What is audio transcription, and who needs it?

Who Uses Audio Transcription? A Complete Guide for Every Industry

Audio transcription means turning spoken words from audio or video files into written text. Many people think transcriptions are only for interviews or seminars, but many industries benefit from this service every day.

What Is Audio Transcription?

Audio transcription is the process of listening to a recording and writing down everything that is said. The recordings may be:

• Meetings
• Lectures
• Interviews
• Legal proceedings
• Podcasts
• Business calls

Industries around the world use transcription to save time, improve accuracy, and make information more accessible (Statista, 2023).

Who Benefits from Audio Transcription?

Many fields need transcription services. Below are the key groups and how they use this tool to improve their workflow.

Legal Transcription

The legal field relies on transcriptions to make sure records are clear and accurate. Transcribers need to understand special legal language and must pay attention to every detail.

• Lawyers, judges, and paralegals use transcripts of court proceedings, depositions, and police interviews.
• Documents often include rulings, witness statements, contracts, affidavits, and appeals.
• Accurate transcriptions help with hearings, trials, and building strong legal cases.

Legal professionals depend on professional transcription services to avoid costly mistakes and save time.

Medical Transcription

In healthcare, doctors and nurses use transcription to keep accurate patient records. Most medical professionals do not have enough time to write down every detail themselves, so they record:

• Patient notes and observations
• Consultations and interviews
• Medical histories and reports

Transcribers convert these recordings into organized documents. They need to understand medical terms to do this job well.

• Hospitals, clinics, and private practices need accurate records for patient care and insurance claims.
• Dissertations, medical research, and symposiums also require transcription.

Learn about medical transcription services that support health care workers every day.

Academic Transcription

Universities and schools use transcription for:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group discussions
• Research interviews
• Theses and dissertations

These transcripts help students and professors review material, conduct research, and keep accurate academic records.

• Graduate students use transcripts for data analysis.
• Professors save time by recording and transcribing lectures.

See how academic transcription supports learning and research.

Business Transcription

Busy companies use transcription to keep track of important conversations and decisions, including:

• Meetings and brainstorming sessions
• Presentations
• Quarterly or annual calls
• Training sessions
• Market research interviews

Full written records help prevent miscommunication and support compliance. Businesses across industries rely on accurate transcripts to document every detail.

• Project managers use transcripts for reference.
• HR departments transcribe interviews and reviews.

Find out more about business transcription solutions.

Media and Entertainment Transcription

Media companies, journalists, and producers need transcripts for all types of content, such as:

• TV and radio shows
• Documentaries
• Films and web videos
• Podcasts and interviews
• Press conferences and public forums

Transcripts are also used for making closed captions and subtitles, which help viewers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and allow content to reach a wider audience.

• Streaming platforms require captions for accessibility.
• Publishers turn interviews into articles faster using transcripts.

Check out our subtitling services for multimedia projects.

Financial Transcription

Accurate transcription is vital for the finance sector because even a small error can cause big problems. Some main uses include:

• Annual meetings
• Earnings calls
• Financial analysis sessions
• Investor briefings
• Press releases

Banks, accountants, corporate finance teams, and investment firms need clear records for legal reasons and audits.

Look into financial transcription to keep your records organized and accurate.

Video Production and Translation

Video content is everywhere. In fact, people watch over a billion hours of YouTube every day (YouTube, 2023). Many viewers also watch videos without sound, so captioning and subtitling are essential.

• Video producers use transcripts to create accurate captions or translated subtitles.
• Captions make videos accessible to everyone and are required on many platforms.
• Video translation lets your content reach new audiences worldwide.

Visit our translation services and audio translation support for more details.

Market Research & User Experience (UX)

Modern companies rely on customer feedback to improve their products. Transcription comes in handy when recording:

• Focus groups
• Product testing interviews
• User experience (UX) sessions

These transcripts allow businesses to analyze feedback and spot trends more easily.

• Brands improve customer satisfaction with this data (Forrester, 2022).

Learn how to use transcription for marketing and UX research.

Other Uses for Audio Transcription

Audio transcription is also useful for:

• Personal notes
• Public speeches
• Podcasts and voicemail recordings
• Improvised music or spoken word performance

Sometimes the same type of recording fits more than one category. For example, a medical interview could also be part of academic research.

Conclusion: The Right Audio Transcription Solution for Every Need

No matter the industry, audio transcription helps save time, reduce errors, and improve access to spoken information. From professional transcription services to AI-powered automated transcription, you can choose the right solution for your needs.

GoTranscript offers secure, fast, and affordable options for transcription pricing, captioning rates, proofreading services, and more. Order transcription or order captions today and make your content work harder for you.