Recording Tips for Accurate AI Transcription: 6 Key Points

In recent years, advances in AI technology have led to a growing number of transcription services that use speech recognition engines. With AI, you can now transcribe audio cheaply and efficiently!

But I tried AI transcription, and it didn't transcribe properly.

There are some key points for getting accurate AI transcription!

To get accurate AI transcription, it is important to apply a few techniques when you record.

This article introduces the key points for making recordings that work best for AI transcription.

6 Tips for the Best Recordings for AI Transcription

When you use an AI service for transcription, we recommend paying attention to these 6 points!

1. A high-quality microphone
2. Place the microphone in a good position
3. Set up a quiet recording environment
4. Speak clearly
5. Speak one at a time
6. Do a test recording

1. Use a high-quality microphone

To improve the accuracy of the speech recognition engine, start by using a high-quality microphone.

You can record audio with the microphone built into a PC or smartphone, but it is not high quality.

A high-quality microphone keeps the sound clear and keeps noise to a minimum.

The less noise and the higher the quality, the more accurately the AI can recognize the speech.

2. Place the microphone in the right position

Microphone placement matters, too.

If the microphone is too far from the speaker, the audio becomes quiet, and recognition accuracy drops when the AI transcribes it.

Conversely, if the microphone is too close to the speaker, the audio becomes saturated, which hurts recognition accuracy when the AI transcribes it.

Keep a suitable distance and adjust the direction of the microphone carefully.

3. Set up a quiet recording environment

A quiet recording environment reduces noise and improves speech recognition accuracy when the AI transcribes the audio.

Also, if you use a small, square meeting room, your voice echoes as if you were in a bathroom.

If you record in such a place, the recording is full of echo and feedback and becomes almost impossible to understand.

It is also important to use as large a room as possible.

Sounds from air conditioners and fans also become noise, so keep them away from the microphone.

You can also improve the recording environment further by installing sound-absorbing material in the room.

4. Speak clearly

Speaking slowly and clearly makes it easier for the AI to recognize the speech.

This can be difficult in a meeting, but if you speak as slowly and clearly as a news anchor whenever possible, you will get better transcription.

5. Speak one at a time

When several people speak at the same time, it becomes harder for the speech recognition engine to recognize the speech accurately.

If you plan to transcribe with AI, try to have people speak one at a time.

6. Do a test recording

Doing anything without a rehearsal can lead to failure.

The same is true of recording.

Before you start recording, be sure to make a test recording.

A test recording lets you check the volume and sound quality and adjust anything that is wrong.

This reduces the risk of errors in the actual recording.

Examples of Audio That Is Hard to Transcribe

These are examples in Japanese.

We hope these help you see which kinds of noise, microphone placement, and recording environments make audio difficult for AI transcription.

* These are given only as examples. Our service has no connection with the streamers or the content of the videos.

Audio Files That AI Transcription Struggles With

Examples of audio files that AI transcription services struggle with include the following.

1. Audio that is quiet or hard to hear because the microphone was far away
2. Audio drowned out by heavy noise
3. Audio blurred by echo in the room
4. Audio that contains music, such as song lyrics
5. Files with no audio
6. Audio with a strong dialect
7. Audio in which even a person has trouble hearing the voice

Audio Files That Mr. Transcription Struggles With [Real Examples]

AI transcription is better at some audio files and worse at others. This article introduces real examples and the reasons. Knowing the examples and reasons will help you create audio files that are easy to transcribe with AI, so please use it as a reference.

Even if you submit an error report for an audio file that AI transcription struggles with, the report will not be approved, and the minutes cannot be refunded.

Among error reports, the most common are cases where the problem lies in the contents of the file.

No voice is recorded in the file (there are stretches of noise, or it is silent)

If you upload an audio file without checking its contents,

it may turn out that "the recording itself failed and is silent" or "the microphone cut out partway through, so only noise can be heard and no voice was captured".

The image above shows the result of uploading a file in which only noise can be heard and transcribing it.

Mr. Transcription uses AI to transcribe. The AI tries to transcribe as much as it can, even in the noisy parts.

If the result is unclear, such as "ああああああ" or "んんんんんん", please check the contents of the file.

If you transcribe a file like the ones above and use up your minutes, those minutes cannot be refunded.

When AI Transcription Doesn't Work Well

To get accurate transcription from AI (a speech recognition engine), proper recording techniques are essential.

Keep the points introduced here in mind, and make good use of AI technology for efficient transcription.

Still, for audio files that AI transcription cannot handle well, it is more reliable to ask a person to transcribe them.

But isn't it expensive to ask a person to transcribe?

If you are wondering about that, please also read this article.

How Much Does Outsourced Audio Transcription Cost? [Tips for Ordering Cheaply]

For those who want to outsource transcription cheaply, we have summarized the going rates for audio transcription by AI, individuals, and professional companies. We also cover tips for avoiding mistakes when outsourcing and techniques for ordering high-quality transcription at a low price.

 AI transcription has its strengths and weaknesses.

Use "AI transcription" for audio files it handles well.

For audio files it handles poorly,

Try transcription with AI first
→If that does not work, use "human transcription"
is our recommendation.

Because AI transcription is inexpensive, even with audio files it seems likely to struggle with, you can sometimes get good results by trying it with the attitude of "nothing to lose, and lucky if it works."

With Mr. Transcription, an AI transcription service, you can transcribe up to 10 minutes per day for free once you register as a free member.

You can check the transcription accuracy yourself, so please give it a try.