oTranscribe Tutorial: How to Use FREE Transcription Software and Voice to Text to Transcribe Audio

Jennifer Marie
25 Nov 202019:31

TLDRIn this tutorial, Jennifer Marie VO introduces oTranscribe, a free web app designed to streamline the transcription process. The video covers four main steps: using oTranscribe to transcribe audio or video files, enhancing the transcription with a voice-to-text extension, editing the transcript with Grammarly for grammar and punctuation, and finally, removing formatting in a text editor before pasting into a transcription platform. Jennifer also highlights the importance of stripping formatting to avoid issues when uploading to platforms, and suggests using Notepad or Notepad++ if additional text editing is needed. The tutorial aims to make transcription faster and less tedious, particularly for those working from home or as freelancers.

Takeaways

  • πŸ“š Use oTranscribe, a free web app, to transcribe audio or video files more efficiently without switching between applications.
  • πŸ”— If you need to download audio files, there's a tutorial available to help with that, and another one to reduce background noise and improve audio quality.
  • ⚠️ Be aware that not all transcription platforms approve of downloading files, so use these methods at your own discretion.
  • 🌐 oTranscribe is available in multiple languages and does not require signing up, making it quick and easy to start transcribing.
  • πŸŽ“ For non-English languages, there's a voice typing extension that can help speed up transcription and reduce the risk of carpal tunnel.
  • ⌨️ Customize keyboard shortcuts in oTranscribe for play, pause, skip back, skip forward, and adding timestamps to suit your preferences.
  • πŸ“ˆ Adjust the playback speed of your audio or video file during transcription to suit your typing speed.
  • πŸ“ Edit and proofread your transcript using a free grammar and punctuation checker like Grammarly to ensure accuracy.
  • πŸ“‹ Before pasting your transcript into another platform, use a plain text editor like Notepad to strip all formatting to avoid issues.
  • πŸ”„ Copy and paste your transcript into your web browser's address bar or a text editor to remove formatting before transferring it to a transcription platform.
  • πŸ“ˆ oTranscribe also supports transcribing directly from YouTube video URLs, which can be handy for creating subtitles or transcripts for video content.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of Jennifer's channel, Jennifer Marie VO?

    -Jennifer Marie VO's channel focuses on teaching different ways to make money online, with a significant emphasis on working as a transcriptionist from home.

  • How does Jennifer suggest making the transcription process more efficient?

    -Jennifer suggests using free transcription software and tools, such as oTranscribe, to streamline the transcription process without having to constantly switch between the audio player and text editor.

  • What is oTranscribe and how can it be accessed?

    -oTranscribe is a free web app designed to help transcribe audio or video files more efficiently. It can be accessed by opening it in a web browser without the need for signing up.

  • Can oTranscribe be used to transcribe YouTube videos?

    -Yes, oTranscribe can be used to transcribe YouTube videos by entering the video's URL into the app.

  • What is the importance of using a grammar and punctuation checker like Grammarly?

    -Grammarly is used to edit and proofread the transcript to ensure it is free from punctuation and grammatical errors, enhancing the quality of the transcription.

  • How can one avoid formatting issues when copying and pasting into a transcription platform?

    -To avoid formatting issues, one should strip the formatting by pasting the text into a simple text editor like Notepad or the browser's address bar before copying and pasting it into the transcription platform.

  • What is the recommended file format for downloading the transcript from oTranscribe?

    -Jennifer recommends downloading the transcript as a plain text file for easier editing later on.

  • How does the voice and voice typing extension help in the transcription process?

    -The voice and voice typing extension allows users to speak the content they hear in the audio or video file, which is then automatically transcribed, saving time and reducing the need for manual typing.

  • What is the potential downside of downloading audio or video files for transcription?

    -Not all transcription platforms approve of downloading audio or video files, so users must use this method at their own discretion to avoid potential issues with the platforms' policies.

  • How can one change the keyboard shortcuts in oTranscribe?

    -Users can change the keyboard shortcuts in oTranscribe by clicking on the gear icon to access settings and then selecting or inputting the desired shortcut keys.

  • What is the role of Notepad or Notepad++ in the transcription process?

    -Notepad or Notepad++ is used as a free text editor to remove formatting from the transcribed text before it is copied and pasted into a transcription platform or other document.

  • How can a user ensure their transcript is ready for submission to a client or platform?

    -After transcribing and editing the text with Grammarly, users should remove all formatting using a text editor and then copy and paste the plain text into the desired document or transcription platform for submission.

Outlines

00:00

πŸ˜€ Introduction to Online Transcription and oTranscribe

Jennifer Marie introduces her channel focusing on online money-making methods, specifically transcription work. She discusses the challenges of transcribing and introduces oTranscribe, a free web app that streamlines the transcription process without the need to switch between an audio player and text editor. She also mentions the importance of downloading files ethically and provides resources for downloading audio and improving audio quality.

05:01

🎧 Using oTranscribe for Transcription and Keyboard Shortcuts

Jennifer demonstrates how to use oTranscribe, highlighting its privacy and security features. She explains how to play and pause the audio, navigate the transcript, and adjust the speed. The video also covers how to change keyboard shortcuts and use text formatting options like bold and italics, as well as how to add timestamps. Jennifer also discusses exporting the transcribed file in various formats and emphasizes the importance of downloading as plain text for easier editing.

