers an alternative search engine optimization boost by allowing search engines to index everything said in the video, allowing them to access your content better and giving you more chances to rank better in searches, leading to more people consuming your content.
Repurpose Content
Videos are the king in content creation, yet blogs and other written works still generate lots of traffic. Transcription allows you the flexibility to repurpose already-produced content into another form.
For example, video or audio files can be transcribed and changed into high-quality blogs or articles, potentially offering additional income streams for businesses.
Aside from that, transcripts can supplement materials used in training sessions, seminars, lectures, and other similar events, offering more value for your video production efforts.
Why Not Use AI To Transcribe Lecture Recordings?
Due to the popularity of AI, automated transcription has become quite common, but I don’t recommend it for any professional or technical transcription requirement. AI transcription can be an option for tasks where speed is more important than capturing every detail – though I can’t think of many transcription tasks that require speed at the expense of accuracy.
Even the most advanced automated transcription systems can offer only 61.92% accuracy (AT BEST), which will only mess up whatever workflow it’s supposed to be used in. This is mainly because automated systems are highly impacted by heavy accents, technical jargon, background noise, multiple speakers, and other factors.
So, a professional human transcriptionist is your best bet. Their ability to understand context, grasp unclear audio or video, and ensure terminology make them the preferred choice for audio recording.
Why Choose Ditto Transcripts?
We strongly believe that the usability of audio transcripts highly depends on the quality of the transcription work – whether you did it yourself or paid someone to do it.
For this reason, we always strive to give you the best of everything, regardless of the type of transcription service you paid for.
If you’re curious, below are the advantages we offer over the competition:
Accuracy
We guarantee 99% accuracy in every transcription project. All you have to do is focus on creating valuable recordings, and we’ll transcribe them flawlessly.
Human Transcriptions
Our team isn’t filled with robots. We have professional transcriptionists who understand accents, the subtlety of multiple speakers, or technical jargon. We’ll convert recordings into texts that reflect your conversation’s natural flow.
Turnaround Time
We understand time is money, so we ensure your transcripts are delivered within the agreed-upon timeframe. It may take up to 24 hours, but you can choose a shorter turnaround time.
Security
Recordings aren’t created equal; we understand that some may contain sensitive information. Because of that, Ditto Transcripts is HIPAA, CJIS, and FINRA compliant. You can sleep well at night, knowing your content is secured with us.
Affordability
We acknowledge that official audio recordings can be highly valuable for organizations, and transcribing them can be costly. So, we offer high-quality transcription services that won’t rip your pockets.
24/7 Customer Support
Humans run our customer service process – not chatbots. We take the time to understand your requirements and will gladly assist you.
Customizability
Our transcription services aren’t just about accuracy and meeting the client’s requirements. Do you need a verbatim transcript that captures every “um” and “uh”? Do you have a specified template? Or do you need a polished version for a blog post? We’ve got you covered.
Need a Reliable Transcription Partner? Ditto’s Got You Covered!
Never settle for less when you can get the best. Ditto’s audio transcription services offer the best bang for your buck, giving you accuracy, affordability, and accessibility all in one package. Don’t stress yourself transcribing audio to text with Google Docs. Call us now, inquire about our services, and sign up for our free trial.
Ditto Transcripts is a FINRA, HIPAA and CJIS-compliant, Denver, Colorado-based transcription company that provides fast, accurate, and affordable transcription services for businesses and agencies of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote, and ask about our free five-day trial.