•TranscribeFast Team

Audio Transcription Best Practices: 21 Pro Tips for Crystal-Clear Text

Professional tips to improve speech to text accuracy: recording setup, file prep, diarization, accents, editing, and export. Ideal for interviews, podcasts, and meetings.

Want cleaner transcripts with fewer edits—especially for school projects? These tips make audio transcription easier for interviews, group work, and study notes.

What you'll learn

  • How to set up your mic for clear audio
  • How to prep files and match the right language/locale
  • How to edit fast and export the right format for class

Quick start checklist

  • External mic or headset > laptop mic
  • Quiet room, soft furnishings (pillows/curtains) to reduce echo
  • Pick exact locale (en-US, en-GB, etc.)
  • Turn on speaker diarization for interviews
  • Export TXT/DOCX for assignments

1) Nail the recording setup

  • Use a mic 6–12 inches away; keep the distance steady.
  • Ask others to mute when not speaking in group calls.
  • Close windows and turn off fans/AC if possible.

2) Prepare files for success

  • Prefer WAV for quality; MP3/M4A are fine for speed.
  • Trim long silences; split very long recordings into 30–60 minutes.
  • Rename files clearly: Interview_Alex_2025-03-12.wav

3) Match language and accents

  • Select the exact locale (en-US vs en-GB) for better punctuation/spelling.
  • Use diarization for 2+ speakers to label who said what.
  • Standardize names and terms once, then apply globally.

4) Edit efficiently

  • Skim timestamps to jump to tricky spots.
  • Break paragraphs every 2–4 sentences for readability.
  • Collect 2–3 quotes with timestamps for assignments.

5) Export the right way

  • TXT for quick sharing, DOCX for editing, PDF for final hand-in.
  • SRT/WebVTT if you need captions for a presentation video.

Homework use

  • Essays/reports: Use 1–2 short quotes with timestamps to support claims.
  • Projects: Summarize 3 themes across interviews with one quote each.
  • Slides: Add a transcript excerpt to explain a finding.

FAQs

What accuracy can I expect?

With clean audio, expect 95%+—and even higher after a quick pass of edits.

Does it work with multiple speakers?

Yes. Turn on speaker diarization to separate and label speakers automatically.

Common mistakes

  • Using a laptop mic far from the speaker.
  • Picking the wrong language/locale (hurts punctuation/names).
  • Not collecting timestamps with quotes.