How to Transcribe Your Podcast [2021]

Podcast transcripts are a word-for-word manuscript of your podcast that has several benefits. Audio transcriptions:

• make your content more accessible to listeners who are hard of hearing.
• boost SEO so search engines like Google can find your content.
• can heighten listener engagement, and
• make it easy for listeners to share quotes to social media.

Follow this step-by-step guide to learn the tools you can use to transcribe your own podcast!

Option #1: Paid service (hire somebody)

Human transcribers can create the most accurate transcripts.

Human transcription is more expensive, typically costing over a dollar a minute.

The turnaround time for human transcription is also longer, ranging from six hours to a full day.

This transcription has the highest accuracy, typically reaching over 99%.

The best human-transcription options are:

• Rev ($1.25/min and 99% accuracy),
• GoTranscript ($0.86/min and 99%+ accuracy), or
• hiring a freelance transcriber from Upwork ($10-$100; accuracy varies).

Option #2: Automated transcription service

Automated podcast transcription services take your audio file and quickly generate a full manuscript.

This method costs less than human transcription ranging from free to around $0.25/minute.

Automated transcripts have a quick turnaround time; podcasters usually get their finished file back within an hour or two.

Transcription software has lower accuracy, usually ranging from 80% to 95%.

The best automatic transcription services are:

• Otter.ai
• Temi
• Rev
• Sonix.ai
• Descript
• Scribie
• Trint

Tip: Use this method only if you have high-quality audio; too much background noise can render an inaccurate transcript.

Option #3: Do it yourself

Transcribing your own audio files gives you complete control over the accuracy of your transcription.

This method is free and costs only your time.

But, DIY transcription is time-consuming and generally requires two to five times the length of your podcast episode.

While there aren't any tools to help you transcribe your podcast yourself, you can use the slow-down feature in your podcast player to make it easier.

Buzzsprout's Transcription Toolset

If you host your podcast with Buzzsprout, you can attach a transcript to your episodes within your dashboard using our transcription toolset.

One tool we have built is Cohost AI. Starting at just $10 per month, Cohost AI will transcribe your episode as well as give you title suggestions, draft an episode description, define chapters, and write social media posts.

You can also use other transcription tools to transcribe your content:

• Otter.ai or Temi integrations
• Upload audio in SRT file format
• Write them yourself.

Once you have a finished file, Buzzsprout includes a link in your RSS feed for apps like Podcast Addict and Podfriend.

Your transcripts also appear on your public Buzzsprout website under the Transcripts tab.

You can put a link to your website from your episode description show notes so listeners can visit your site via podcast players!

But don't copy and paste your transcription into your episode description, as it can slow down the podcast app.

You can also repurpose your transcripts in blog-style on your personal website.

Podcast transcription guide & best practices

Keep these things in mind when you create (or edit) your transcriptions.

Review for accuracy

Whichever method you use to transcribe your podcasting content, it's a good idea to do a quick read-through; chances are you'll need to make a few edits before you hit publish.

Write in sound effects

Automated transcription services won't add sound effects. You can go through your content to add things like "outro music" or "sound of people walking on the street" to make your transcript more engaging.

Use names of speakers + timestamps

Make sure it's clear who is speaking when. It's also helpful to add a timestamp next to each speaker (ex: Travis: 0:30).