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Getting Started with Transcription

This guide covers the essentials of creating transcripts from audio and video files.

What is Transcription?​

Transcription converts spoken audio into written text using speech recognition technology, providing:

  • Timestamped text - Words linked to their position in the audio
  • Speaker identification - Automatic detection and labeling of different speakers (diarization)
  • Editable transcripts - Powerful editor for reviewing and refining
  • Multiple export formats - Various formats for different use cases
  • Collaboration tools - Sharing and review workflows

Basic Workflow​

  1. Upload - Upload media files or record directly
  2. Configure - Select language and transcription options
  3. Process - Automatic speech-to-text conversion
  4. Edit - Review and refine in the transcript editor
  5. Export - Download in your preferred format

Quick Start​

Step 1: Upload Your File​

  1. Click Transcript or Create
  2. Choose your upload method:
    • Drag and drop a file into the upload area
    • Click to browse and select from your computer
    • Record using webcam, microphone, or screen capture
    • OneDrive - Import from Microsoft OneDrive
    • URL - Import from a public media URL

Supported formats:

  • Audio: MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, FLAC, OGG, WMA, AIFF
  • Video: MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM, M4V, 3GP, FLV, WMV, TS

Step 2: Configure Settings​

Language (Required)

  • Select the spoken language from the dropdown
  • Accurate language selection improves results

Diarization (Optional)

  • Enable to automatically identify different speakers
  • Speakers will be labeled as "Speaker 1", "Speaker 2", etc.
  • You can rename speakers in the editor

Additional Options

  • Keep source - Retain uploaded media file
  • Folder - Organize into a specific folder

Step 3: Start Transcription​

  1. Click Upload
  2. Your file enters the processing queue
  3. Monitor progress in the "Workspace" section

Step 4: Review & Edit​

Once processing completes:

  1. Navigate to your completed session

  2. Click to open the transcript editor

  3. The editor displays:

    • Audio/video player
    • Editable transcript text
    • Speaker labels (if diarization was enabled)
    • Timestamps

  4. Edit the transcript:

    • Click any text to edit
    • Click timestamps to jump in audio
    • Rename speakers by clicking their labels
    • Changes auto-save

Step 5: Export​

When ready:

  1. Click Export button
  2. Choose your format:
    • DOCX - Microsoft Word
    • TXT - Plain text
    • PDF - Non-editable document
    • JSON - Structured data
    • CSV - Spreadsheet format
    • HTML - Web format
  3. Configure export options (timestamps, speaker labels, etc.)
  4. Download your transcript

Understanding File Uploads​

File Size Limits​

Upload files up to 40 GB (audio or video).

Note: Depending on your plan, different limits may apply. Contact your administrator if you need to upload larger files.

How Uploads Work​

Scriptix uses smart upload technology:

  • Large files - Automatically broken into smaller chunks and uploaded piece by piece
  • Interrupted uploads - Can resume from where they left off if your connection drops
  • Progress tracking - See real-time progress as your file uploads
  • Reliable delivery - Automatic retries ensure your files arrive safely

Transcription Settings Explained​

Language Selection​

Selecting the correct language is crucial for accuracy.

How to choose:

  • Select the language dropdown during upload
  • Choose the language that matches the spoken audio
  • If you're unsure, check the available languages in the dropdown menu

Tip: The more accurately you select the language, the better your transcription results will be.

Speaker Diarization​

Diarization automatically identifies and separates different speakers in your audio.

How it works:

  1. Enable "diarization" checkbox during upload
  2. The system analyzes voice characteristics
  3. Speakers are labeled sequentially (Speaker 1, Speaker 2, etc.)
  4. You can rename speakers in the editor

When to use:

  • Interviews and conversations
  • Panel discussions
  • Meetings with multiple participants
  • Podcasts with hosts and guests

Best results:

  • Clear audio with distinct voices
  • Minimal speaker overlap
  • Good microphone quality

Document Types​

When creating a session, you specify:

  • document - For standard transcripts
  • caption - For subtitle/caption files

Understanding Processing​

Processing Status​

Track your transcription through these stages:

  1. Uploading - File transfer in progress
  2. Queued - Waiting for processing
  3. Processing - Transcription in progress
  4. Finished - Ready for editing
  5. Failed - Error occurred (check error message)

What to Expect​

Processing Time: Actual processing time varies based on:

  • File duration
  • Audio quality
  • System load
  • Selected options (diarization adds time)

Accuracy: Transcription accuracy depends on:

  • Audio quality (most important factor)
  • Speaker clarity and accent
  • Background noise levels
  • Technical terminology (consider custom models)

Tips for Better Results​

Before Recording​

  1. Use quality equipment - Good microphone improves results significantly
  2. Choose quiet location - Minimize background noise
  3. Test audio levels - Avoid clipping and ensure adequate volume

During Recording​

  1. Speak clearly - Moderate pace with clear enunciation
  2. Reduce crosstalk - Minimize overlapping speech
  3. Control environment - Turn off fans, close windows

After Recording​

  1. Select correct language - Match the spoken language
  2. Enable diarization - For multi-speaker content
  3. Review carefully - Always review and edit transcripts

Common Use Cases​

Interviews & Podcasts​

  • Enable speaker diarization
  • Export as DOCX for editing
  • Use timestamps for show notes

Meetings & Conferences​

  • Diarization for multiple speakers
  • JSON export for data analysis
  • Share via magic links for team review

Video Content​

  • Upload video files directly (audio extracted)
  • Create captions from transcript
  • Export SRT/VTT for video platforms

Academic & Research​

  • High-quality audio recommended
  • Export as DOCX or PDF
  • Use timestamps for citations

Troubleshooting​

Upload Issues​

  • Verify file format is supported
  • Check file size is within limits (40 GB default)
  • Ensure stable internet connection
  • Large files automatically use TUS protocol for resumable uploads

Processing Issues​

  • Check session status for error messages
  • Verify audio quality is adequate
  • Ensure correct language selected

Quality Issues​

  • Improve audio quality at source
  • Enable diarization for multi-speaker
  • Consider custom models for specialized content

See Troubleshooting for comprehensive solutions.

Next Steps​