Best Ways to Auto-Transcribe: 5 Free AI Tools for PC & Phone

Transcribing a recorded file is such a hassle...

Transcribing audio files of meetings or interviews into text is a very demanding task.

In the past, transcription had to be done by hand, typing everything out on a keyboard, but today, with handy tools such as AI transcription services, anyone can do it easily and in a short time.

• What services and apps that use AI speech recognition technology are out there?
• What is the difference between "kakiokoshi" and "mojiokoshi" (two Japanese words for transcription)?
• What are some recommended services?

For those of you struggling with audio transcription, this article answers these questions.

What Is Transcribing an Audio File?

First, let's go over the key points of what it actually means to transcribe a recorded audio file.

What Is Transcription?

Transcription means converting an audio file recorded on a smartphone or an IC recorder into text that you can see and read.

As it is, an audio file cannot be used in ways such as

• Keeping it on file as a document
• Searching its contents
• Summarizing it as reference material

and so on.

By transcribing audio into text, you can put it to better use in many situations, such as work, research, and study.

The Difference Between "Kakiokoshi" and "Mojiokoshi"

If you look into transcription, you will probably also come across the term "mojiokoshi" quite often.

"Mojiokoshi" means putting recorded audio into the form of text.

It is the same task as "kakiokoshi."

You can safely assume that "kakiokoshi" and "mojiokoshi" mean the same thing.

Why Transcribe?

The reason for transcribing audio files is that it is difficult to record everything as text in real time during an interview or a meeting.

If you try to write down the content while conducting an interview or a meeting, you may not be able to keep up with the transcription, or you may not be able to concentrate on the interview or meeting.

Instead, you can simply record the audio during the interview or meeting and transcribe the content later from the recording, which lets you keep a smoother and more accurate record.

How to Transcribe Interviews Efficiently: From Verbatim and Clean Transcripts to Using AI

A beginner-friendly guide to transcribing interviews. Learn the differences between verbatim, clean verbatim, and edited transcripts with examples, recording tips, and how to transcribe quickly with AI.

However, typing it out yourself means pausing and rewinding the audio as you transcribe, which takes a great deal of effort.

But don't worry.

Unlike in the past, you can now turn audio into text easily, without much effort or time, by using transcription tools and services.

Ways to Transcribe Audio

There are three main ways to transcribe audio.

• Use an AI transcription service
• Type it out yourself on a keyboard
• Hire a professional transcriber

Let's look at the features of each method in turn.

1. Use an AI Transcription Service

The method we recommend most right now is to use an AI transcription service to transcribe your audio into text.

An AI transcription service is a service that uses the latest AI speech recognition technology to convert audio files into text files.

Just as Siri on the iPhone and OK Google on Android smartphones are widely used, speech recognition is a field in which AI is especially strong.

AI transcription services use AI that is specially tuned for converting speech into text, which makes it possible to transcribe with far higher accuracy than the speech recognition built into a smartphone.

It takes only about 1 minute.

Just upload an audio file and the job is done right away.

How to Use Mr. Transcription: A Guide from Sign-Up to Finished Transcript

A step-by-step guide with images to using Mr. Transcription, from signing up and uploading to checking results. It also covers pricing plans and handy features such as AI summaries and subtitle export.

If you want to transcribe easily, the best place to start is an AI transcription service.

[Free] We Recommend "Mr. Transcription" for Transcription

For transcribing audio files, we recommend "Mr. Transcription".

Mr. Transcription is an AI transcription service from Japan that uses the latest AI.

It delivers highly accurate, high-quality transcription, and even long files can be transcribed in about 1 minute.

Advanced features are also available, such as transcription of foreign languages other than Japanese (100 languages in total), speaker separation (transcribing by each person who is speaking), and AI summaries and meeting minutes creation.

On the results screen, you can also play back the original audio section by section and check it against the text.

When you play the audio, the displayed text switches to follow the part that is playing.

You can transcribe free of charge for up to 3 minutes per day without registering.

Moreover, if you sign up for a free membership, you can transcribe up to 10 minutes per day for free.

If you are looking for a way to transcribe audio, why not try "Mr. Transcription" for free first?

2. Type It Out Yourself on a Keyboard

Before AI transcription services appeared, typing it out yourself on a keyboard was the most common way to transcribe.

The method is very simple: you just listen to the audio file while typing into a text editor such as Notepad.

