Top Tools for Converting Audio Files to Text: A Comprehensive Guide (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: If you want to transcribe a lengthy voice recording into text format then the thought of writing it out manually may seem like a bit of a chore. It is a bit of a chore. That's why having software capable of doing that job for you can be a big time saver. This is what's called speech-to-text software and we've picked out the best ones available for you to download. Hi this is Phil from Make Tech Easier and this is how to convert audio files to text. There are so many uses out there for text-to-speech software as well as speech-to-text software. Whether you want to narrate stories, give dictation or use voice search these apps help you do a good job. However there are times when you need to convert an audio file to text. For example it could be about documenting text notes of an interview or transcribing a video for uploading on YouTube. Here are a few options to help you achieve audio-to-text conversion in quick and easy steps. Bear File Converter. If you want a simple audio-to-text conversion for brief notes Bear File Converter has a decent option. Based on Baidu Recognition Engine it can do a proper job in converting a clear audio with a few distracting noises. However the online software is not very accurate in converting mp3 song files to text. Also the online software does not record for longer than three minutes. 360 Converter. If you're looking for a slightly better results online in audio-to-text conversion 360 Converter offers a simple dashboard tool. It supports both audio and video. The results can be downloaded as a Word file or PDF. There are limitations for the freeware however. While the software is good enough to transcribe conversations and pre-recorded speeches you wouldn't get professional results. Sobolsoft. If you're aiming for professional results in mp3-to-text conversion Sobolsoft offers better output. There are no time limits in terms of outputs and intuitive options which allow you to convert multiple files and split the timelines. The results are far better than previous options however you need to make a purchase beforehand although a free trial is available. Inkscribe. Although it does not directly convert audio to text Inkscribe is an intuitive digital transcription tool which makes the manual entry as easy as possible. With this software you can quickly insert time codes anywhere in the transcript and work the rest just like a word processor. You can assign keyboard shortcuts and insert snippet variables to drop frequently used text with a single keystroke. A complete product user guide is available, link in the description. Inkscribe is not free but a 14-day trial is available without the need to enter payment methods. Use speech-to-text apps on your phone. If your audio source is on a different device you can use standard speech-to-text apps on your phone to transcribe the audio. Speech Notes is a highly rated Android app which does a pretty decent transcription. This method is absolutely free and gives nearly accurate results for audiophiles. However you can only take notes separately and can't transcribe the results into the audio or video source. Converting audio to text is still a manual job in the music industry and studios hire professional transcribers for accurate results. YouTubers usually add subtitles and captions on a video editing software such as Lightroom. However the above solutions enable a degree of automation. The results will vary from one app to another. 100% accurate is not possible with any solution but Inkscribe does give good results. Are you aware of any other solutions that give professional quality audio to text conversion results? Let us know in the comments below. OK as always thanks for watching. That's all for now, see you next time.