How to Get Podcast Transcripts?

Podcasts are one of the most prolific informational mediums today, combing the versatility of digital media with the flexibility and scope of radio. 

Whether you’re an avid listener, a creator, or both, podcast transcripts can increase the enjoyment and reach of your podcasts.

This guide details where you can obtain the transcripts of your favorite podcasts and how high-quality transcriptions can benefit your podcasts.

Acquiring Podcast Transcripts

If you’re wondering how to get podcast transcripts, you’re not alone. Many people watch or listen to their podcast in the background or during long commutes without a second thought. When you need the transcript, it suddenly becomes an issue.

Transcriptions are essential for the deaf and hard of hearing, but they serve other purposes also. Well-crafted transcriptions can boost podcast searchability, assist indexing, and provide data for screen readers (text-to-speech). These features all enable podcasts to be enjoyed by wider audiences, so transcripts are a precious resource for both listeners and creators.

How to get a podcast transcript differs depending on the platform you are using and the format you want for the transcript. It also matters whether you are transcribing your podcast or someone else’s.

• Downloading the podcast audio

The first step to obtaining a podcast transcript is to get direct access to the audio. You’ll need the audio regardless of whether you create the transcript yourself or use other tools.

Depending on the platform you use, the procedure for downloading the podcast varies. Still, generally, you will need to “share” the podcast to yourself to get the direct audio link, then copy and paste that link into a downloader to get the raw file. There are also various extensions for popular web browsers to download podcast audio directly.

• Creating the transcript

Making the transcript is the most time-consuming part of the process. Transcripts require hard work, patience, a good ear, and attention to detail. While you might consider speech recognition software to convert podcasts to text, you’ll quickly discover that A.I. doesn’t work well for this purpose.

Transcripts require textual accuracy, and a missed word or punctuation can completely change the meaning of a sentence. Furthermore, speech-to-text will not record podcast timestamps— a critical feature of podcast transcripts. So even if you were to use artificial means to create a transcription, you will need to spend more time correcting errors than what you would save by using those tools.

• Professional services

Rather than spending countless hours trying to perfect the transcripts yourself, you can turn to professional transcriptionists. Human transcribers are more accurate and understand the nuances of language that often confuse computer algorithms. 

Expert transcriptions are a must if you are transcribing videos for business or marketing purposes. They ensure every aspect of your transcription is correct down to the finest detail, including grammar, accuracy, format conventions, and time codes.

Benefits of Transcriptions for the Listener

There are many scenarios where podcast transcriptions can aid the experience. One example is when traveling or when an internet connection is not ubiquitous. A transcription file is smaller than an audio or video file and much easier to store or transmit. 

Transcriptions also provide an easily searchable record of the episode. As such, the transcription offers an invaluable tool to quickly find information within a particular podcast, session, or series. Rather than trying to locate details by clumsily scrubbing through audio or video, you’ll save massive amounts of time by searching for keywords within the transcript instead.

Podcast transcriptions also offer alternative ways to enjoy a show. You may choose to read the transcript rather than listen to the audio. 

Benefits of Transcriptions for Creators

As a podcaster, you want your message to reach as many people as possible. To that end, you need to be inclusive. For podcasts, inclusivity means not limiting your audience to listeners or watchers but also to including readers.  

Podcast transcriptions facilitate greater reach for your message across demographics by allowing people to absorb your content however they choose. Transcripts take your message and convert it across mediums opening the floodgates to countless audiences. And because the transcriptions are text-based, they are fully searchable, keyword indexed, and highly compatible across systems and devices.

Armed with expertly crafted transcriptions, your podcast SEO will achieve new heights, expand into new demographic markets, and grow your following. People who previously may not have had the ability to listen will now have the tools to enjoy what you offer.

Transcriptions You Can Trust

At GoTranscript, we understand the immense power of the written word, and we know how critical having accurate transcriptions is. One mistyped word can mean the difference between a great impression and an embarrassment. 

Podcasts are especially susceptible to mistakes since show transcripts are often indexed and subjected to automated searches. It takes a sharp eye, keen ear, and deep understanding of language to craft exceptional transcript copy.

Don’t gamble on artificial intelligence to transcribe your priceless content, and don’t rely on an untested transcription service with bold claims. We have the track record, stellar reputation, and experience to deliver lightning-fast, impeccable podcast transcripts that convey your message with pinpoint penned precision. With over one million hours of transcribed content under our collective belt, our experts will give your podcast transcriptions the care and attention they deserve. And with a guaranteed accuracy of over 99%, you can trust that your podcast transcription will be completely error-free!