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Navigate by Timestamps

Timestamps link every word to its exact position in the audio, making it easy to jump around and verify content.

What Are Timestamps?​

Timestamps show the exact time where words and speakers appear:

[00:00:15] Speaker 1
This is what they said at 15 seconds into the audio.

[00:02:30] Speaker 2
This speaker starts at 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

The format is simple: [Hours:Minutes:Seconds]

How Timestamps Help You​

  • Jump to any point - Click a word to hear what was actually said
  • Verify accuracy - Listen before you make changes
  • Follow along - Watch words highlight as the audio plays
  • Find sections - Navigate quickly through long recordings
  • Fix mistakes - Hear context to make better corrections

Click Any Word​

  1. Click any word in the transcript
  2. The audio jumps to that exact moment
  3. A menu appears for additional options
  4. Listen to verify what was said

Use this when:

  • You're not sure if a word is correct
  • You need to hear the context
  • You want to verify a specific detail
  • You're checking speaker changes

Click Timestamps​

Click the timestamp at the start of each speaker's section:

[00:00:15] Speaker 1  ← Click here

This jumps to when that speaker starts talking.

Use this when:

  • Reviewing each speaker's parts
  • Jumping between speakers
  • Going section by section through the transcript

Follow Along While Listening​

  • Words change color as they're spoken
  • The transcript scrolls automatically
  • Current word appears in blue
  • Past words turn black
  • Future words stay gray

Use this when:

  • Reviewing the whole transcript
  • Catching errors in real-time
  • Understanding tone and emphasis
  • Getting familiar with the content

Jump to Current Word Button​

When you scroll away while audio is playing, a button appears at the bottom:

"Jump to current word..."

Click it to instantly return to where the audio is playing. The transcript scrolls back to the current word and continues following along.

Media Player Controls​

Progress Bar​

The bar below the video/audio shows:

  • Current playback position
  • Total duration
  • Click anywhere to jump to that time

Time Display​

Shows current time and total length:

  • 5:23 / 45:12 means you're at 5 minutes 23 seconds of a 45 minute 12 second file

Timecode Button​

Click the Timecode button to:

  • Jump to a specific time
  • Set a starting offset if your transcript doesn't begin at 00:00:00
  • Enter hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds

Audio Waveform​

The visual waveform (if available) shows your audio:

  • Tall peaks - Loud sections (active speech)
  • Short peaks - Quiet sections (pauses, silence)
  • Moving line - Current playback position

Click anywhere on the waveform to jump to that point.

Keyboard Shortcuts​

Speed up navigation with these shortcuts:

Playback​

  • Play/Pause: F8, F5, or Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac)
  • Rewind 5 seconds: Left Arrow
  • Forward 5 seconds: Right Arrow

Speed​

  • Speed up: Ctrl+Plus (Cmd+Plus on Mac)
  • Slow down: Ctrl+Minus (Cmd+Minus on Mac)

Word Highlighting Colors​

Understanding the color coding:

  • Blue (#0a8df8) - Currently playing word
  • Black - Already played
  • Gray - Not yet played
  • Yellow background - Word you've marked/flagged
  • Beige - Search match
  • Gray background - Word within a comment

Tips for Efficient Editing​

Listen First, Edit Second​

Always click a word and listen before changing it. You might be surprised what was actually said!

Follow Along During Review​

Play the audio and read along. Errors jump out when you see and hear them together.

Use Timestamps for Context​

Don't guess at unclear words - click and listen. Context makes corrections easier.

Section-by-Section Review​

Click the first timestamp, listen to that section, make corrections, then click the next timestamp. Systematic and thorough.

Jump to Problem Areas​

Skim the transcript, note sections that look wrong, then use timestamps to quickly jump to each one and fix it.

Common Timestamp Features​

Auto-Scroll​

When audio plays, the transcript automatically scrolls to keep the current word visible. If you scroll away manually, use the "Jump to current word" button to re-enable it.

Search with Timestamps​

When you search for words:

  • Matches highlight in the transcript
  • Click any match to jump to that timestamp
  • Hear each match in context

Comments with Timestamps​

Comments are linked to specific words and their timestamps. Click a comment to jump to that section of the transcript.

Export with Timestamps​

When you export, you can choose whether to include timestamps or not, depending on what you need.

Best Practices​

For Accurate Editing:

  • Always verify unclear words by clicking them
  • Listen to context around the word, not just the word itself
  • Use slower playback speed (Ctrl+Minus) for difficult sections

For Efficient Review:

  • Follow along during first playthrough to spot obvious errors
  • Use section-by-section review for thorough checking
  • Mark questionable words as you go, fix them all at the end

For Collaboration:

  • Reference timestamps in comments: "Check [00:05:23]"
  • Note time ranges for issues: "Poor audio from [00:10:00] to [00:12:30]"
  • Help reviewers find specific sections quickly

Understanding Timestamp Accuracy​

Timestamps are accurate to fractions of a second. Clear speech provides better timing, while fast or mumbled speech may be less precise. Timestamps always get you to the right area to verify what was said.

Next Steps​