[HOW TO] Transcribe Audio Files using IBM's Watson Speech to Text Service

David Mbugua
24 Oct 201606:58

TLDRThis tutorial introduces IBM's Watson Speech to Text service, which uses machine intelligence to transcribe audio files into text. The service supports multiple languages and can transcribe live audio or uploaded files. It's beneficial for transcribers to increase productivity by reducing manual transcription time. The first 1,000 minutes per month are free, and additional minutes are charged at $0.02 each, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses and individuals.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 Watson Speech to Text is a service that uses machine intelligence to transcribe audio files into text.
  • 🌐 It supports multiple languages, including Arabic, English, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, and Mandarin.
  • 🎤 The service can transcribe live speech from a microphone as well as pre-recorded audio files.
  • 📄 For pre-recorded audio, users can upload WAV, FLAC, or OPUS files.
  • 📑 Transcription can be useful for creating documents from Skype calls or other recorded conversations.
  • 🔍 Background noise, crosstalk, and heavy accents can affect the quality of the transcription.
  • ⏱️ The service works on the fly, even before the voice is heard, showcasing machine learning capabilities.
  • 📈 It can be a valuable tool for transcribers to increase productivity and income by handling large volumes of audio files.
  • 📊 The service provides word alternatives and their probabilities, aiding in accurate transcription.
  • 💰 The first 1,000 minutes per month are free, and additional minutes are charged at a very low rate of $0.02 per minute.
  • 🔗 Links to the demo, main page, and pricing structure of IBM Watson Speech to Text are provided in the video description.
  • 📈 For a transcriber working 60 minutes per day, five days a week, the free tier offers enough minutes to cover a month's transcription needs.

Q & A

  • What is the purpose of the tutorial presented in the video?

    -The purpose of the tutorial is to demonstrate how to transcribe audio files using IBM's Watson Speech to Text service.

  • Who is presenting the tutorial?

    -David from freelancerinsights.com is presenting the tutorial.

  • What does IBM's Watson Speech to Text service do?

    -IBM's Watson Speech to Text service uses machine intelligence to convert speech from various languages into text, providing an accurate transcript.

  • Which languages does the Watson Speech to Text service support for transcription?

    -The service supports transcription of Arabic, English, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, and Mandarin speech.

  • Can the service transcribe audio files directly from a microphone?

    -Yes, the service can transcribe audio files directly from a microphone in real-time.

  • What file formats are accepted for uploading pre-recorded audio files?

    -The accepted file formats for uploading pre-recorded audio files are WAV, FLAC, and OPUS.

  • How does the service handle background noise, crosstalk, and heavy accents?

    -Background noise, crosstalk, and heavy accents can influence the quality of the transcripts, but the service is designed to handle these challenges.

  • How does the service work with machine learning?

    -The service uses machine learning to learn the structure of the language in the audio and generate transcripts in advance.

  • What is the benefit of using this service for a transcriber?

    -The service can help a transcriber to transcribe more audio files in less time, allowing them to earn more money by proofing, editing, and making grammatical corrections.

  • How does the service handle word alternatives?

    -The service selects the word with the highest probability of being correct and provides a percentage to indicate its confidence in the choice.

  • What is the cost of using IBM's Watson Speech to Text service?

    -The first 1,000 minutes per month are free. For any additional minutes, it costs $0.02 per minute.

  • Is there a premium service or add-on available for the Watson Speech to Text service?

    -Yes, there is a premium service and a telephony add-on service available.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to IBM Watson Speech to Text

David from freelancerinsights.com introduces the tutorial on using IBM's Watson Speech to Text service. He emphasizes the growing role of automation and AI in various fields and outlines how Watson Speech to Text uses machine intelligence to transcribe audio files accurately. The service supports multiple languages and can transcribe live speech or pre-recorded audio files in formats like WAV, FLAC, and OPUS. David also discusses the impact of background noise and accents on transcription quality and demonstrates the process using an American English audio file. He highlights the service's ability to learn and predict language structures for improved transcription.

