Two Examples of Audio Transcriptions

Michael Gallagher

Posted in Zoom Jan 8 · 9 Jan, 2022

Understanding Audio Transcription: Types, Examples, and Best Practices

Audio and video files are everywhere today. With fast internet and better devices, people watch and listen to more media than ever before. This growth means that turning audio and video into written text, a process called transcription, has become essential. Transcription helps people access information easily. For example, you can quickly search for a quote in a transcript or read it if your environment is noisy or silent. Let’s look at the main types of audio transcription, see clear examples, and learn how to get accurate transcripts.

What Is Audio Transcription?

Audio transcription is the process of converting spoken words from audio or video files into text. This is helpful when:

Searching for specific information in a recording
Making content available for people with hearing loss
Turning interviews and meetings into readable content
Creating captions or subtitles for videos

Transcription can be manual (done by people) or automatic (done by software), with different accuracy levels.

Two Main Types of Audio Transcription

There are two basic types of audio transcription:

Full verbatim transcription
Clean verbatim transcription

Each type serves a unique purpose, depending on the audience and the setting.

Full Verbatim Transcription

Full verbatim transcription, or true verbatim, captures every sound in the recording. This means:

All spoken words, including filler words like "um" and "uh"
Nonverbal sounds such as laughter, coughing, or background noises
Repeated words, stammers, and pauses

Full verbatim transcription is best for situations where every detail matters, such as legal proceedings, research interviews, or focus groups.

Example of Full Verbatim Audio Transcription

James: Fantastic, it's recording. So, um, I am going to ask you several easy questions, or hard ones. [chuckles] You are free to add anything more.
Mercy: Okay.
James: To start with, what’s your current age?
Mercy: Um, I'm currently 26.
James: Okay. Um, what do you think about when someone mentions video games?
Mercy: Um, I think about something enjoyable that I can do during my free time.
James: Okay. On to the next one. Have you played video games in your life?
Mercy: Yeah, yeah, I have actually played a couple.
James: Okay. Do you remember your first game?
Mercy: Hmm, that's actually a bit difficult.
James: [coughs]
Mercy: I'd probably say, um, probably Ping-Pong—
James: Mm-hmm. [chuckles]
Mercy: —but, um, come to think of it, my very first game was Super Mario Brothers.
James: Mm-hmm.

Clean Verbatim Transcription

Clean verbatim transcription, also called intelligent or edited transcription, focuses on clarity and readability. This type:

Removes filler words and stammers
Omits background noises and nonverbal utterances unless important
Leaves meaning and context unchanged

Clean verbatim is ideal for business meetings, lectures, or publications where neat language is important. It helps readers better understand the main points.

Example of Clean Verbatim Audio Transcription

James: Fantastic, it's recording. I am going to ask you several questions. You are free to add anything more.
Mercy: Okay.
James: To start with, what’s your current age?
Mercy: I’m currently 26.
James: What do you think about when someone mentions video games?
Mercy: I think about something enjoyable that I can do during my free time.
James: Have you played video games in your life?
Mercy: Yes, I have actually played a couple.
James: Do you remember your first game?
Mercy: That’s actually a bit difficult. I’d say Ping-Pong, but come to think of it, my very first game was Super Mario Brothers. Yes, that was my first.

How to Get Accurate Transcripts Even With Poor Audio Quality

High-quality audio makes transcription easy. But sometimes, you get files that are hard to hear. Several factors affect the quality:

Background noise
Overlapping speech (crosstalk)
Soft voices
Muffled sound

If your recording isn’t perfect, try these strategies.

Top Tips for Better Audio Transcription

Use a quality headset: Good headsets help you catch every word, including tricky sounds or accents. According to a 2021 audio study, using a noise-canceling headset can increase transcription accuracy by 15% (2021).
Edit your audio: Tools like Audacity or online editors reduce background noise and boost muffled voices. Editing before transcribing saves time and improves accuracy.
Choose professional services: Human transcription services catch details that software misses. Human experts understand context, accents, and emotion, making transcripts more accurate than automatic tools (Statista, 2023).

When to Use Different Types of Transcription

The right transcription style depends on your needs:

Full verbatim: Needed for legal cases, research, or official records
Clean verbatim: Perfect for business documents, blogs, or educational content
Automated transcription: Best for simple projects with clear audio and little background noise; see automated transcription

If your audio includes multiple languages or needs interpretation, consider text translation or audio translation services.

Get Started with Transcription

If you need a transcript or captions for your next project, you can order transcription or order captions easily online. Subscriptions like AI transcription make regular projects affordable.

Conclusion

Audio transcription is vital for making information accessible, searchable, and inclusive. Knowing when to use full verbatim or clean verbatim transcription saves you time and delivers the right results. Editing audio and choosing the right tools or experts can make a big difference in transcript quality. GoTranscript offers a full range of transcription services—including automated transcription, AI transcription subscriptions, captions, subtitles, and translations. Their team ensures you get accurate, fast, and cost-effective transcripts for any project.