Advances in AI have streamlined routine tasks, including transcribing audio recordings from interviews, meetings, and lectures. While most AI services come at a cost due to the resources required to develop and process data, there are a number of free transcription tools available. Here are five you might find useful:
1. Whisper
Developed by OpenAI, Whisper offers a free audio-to-text transcription service. Users can upload audio files or speak directly into their device’s microphone. Whisper transcribes audio and can also translate non-English audio into English. Access Whisper via the Hugging Face web app or download it for local use on compatible computers.
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2. The Happy Note Taker
Happy Scribe’s free plan allows for up to ten minutes of audio to be transcribed. However, exporting files requires a paid upgrade of $17 per month. Speaker labels and timestamps are included in the free plan to streamline review and editing. Upgrade to a paid plan for advanced tools like translation, custom dictionaries, and human transcription.
3. Otter.ai
Otter.ai offers 600 minutes of free transcription per month. It is known for its accuracy and ability to handle a wide range of accents and technical terms. Otter.ai is suitable for transcribing meetings, interviews, and lectures. The platform also supports searching, highlighting, and adding photos to transcripts.
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4. Topic
Temi, owned by the same company as Rev, offers a basic transcription service with a free 45-minute trial. Users can review and edit transcripts, slow down audio playback, and export files in a variety of formats including hidden text and subtitles. Mobile apps for Android and iOS support recording and transcription at 25 cents per minute.
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5. Registration
Inqscribe is a downloadable tool with a simple interface. It supports keyboard shortcuts and allows users to insert commonly used phrases and time codes into the transcript. It can play audio and video from a variety of sources including URLs, local files, and external drives, making it versatile for transcription tasks.
