Looking for speech to text transcription software

[S.Crow]

I have WAV files of speech in English that I want to transcribe to text.
Looking for recommendations for software that can do this that isn't subscribtion only.
I realise that I will need to tidy up the results manually after the conversion.
Having the ability to batch convert would be useful.

The only software on my radar currently is:
Acoustica Premium 10.5.

[Drew Stephenson]

Have you tried the dictation function in Microsoft Word? It's pretty good these days.

[S.Crow]

Have you tried the dictation function in Microsoft Word? It's pretty good these days.

Thanks a lot as I wasn't aware of that and I have the latest version.
Office 365 is the only software sub that I currently use.

[shufflebeat]

Good Lady Wife uses the StT feature in Google (work suite) to construct her lengthy despotic diatribes.

Seems to work well.

[adrian_k]

Have you tried the dictation function in Microsoft Word? It's pretty good these days.

Thanks a lot as I wasn't aware of that and I have the latest version.
Office 365 is the only software sub that I currently use.

It’s pretty good - it will identify multiple speakers and split the dialogue accordingly, also time stamping if required so it’s easy to go back to the original audio and check dodgy transcription.
You’ll need to do some tidying up but it’s not bad.

[S.Crow]

It’s pretty good - it will identify multiple speakers and split the dialogue accordingly, also time stamping if required so it’s easy to go back to the original audio and check dodgy transcription.
You’ll need to do some tidying up but it’s not bad.

Brilliant, as I was wondering if Word only handled dictation and not transcription too.
I will look to see if the dictation feature works on their Android apps also as that would be good.

Good Lady Wife uses the StT feature in Google (work suite) to construct her lengthy despotic diatribes.

Worth a look provided it's not subscription.

I noticed not so long ago that much of the desktop dictation software is subscription only or very expensive for a permanent license.
I'll need to look at this again.

Thanks all.

[sonics]

I use Google on an Android phone, or the tool in DaVinci Resolve Studio.
I also have a copy of Dragon from a few years ago.

Go Transcribe have a pay-per-hour service.

I'm sure there are many others.

[alexis]

We use Dragon at work. Amazingly effective, IMO

[MOF]

You probably don’t want to hear this from an Apple fan but the dictation microphone function works very well on my iPhone and M1 laptop. Maybe you could borrow an iPhone for a while.
If the audio file is problematic then it’s best to listen on headphones on one device and then speak those words into your transcription device.
I had Dragon software in its early days and it was hard work, the software has improved massively, I presume it has too.

[adrian_k]

Since the OP has an Office 365 already it’s worth trying first, particularly if the recording has multiple speakers. Just upload the wav into the document, tell it how you want it transcribed and set it off.

[S.Crow]

I use Google on an Android phone, or the tool in DaVinci Resolve Studio.

Thanks.
DaVinci Resolve will be one of my first ports of call as I am also looking for a video editor.
I'll need to see if those features are in the free version, as I will start with that and upgrade if required.

When you say that you use Google on Android, is that for dictation, transcription or both?
Which Google apps are you using?

We use Dragon at work. Amazingly effective, IMO

I also have a copy of Dragon from a few years ago.

Thanks Alexis.
Which versions are you both using as the Pro versions start at over £600 it seems?

You probably don’t want to hear this from an Apple fan but the dictation microphone function works very well on my iPhone and M1 laptop. Maybe you could borrow an iPhone for a while.

I've tested Dragon Anywhere on my Android and it works fine but is subscription only.
But there seems to be plenty of free options via Google and MS though.
I do have access to an unused iPhone in the household currently, but it's an iPhone 6 so might not be up too much.
This thread is primarily about transcription though.
I'd only change platform if absolutely necessary and Apple aren't one of my preferred suppliers.
Have been tempted by the Macbooks with Apple Silicon but only if I needed a silent/very quiet but powerful laptop, which I don't currently.

[S.Crow]

Since the OP has an Office 365 already it’s worth trying first, particularly if the recording has multiple speakers. Just upload the wav into the document, tell it how you want it transcribed and set it off.

I certainly will look at it early on.
I might also want to create subtitles from some of the audio as it's from video recordings.
So I will also be looking into how to do that as part of a complete workflow.
Maybe that is more for a video focussed forum, although I'm sure there are plenty of good people here who have knowledge of that, so feel free to chip in.
These are all spoken word recordings at the moment of one person, me.

Thanks for all the input.

[alexis]

Hi, Dragon Pro, provided on the work laptop. I've been considering getting it for personal use as it basically never makes a mistake after "training" it with proper names, etc. Hadn't looked at the price though!

[sonics]

When you say that you use Google on Android, is that for dictation, transcription or both?

I was using simply the built-in voice to text facility from a notepad app. Zoho Notepad or something similar, IIRC. I just put the phone up to a speaker. High tech, eh?!
It was not a big project, obviously.

I also have a copy of Dragon from a few years ago.

I have Dragon Home. I see it's now discontinued. The affordable option is Dragon Mobile (sub.).

The transcription facility is (at least when released in v18.5, IIRC) only available in Resolve Studio, which is why I wrote Studio in my original post. Bit of a clue there...

I've also used Trint (superb, costly) and restream. I bet a few dozen new players have started up since I looked at this market two years ago.

[S.Crow]

Hi, Dragon Pro, provided on the work laptop. I've been considering getting it for personal use as it basically never makes a mistake after "training" it with proper names, etc. Hadn't looked at the price though!

I figured it might be Pro as you use it for work.
They also have a version aimed at the legal sector and possibly other specialised areas.
The legal one probably bills you by the hour.

[S.Crow]

I have Dragon Home. I see it's now discontinued.

The last version seemingly was 15 which you can still buy from 3rd parties such as:
https://blitzhandel24.co.uk/speech-reco ... 1&o=3&n=12

The transcription facility is (at least when released in v18.5, IIRC) only available in Resolve Studio, which is why I wrote Studio in my original post. Bit of a clue there...

Not really! You happen to use Studio but that doesn’t imply anything about the regular version.
Thanks for the info though.