The downside is that it takes a lot of effort.

Transcribing audio takes a very long time.

For example, for a 1-hour audio file, you should expect it to take 3 to 4 hours even if everything goes smoothly.

You might feel that for a short file of about 1 minute it is faster to transcribe it yourself... but just as the AI transcription service "Mr. Transcription" lets you use audio files of up to 3 minutes without logging in or registering, it goes more smoothly to use an AI transcription service even for short files.

If you do need to type it out yourself, we recommend using a dedicated transcription player app that makes it easy to play, stop, and so on.

3. Hire a Professional Transcriber

Asking a professional transcriber or a transcription company is also an option.

Before AI transcription services appeared, outsourcing the transcription was the only choice when it was hard to do the work yourself.

Because it is professional work, a strength is that the content has no errors.

However, because you are asking specialists, the cost is high, at 10,000 yen or more per hour even at the low end.

What is more, when high skill is required, as with medical or other specialized terminology, the price normally goes up even further.

In addition, the turnaround is often around 3 business days at the earliest, and requesting a rush delivery makes the price jump.

Considering cost and time, an AI transcription service is the better recommendation.

As for the quality of the content, the dramatic improvement in AI speech recognition means you can now transcribe at a comparable or even higher level of quality.

Transcription Services Compared (AI Apps, Individuals, Companies) [Websites, Apps, PC, Smartphone]

Not sure which transcription service to choose? We compared recommended apps and websites and summarized them. We also explain how to pick the best transcription service for your purpose.

For Transcription, We Recommend an AI Transcription Service

As you can see, for transcribing audio, we recommend an AI transcription service that can transcribe easily, quickly, and with high accuracy.

Why not try transcribing easily and comfortably with a state-of-the-art AI transcription service like "Mr. Transcription"?

5 Latest Transcription and AI Transcription Services

So what AI transcription services are available for transcription?

Here are transcription services that are also useful for business use.

1. Mr. Transcription

"Mr. Transcription" is an AI transcription service from Japan.

Its greatest strength is that it is highly accurate and can transcribe in a short time.

By running speech recognition with the latest AI, it can transcribe a wide range of audio files, including meetings and interviews, at high quality.

With the latest AI, even long files can be transcribed in about 1 minute.

Transcription of languages other than Japanese and creation of meeting minutes can also be done right away.

What is more, "Mr. Transcription" is free to use!

If you register an account, you can transcribe up to 10 minutes per day for free, so you can feel at ease even when you want to transcribe audio right away.

If you are unsure how to transcribe an audio file, why not try "Mr. Transcription" first?

2. UserLocal Voice Minutes System

The UserLocal Voice Minutes System is an AI transcription service specialized in real-time meeting minutes transcription.

As the name suggests, its main function is creating meeting minutes, and it supports only real-time transcription without saving the content.

It does not support transcribing after the fact, so its functions are limited, but it is an AI transcription service that we recommend to anyone who wants a simple transcription service.

Voice Minutes System (Free) - UserLocal

3. Otter

Otter is an AI transcription service that supports transcription in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and more.

It is run by a company in California, USA, and is known for its high accuracy in transcribing English.

These days, global work often calls for doing business in English.

Why not grasp the content of meetings with an AI transcription service and move your business forward more smoothly?

Otter

4. ZMEETING

ZMEETING is an AI transcription service launched by a venture company spun out of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).

Its speech recognition AI can transcribe the content of a meeting in real time.

It is also rich in features, including integration with Zoom, multilingual real-time transcription, and speaker identification for up to 15 people.

We recommend it to anyone who wants to transcribe meetings.

ZMEETING

5. Rimo (formerly Rimo Voice)

Rimo is an AI transcription service that supports transcription of Japanese.

It supports more than 30 languages, including Japanese, and offers features for after transcription, such as AI summaries and data sharing.

The personal plan starts at 1,650 yen per month, and the business plan requires a quote.

We recommend considering it if you want to get serious about transcription.

Rimo

Why Not Transcribe Conveniently with the Latest AI?

As you can see, by using an AI transcription service, you can conveniently transcribe audio files such as meetings and interviews.

Transcription work that used to take a long time can now be done easily and quickly by anyone with an AI transcription service.

If you are unsure how to transcribe, why not start by trying an AI transcription service like "Mr. Transcription"?