How to Transcribe SquadCast Recordings (Step-by-Step Guide)

To transcribe SquadCast recordings well, start by exporting the highest-quality audio (ideally multitrack), do light cleanup so every voice stays clear, and keep speaker names consistent from your session all the way into the transcript. You can then format the text in a clean Q&A style for editing, quoting, and publishing.

This guide walks through downloading raw audio, using multitrack exports, basic cleanup, and a practical interview transcript template (with headings, links, and key quotes). It also shows two simple workflows: human transcription or AI transcript + proofreading, with options like timestamps and subtitles.

• Primary keyword: how to transcribe SquadCast recordings

Key takeaways

• Export raw, separate tracks when possible so you can fix one speaker’s issues without harming the other.
• Do light cleanup (trim, normalize, gentle noise reduction) before transcription to reduce mishears.
• Preserve speaker names by locking a naming convention (Host/Guest, names, or roles) and using it everywhere.
• Use a repeatable transcript template (headings, Q/A labels, links, key quotes) to speed editing and publishing.
• Choose between human transcription or AI + proofreading depending on your deadline, audio quality, and accuracy needs.

1) Before you export: set up SquadCast for clean transcription

A good transcript starts before you hit record, because clear audio reduces corrections later. Keep the setup simple and repeatable.

Use these pre-record checks for remote interviews:

• Confirm names and roles: Decide how you’ll label speakers (e.g., “Alex (Host)” and “Jordan (Guest)”).
• Ask for a quiet room: Reduce fans, AC, typing, and notifications.
• Mic placement: Keep the mic 4–8 inches from the mouth and slightly off-axis to reduce plosives.
• Headphones on: This prevents echo and makes speaker separation cleaner.
• Clap sync (optional): A single clap at the start can help align tracks if you do manual edits later.

If you plan to publish captions or subtitles, also ask guests to spell names, brands, and acronyms at the start, so your final transcript matches what you show on screen.

2) Downloading raw audio from SquadCast (and what to choose)

For transcription, you want the highest-quality audio you can export and the fewest surprises (missing sections, drift, or mixed speakers). SquadCast typically provides options for mixed audio and separate tracks.

When you export, prioritize these choices:

• Raw audio (highest quality): Choose raw/uncompressed or the highest available quality to preserve speech detail.
• Multitrack/separate speaker tracks: Export each speaker as their own file when available.
• Backups: Download any backup tracks if SquadCast provides them, in case one track has glitches.

Why multitrack matters: If one person has noise or a low mic, you can clean just that track without damaging the other speaker’s clarity.

Recommended file handling (so you don’t lose speaker identity)

Create one folder per session and name files so the speaker identity stays attached through editing and transcription.

• Folder: 2025-12-23_ShowName_Ep042_GuestLastName
• Files:
  • Ep042_Host_Alex_RAW.wav
  • Ep042_Guest_Jordan_RAW.wav
  • Ep042_Mixdown_reference.wav (optional)

If your exporter labels tracks generically, rename them right away while the session is still fresh.

3) Using multitrack exports: two practical workflows

Once you have separate tracks, you can pick the workflow that fits your editing style and the transcript you need.

Workflow A: Clean and transcribe each track (best for speaker labels)

This approach makes it easier to keep speaker names accurate because each file belongs to one person.

• Lightly clean Host track.
• Lightly clean Guest track.
• Transcribe both tracks (or send both for transcription).
• Combine into a single Q&A transcript with speaker labels.

Use this if you expect interruptions, crosstalk, or uneven mic quality.

Workflow B: Create a clean mixdown, then transcribe (fastest)

This approach is quicker if the audio is already clean and you don’t need heavy edits.

• Balance levels between speakers.
• Export a single clean mix.
• Transcribe the mix.

Use this if your speakers rarely overlap and the recording sounds consistent.

Which workflow should you choose?

• Choose multitrack transcription if: speakers talk over each other, one mic is noisy, or you need accurate speaker attribution.
• Choose mixdown transcription if: the recording is clean and you mainly need a readable transcript for editing and posting.

4) Basic audio cleanup for better transcripts (no heavy engineering needed)

You don’t need a full audio edit to improve transcription results, but you do want to reduce the most common speech killers: inconsistent volume, constant noise, and long silences.

Here’s a simple, “good enough” cleanup checklist you can do in most editors (Audacity, Adobe Audition, Descript, Reaper, etc.).

Step-by-step cleanup checklist

• Trim the ends: Cut dead air at the beginning and end so the transcript starts clean.
• Normalize or level: Bring both speakers to a similar loudness to reduce missed words.
• Gentle noise reduction: Remove steady background noise (HVAC hiss), but avoid aggressive settings that distort speech.
• High-pass filter (optional): Roll off low rumble (like desk bumps) without thinning voices.
• Remove obvious non-speech: Loud mic bumps, long keyboard bursts, or accidental side conversations.

Common cleanup mistakes to avoid

• Over-noise-reducing: It can create warbling artifacts that make words harder to understand.
• Hard gating: Aggressive gates can cut off word endings (like “-s” and “-t”).
• Crushing dynamics: Heavy compression can raise room noise and mouth sounds.

If you’re unsure, do less. A natural voice with some noise often transcribes better than a heavily processed, distorted voice.

5) How to preserve speaker names in your transcript

Speaker labeling often breaks when audio files get renamed, combined, or passed between tools. You can avoid that with a clear naming plan and a simple handoff note.

Pick one speaker-label system and stick to it

• Names: ALEX, JORDAN
• Roles: HOST, GUEST
• Name + role: ALEX (HOST), JORDAN (GUEST)

For public transcripts, “Name + role” usually reads best and helps new readers.

