+++ title = “You Won’t Believe How Easy It Is To Convert Audio Files To Text!” date = “2021-10-04” tags = [“audio to text”, “transcription”, “technology”] +++

Have you ever had to transcribe a long audio file, sit in front of the computer for hours, and type everything out word-for-word? Transcription can be a tedious and time-consuming process, but luckily, technology has made it easier than ever to convert audio files to text. And the best part? It’s surprisingly easy to do!

There are now a plethora of tools and software available that can convert your audio files to text quickly and accurately. But before we dive into the different options available, let’s explore why you might need to convert an audio file to text in the first place.

Why convert audio files to text?

Transcribing audio files to text is crucial for a variety of reasons. It can be useful for:

  • captioning videos for the deaf or hard-of-hearing
  • creating subtitles for foreign languages
  • transcribing notes from an interview or lecture
  • creating a text archive of a podcast or radio show
  • generating a searchable transcript for content creators

However, transcribing audio files manually can be a time-consuming and tiring task. That’s why audio to text conversion software has become so popular in recent years, offering a fast and efficient alternative.

How to convert audio files to text

There are many different audio to text conversion tools available, ranging from free online services to high-end software suites. Here are some of the most popular options:

  • Online transcription services: Websites like Rev.com and GoTranscript.com offer paid transcription services that can convert your audio files to text quickly and accurately. All you need to do is upload your audio file and wait for your transcript to be delivered.

  • Transcription software: Companies like Dragon Speech Recognition and Transcribe.com offer software packages for audio to text transcription. These programs use artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to transcribe audio files in real-time.

  • Automatic transcription tools: There are many free online tools available that offer automatic transcription services. These tools use AI-generated transcripts, but they may not always be 100% accurate.

No matter which option you choose, audio to text conversion has become much easier and more accessible than ever before.

Tips for successful audio to text conversion

While audio to text conversion can be a fast and easy process, there are a few tips you can follow to ensure the best results:

  • Choose high-quality audio files: While most conversion tools can handle lower quality audio files, you’ll get the best results if you use high-quality files with minimal background noise.

  • Edit your transcription: Even the best algorithms can make mistakes, so it’s essential to review and edit your transcripts to ensure accuracy.

  • Consider using human transcription services: While AI has come a long way, human transcribers are best suited to handle complex dialogue or conversations.

In conclusion, audio to text conversion is a lifesaver for anyone who needs to transcribe audio files quickly and accurately. With a variety of online services and software packages available, there’s no excuse for not trying it out. And who knows? You might just be surprised by how easy it is!

There are so many uses out there for text-to-speech software and speech-to-text software. Whether you want to narrate stories, give dictation or use voice search, these apps help. You may also need to convert an audio file to text. It; could be about documenting the text notes of an interview or transcribing a video for uploading on YouTube.

Here are several options to help you achieve audio-to-text conversion in quick and easy steps.

1. Office 365/Word

Microsoft Word has some handy built-in functions for transcribing audio files. Instead of holding a speaker up to your PC microphone and playing it that way, Word can directly transcribe straight from your audio files.

Of course, you need an Office 365 or Office subscription for this to work (though there are some workarounds to get Office working for free, even if temporarily). Of all the options on this list, this is the cleanest, and from our experience, the most accurate way to transcribe audio on your PC.

To transcribe using Word, sign in to Office 365 on your browser and open a new Word document.

Click Home, then the drop-down icon next to ‘”Dictate” (or the microphone icon) and “Transcribe.”

Click “Upload audio,” then select the file you want to transcribe and wait for the process to finish.

You can then click “Add to document” at the bottom and choose the desired format for the transcription in your Word document.

2. Google Docs

Alternatively, you can convert audio to text using Google’s free cloud-based word processing software, Google Docs, which can also convert audio to text. Again, have your audio files playing loud and clear either on your PC or nearby device.

In Google Docs, go to “Tools -> Voice typing” to turn on dictation. For Microsoft Word you need to turn on dictation/online speech recognition on macOS or Windows 10, then press the keyboard shortcut you set to turn on dictation (Win + H in Windows 10, Command key twice in Mac) and open Word.

Once you’ve set up dictation or voice typing, turn it on, open your word-processing software, then play the audio file into your PC microphone (or just play it on your PC so your mic picks it up).

3. Bear File Converter

If you want a simple audio-to-text conversion for brief notes, Bear File Converter has a decent option. Based on the Baidu recognition engine, it can do a proper job converting a clear audio with 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.

4. 360Converter

If you’re looking for slightly better results online in audio-to-text conversion, 360converter 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 prerecorded speeches, you won’t get professional results.

5. 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 output 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.

6. InqScribe

Although it does not directly convert audio to text, InqScribe is an intuitive digital transcription tool which makes the manual entry as easy as possible. With this software, you can quickly insert timecodes 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 at this link.

InqScribe is not free, but a 14-day free trial is available without the need to enter payment methods.

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. However, the above solutions enable a degree of automation.

For more acoustic tips on Windows, see our guide for fixing your headphones when they’re not working. We also have a great list of software to help you manage your writing projects. If you want to switch between other file formats on Windows, we have guides to help you convert from VCE to PDF from HEIC to JPG.

Content Manager at Make Tech Easier. Enjoys Android, Windows, and tinkering with retro console emulation to breaking point.

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