10:01

πŸ“’ Voice Typing Extension and Automated Transcription

The presenter shows how to transcribe using oTranscribe with a voice typing extension for Chrome, which allows for hands-free transcription. She guides viewers through installing the extension, granting microphone access, and selecting the dictation language. Jennifer then uses the extension to transcribe a portion of a video, noting that while it's not perfect, it can save time, especially for those who dislike typing or have typing-related fatigue.

15:03

βœ… Editing and Proofreading with Grammarly and Stripping Formatting

Jennifer outlines the process of editing and proofreading the transcribed text using Grammarly, a free grammar and punctuation checker. She emphasizes using the free version for most users and only upgrading for those who transcribe extensively. The final step involves removing formatting to prepare the transcript for pasting into a transcription platform. She explains how to strip formatting by pasting into a browser's address bar or a simple text editor like Notepad to ensure compatibility and avoid formatting issues.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Transcriptionist

A transcriptionist is a professional who converts spoken language into written form. In the context of the video, Jennifer emphasizes the role of a transcriptionist in working from home, often for companies or as a freelancer, which is a key theme of the video as it aims to educate viewers on how to transcribe audio files more efficiently.

πŸ’‘oTranscribe

oTranscribe is a free web application designed to facilitate the transcription process by allowing users to listen to audio and video files while typing out their transcriptions without the need to constantly switch between the media player and text editor. It is highlighted in the video as a core tool for making the transcription process faster and more streamlined.

πŸ’‘Voice to Text

Voice to text is a technology that converts spoken language into written text. Jennifer introduces a voice typing extension that works with oTranscribe to transcribe audio by speaking the words heard in the media file, which is a significant part of the tutorial as it demonstrates an alternative to manual typing for transcription.

πŸ’‘Freelance

Freelancing refers to the act of working for multiple clients or companies, but not being committed to a particular employer long-term. In the video, Jennifer mentions that some people work as freelance transcriptionists, finding clients on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, which illustrates the flexibility and independence associated with transcription work.

πŸ’‘Transcription Platform

A transcription platform is an online service or software that provides tools for transcribing audio or video files. Jennifer cautions viewers that not all transcription platforms approve of downloading media files for transcription, which underscores the importance of adhering to platform policies when using their services.

πŸ’‘Grammarly

Grammarly is a writing assistant tool that checks for grammatical errors and suggests corrections. In the video, Jennifer uses Grammarly to edit and proofread the transcribed text, emphasizing its utility in ensuring the quality of transcriptions, especially for those who are not native English speakers or typists.

πŸ’‘Formatting

Formatting in the context of the video refers to the arrangement and layout of text, such as font styles, sizes, and paragraph structures. Jennifer explains the importance of removing formatting when transferring text to a transcription platform to avoid issues with the platform's text editor, which is a crucial step in the transcription process.

πŸ’‘YouTube Video

A YouTube video, as mentioned in the video, can be transcribed using oTranscribe by entering the video's URL. This expands the scope of the tutorial beyond just audio files, showing viewers how to transcribe video content, which is a common type of media that transcriptionists might work with.

πŸ’‘Text Editor

A text editor is a program used for editing plain text files. Jennifer demonstrates how to use a text editor, specifically Notepad, to strip formatting from a transcribed text before pasting it into a transcription platform. This step is essential for maintaining the integrity of the text's formatting on the platform.

πŸ’‘Notepad

Notepad is a basic text editor included with most Windows operating systems. It is used in the video to demonstrate how to remove formatting from a transcribed text by pasting the text into Notepad and then copying it back out, which ensures that the text is clean and ready for use on a transcription platform.

πŸ’‘Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are key combinations on a computer keyboard that perform a specific function. In the video, Jennifer explains various keyboard shortcuts available in oTranscribe for controlling playback and navigation within the transcription software, which helps to increase efficiency during the transcription process.

Highlights

Jennifer Marie VO offers a tutorial on making money online as a transcriptionist.

Transcribing can be tedious and tiring, especially for those who are not fast typists.

oTranscribe is a free web app that streamlines the transcription process without the need to switch between applications.

oTranscribe is available in multiple languages and does not require signing up to use.

Voice and Voice Typing extension can be used with oTranscribe to transcribe audio faster by speaking the text instead of typing.

Grammarly can be used to proofread and edit the transcribed text for grammar and punctuation errors.

Formatting should be removed before pasting the transcript into a transcription platform to avoid issues.

Transcription platforms may not approve of downloading audio or video files, so use the method at your own discretion.

oTranscribe allows for customization of keyboard shortcuts for playback control.

Transcripts can be exported from oTranscribe in various formats including .md, .txt, .otr, or sent to Google Drive.

YouTube video URLs can be transcribed directly in oTranscribe without downloading the video.

The voice typing extension can transcribe spoken words into text, reducing manual typing.

It's important to manually review and correct the transcribed text after using the voice typing extension.

Notepad can be used to strip formatting from text before pasting it into a transcription platform.

Notepad++ is a free alternative to Notepad for more advanced text editing features.

Subscribers to Jennifer Marie VO can expect more tutorials on making money online and improving transcription skills.

Sparkle English channel is recommended for improving English language skills to facilitate easier transcription work.