Keep names attached to tracks

• Rename the raw files with the speaker name as soon as you download them.
• When you export a cleaned version, keep the same name (add “_CLEAN”).
• If you create a mixdown, keep the multitracks too, in case you need to verify a line later.

Add a short speaker note when you order transcription

In your order notes (or your project brief), include:

• Speaker labels and correct spelling (including accents if relevant).
• Any special terms (company names, product names, unusual surnames).
• Whether you want “verbatim” (every filler word) or “clean read” (smoothed for readability).

6) Interview transcript formatting template (Q/A, headings, links, key quotes)

A transcript becomes far more useful when it’s easy to scan, quote, and convert into show notes or an article. Use a consistent template so every episode looks the same.

Recommended transcript structure

• Episode header (title, date, participants)
• Short intro summary (2–4 lines)
• Topics/chapters (optional but helpful)
• Full Q&A transcript with speaker labels
• Links and resources mentioned
• Key quotes (pull quotes)

Copy-and-paste template (Q/A style)

You can paste this into Google Docs, Word, Notion, or your CMS and fill it in as you edit.

EPISODE TITLE: [Episode name]
SHOW: [Show name]
RECORDING DATE: [YYYY-MM-DD]
GUEST: [Full name, role, company]
HOST: [Full name]

SUMMARY (2–4 lines):
- [What the episode is about]
- [Who it helps]
- [What you’ll learn]

TOPICS (optional):
1) [Topic 1]
2) [Topic 2]
3) [Topic 3]

TRANSCRIPT (Q/A):
ALEX (HOST): [Opening question or intro.]
JORDAN (GUEST): [Answer.]

ALEX (HOST): [Next question.]
JORDAN (GUEST): [Answer.]

[Repeat]

LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- [Name] — [URL]
- [Name] — [URL]

KEY QUOTES (for show notes / social):
- “[...]” — JORDAN (timestamp if used: 00:12:34)
- “[...]” — ALEX (timestamp if used: 00:45:10)

Formatting tips that make editing faster

• Use consistent speaker tags: Put them in ALL CAPS to scan quickly.
• Break long blocks: Split paragraphs every 1–3 sentences for readability.
• Mark unclear spots: Use [inaudible 00:13:22] or [crosstalk] so you can verify later.
• Standardize numbers: Decide if you’ll use “10” or “ten” for small numbers and apply it consistently.

7) Choosing timestamps, subtitles, and the right transcription workflow

Your best option depends on what you’ll do with the transcript: edit content, publish SEO pages, create clips, or meet accessibility needs.

When to add timestamps

• Great for editing: Jump to the exact spot in the audio when revising.
• Helpful for fact-checking: Verify names, numbers, and quotes quickly.
• Useful for long interviews: Especially if you plan to pull highlights.

If you publish the transcript, consider lighter timestamps (for example, every 1–3 minutes) to keep it readable.

When you should order subtitles instead of (or in addition to) transcripts

Subtitles add timing and line breaks built for video players, which a text transcript doesn’t include.

• Choose subtitles if you post video clips or full episodes on YouTube or social platforms.
• Choose a transcript if you want a readable document for blogs, notes, or search.
• Choose both if you publish video and want a clean on-site transcript page.

If you need video deliverables, you can use GoTranscript’s subtitling services for timed subtitle files.

Two CTA-friendly workflows (human transcription vs. AI + proofreading)

Here are two practical paths you can follow after you export and clean your SquadCast audio.

• Workflow 1: Human transcription (accuracy-focused)
  • Upload your mixdown or multitrack files.
  • Add notes with speaker names, spellings, and special terms.
  • Select options like timestamps (if you want them).
  • Receive a transcript you can format into the template above.
• Workflow 2: AI transcript + proofreading (speed + polish)
  • Generate an AI draft transcript.
  • Send it for cleanup and correction, keeping your speaker labels and style.
  • Use timestamps if you need faster verification.

If you already have a draft transcript that needs correction, GoTranscript also offers transcription proofreading services to help polish it.

If you want a fast machine-generated first pass, you can start with automated transcription and then decide whether you need proofreading.

Common questions

• Should I transcribe the mixed track or the multitrack export?
  Use multitrack if speakers overlap or one track has problems, and use a mixed track if audio is clean and you want the simplest workflow.
• What audio format works best for transcription?
  Use the highest-quality export you can (often WAV) to preserve speech detail, especially with remote recordings.
• How do I make sure the transcript uses the right speaker names?
  Rename your files with speaker names, keep a consistent label format (HOST/GUEST or names), and add a short note with correct spellings when you submit the job.
• Do I need timestamps in a podcast transcript?
  Not always, but timestamps help a lot for editing, fact-checking, and pulling highlight quotes.
• What’s the difference between a transcript and subtitles?
  A transcript is plain text for reading and editing, while subtitles are time-coded lines designed to display on video.
• How do I handle crosstalk and interruptions?
  Multitrack exports help you identify who spoke, and you can mark overlaps as [crosstalk] or split lines when both talk at once.
• Can I turn my transcript into show notes quickly?
  Yes. Pull the “Summary,” “Topics,” “Links & Resources,” and “Key Quotes” sections from the template to build show notes fast.

If you want a reliable, repeatable workflow for transcribing SquadCast interviews, GoTranscript can help with both human transcription and transcript cleanup, plus subtitle-ready deliverables when you publish video. You can start with professional transcription services and choose options like speaker labels, timestamps, and subtitles based on how you plan to use the final text.