Popular audio-to-text translation services

Working with text is part of marketing. Often work tasks are solved on the go, so many simply dictate recordings by voice. In the future, they need to be transcribed for further work. That’s why technologies that translate audio into text are popular. They allow you not to waste time and effort on manual transcription, but automate the process by simplifying it. Let’s look into the topic in more detail, find out which tools are better to use. 

Speech recognition or Speech-to-Text

The transcription of audio into text is based on machine learning technologies and neural networks. Their function is to analyze digitized sound waves and further transform them into text. If a couple of decades ago the technology was far from perfect, it could function under ideal conditions, but it still failed. Today the situation has changed dramatically. 

Modern tools not only recognize quiet speech in a noisy room. Even the accent of the interlocutor is not a hindrance for them. Impressive progress in just 20 years has allowed us to advance the very idea of transcription several levels higher, and made it possible to use it everywhere. The meaning and clarity of what has been said are preserved, and a high level of confidentiality is ensured. 

Pros and cons of STT integration

The technology has already shown itself on the positive side, for example:

• speeding up the transcription process; 
• high translation accuracy; 
• automatic translation without human intervention; 
• reducing the cost of the process.

In addition to the advantages, the technologies have disadvantages:

• low level of security (not all services guarantee data protection); 
• the presence of translation errors; 
• the cost of some services is high.

Which services should I use for translation

There are various speech-to-text translation services. Designed for professional, home use, paid, subscription, free. Let’s analyze the most common:

1. Sonix. The service is able to efficiently translate audio into text, automatically detecting the speaker’s language.There is a built-in editor, integration with Zoom to automate the work. There are paid and free features. 
2. Rev. The tool has been used by large companies for a long time. Inside the service, you can create a dictionary with specific terms so that the transcription is better, as well as use the services of a human transcriber. 
3. Riverside. This service has the ability to edit the transcription text, which is synchronized with the video sequence. Podcast creators and video bloggers will especially appreciate Riverside. There is also an editor that will help to remove noise, blots, and reservations. 
4. Whisper from OpenAI. The tool can work locally, knows and recognizes many languages. It is considered one of the most versatile. Provides a high level of adaptability and data security. It has some difficulties with installation. 
5. Gladia. It offers a good free package, is able to automatically recognize the language, assign the roles of speakers. In the algorithm of its work, it uses the Whisper-Zero module, which eliminates some errors of the previous Whisper.

Of course, these are not all options. There are others, such as RealSpeaker with paid transcription, translation errors, Speechpad – a notepad for voice input or Speechtotext, which so far only works with Russian. Developers are now offering many solutions for translating speech into text. You only need to choose. 

Which transcriber should I choose

The choice may seem really difficult. There are many offers on the market, reviews of them vary. What suits one person may not match the needs of the other at all. We recommend that you follow the following features when choosing:

• available languages; 
• the cost and features of the tariff; 
• scope of work; 
• desired translation accuracy; 
• Scope of application; 
• the level of confidentiality.

The quality of audio or video digitization differs from service to service. Some people do not need high accuracy, but for others it is fundamental. Draw conclusions based on the recommendations given, carefully study the functionality of the devices. All this will increase your chances of choosing a better tool. 

In what areas is speech recognition technology used?

Speech recognition technology has long been used in various business areas to solve the following tasks:

• voice menu; 
• opinion polls, research; 
• analysis of the work of telephone managers; 
• automation of CRM filling; 
• formation of personal offers.

In various services, the technology is used daily, for example in maps, navigator, voice assistants, Smart Home systems, notes, messengers. This is a very useful technology for businessmen and other specialists, which simplifies work and reduces its cost. 

Conclusion

Voice-to-text technology simplifies everyday tasks and helps to develop many professional fields. Before you start using audio-to-text translation, you need to select the appropriate tool. If you succeed, you will be able to increase sales, improve the quality of service, make your brand recognizable, and win over customers.