05:00

🚀 Benefits and Pricing of IBM Watson Speech to Text

The second paragraph delves into the potential benefits of using IBM's Watson Speech to Text for transcriptionists. David suggests that the service can increase productivity and income by handling the initial transcription, allowing transcribers to focus on proofing and editing. He appreciates the service's real-time capabilities and its word probability feature, which chooses the most likely word from alternatives. David also discusses the service's pricing, noting that the first 1,000 minutes per month are free, and any additional minutes are charged at a rate of $0.02 per minute. He encourages viewers to try the service and provides links in the video description for further exploration.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Transcribe

Transcribe refers to the process of converting spoken language into written text. In the context of the video, it is the main function of IBM's Watson Speech to Text service, which is demonstrated to convert audio files into text documents. The script mentions, 'In this video I will show you how to transcribe audio files using IBM's Watson Speech to Text, service.'

💡IBM Watson Speech to Text

IBM Watson Speech to Text is a service provided by IBM that uses machine learning and speech recognition to convert spoken language into written text. The video tutorial is centered around this service, showcasing its capabilities and how it can be utilized to transcribe various languages, as mentioned in the script: '...using IBM's Watson Speech to Text, service.'

💡Machine Intelligence

Machine intelligence is the ability of a machine or software to simulate or mimic human intelligence. In the script, it is described as being used by IBM's service to 'combine information about grammar and language structure with knowledge of the composition of an audio signal to generate an accurate transcript.'

💡Speech Recognition

Speech recognition is the ability of a system to recognize and understand spoken language. The script highlights this capability when it states, 'the speech to text service uses speech recognition capabilities to convert Arabic, English, Spanish, French, Brazilian, Portuguese, Japanese, and Mandarin speech into text.'

💡Audio File

An audio file is a digital file that contains audio data. The video script discusses the process of uploading and transcribing audio files, mentioning that users can upload 'a WAV file, a FLAC file, or the OPUS file' to the service.

💡Transcription

Transcription is the act of writing down spoken language. The video script explains that the service can be used to transcribe audio files and even live audio from a microphone, as indicated by '...transcribe audio files directly from your microphone like what I'm recording right now.'

💡Machine Learning

Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that enables machines to learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. The script describes how IBM's service uses machine learning to 'learn the audio, the structure, of the language in the audio, and do this work in advance.'

💡Accuracy

Accuracy in the context of the video refers to the correctness and precision of the transcribed text produced by the service. The script emphasizes the service's ability to generate 'an accurate transcript' by using machine intelligence.

💡Language Structure

Language structure refers to the arrangement and organization of language elements such as grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. The script mentions that the service uses knowledge of 'grammar and language structure' to improve the accuracy of transcriptions.

💡Automation

Automation is the use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention. The video discusses how automation, including IBM's Watson Speech to Text service, can help transcribers 'do more work and making more money from their end' by speeding up the transcription process.

💡Telephony Add-on

A telephony add-on refers to additional features or services related to telephone communication. The script briefly mentions a 'telephony add-on service' as part of IBM's offerings, although it does not elaborate on the specifics within the provided transcript.

Highlights

Introduction to IBM's Watson Speech to Text service by David from freelancerinsights.com.

Automation, BOTs, AI, and machines are increasingly replacing human tasks.

Watson Speech to Text uses machine intelligence to generate accurate transcripts.

Service supports speech recognition in multiple languages including Arabic, English, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, and Mandarin.

Transcribe audio files directly from the microphone or upload pre-recorded files in WAV, FLAC, or OPUS formats.

For Skype recordings, use the Record Audio feature to transcribe conversations.

Factors like background noise, crosstalk, and heavy accents can affect transcript quality.

IBM's machine intelligence converts audio into text, even before the voice is heard.

The service uses machine learning to understand the audio and language structure in advance.

Transcribers can use the service to increase productivity and earnings by transcribing more files.

The service provides word alternatives and the probability of the correct word usage.

The service is described as phenomenal, offering a high level of accuracy and efficiency.

IBM's Watson Speech to Text service is available for free up to the first 1,000 minutes per month.

For additional minutes, the service costs $0.02 per minute.

There is also a premium service and a telephony add-on service available.

The tutorial encourages viewers to subscribe for more updates and to test the service.

Links to the demo, main page, and pricing structure of IBM's Watson Speech to Text are provided in the video description.