What is the difference between audio transcription software and speech to text software?
A speech to text software allows the user the user to talk into a microphone at their computer and what the users says is then typed out in a text document.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking learns your voice over time, making the speech recognition very accurate, and you give the software grammar commands to end sentences & start new paragraphs. This is called dictation software.
Why use speech to text software?
Speech to text software is very useful for the following reasons:
- You have problems typing and need assistance.
- You’re somebody who does long dictations such as a doctor, lawyer, or academic.
- Speaking is much more natural than typing out what you’re thinking.
- It will save you time.
- Your hands will be free allowing you to multitask while you dictate.
Express Scribe (Check Price on Amazon.com)
What’s transcription software?
Transcription software is different than speech to text software. For example, Express Scribe
Transcription software allows the user the flexibility to customize their transcript. An example of customization is time stamping, or time code transcription. Time stamping is useful because when somebody reads the transcript they’ll know exactly when somebody said something. For example:
At 00:00:01 the speaker introduces themselves,
“00:00:01 Hi, my name is David.”
Then 45 seconds later at 00:00:46 the speaker says,
“00:00:46 I’m talking to you today about transcription software.”
Also, the main difference is dictation software can only recognize one voice at a time. A lot of audio files recorded, for example by video production companies or a university will have multiple speakers. Dragon will not be able to recognize five different speakers at a conference, or even two people for a sit-down interview.
In summary, if you’re a transcriber looking to get started, always purchase transcription software before you try speech to text software. Express Scribe
It’s intuitive and easy to use, it works on both PC & Mac computers, and Express Scribe loads basically all audio & video formats for transcription (MP3, WAV, WMA, MP4, MOV, WMV, etc.) without a problem.
If you’re looking for an alternative to Express Scribe, another great option is FTW Transcriber.
- You can customize your time code & there is an automated time stamps feature.
- Software can convert audio or video types to other formats automatically.
- You can type in an MS Word document as you playback your audio or video file.
- Great customer service.
- They usually respond via email in the same day and will even make changes or additions to the software upon request.
- Very affordable pay as you go price plan.
- You can try the software for $10 for one month, or sign-up for two years at $1/month, or $24 total.
- Sorry, no Mac version available, FTW is Windows only.
Update – 06/14/2021:
- Due to the positive response of this blog article, FTW kindly offered us a discount on their software.
- Click here to receive a 7% Discount when you purchase FTW Transcriber.
2nd Update
A reader of our blog expressed concerns that we didn’t fully answer the question this blog post poses. I’m afraid she is right! Here is a more detailed explanation of Transcription Software vs Text to Speech Software — and a brief description of the more “modern” Text to Speech Online AI Service.
“Hi Elena,
I can give it a shot, it would be a very long article so my apologies for condensing it too much when it was originally written.
Speech to text is when you speak into a microphone and a computer program — like Dragon — analyzes your speech and gives its best effort to then put it onto a text document (like MS word or any format that works on PC/MACs).
I believe Dragon you can now simply place an audio file in the software and it will analyze it, although I could be wrong, I haven’t used it in years.
The automated text services that are offered online do essentially the same thing and will analyze speech. You upload the audio file/speech file. The audio file is now on their server, the audio is processed and analyzed on their end of things. Their “AI” then automatically puts its results onto a Word document that you can edit later and/or while listening to the audio.
A transcription software simply speeds up the process for the typist and is generally the most accurate way to transcribe. So, for example, stenographers have their setups. At Flawless we use a specialized keyboard, foot pedal, and transcription software. The foot pedal allows us not stop the audio recording with our feet so we can continue typing with our hands.
It does get expensive to hire a typist as it can take 3, 4, 5 hours depending on the content to transcribe 1 full hour of audio.
Hope that helps. Thank you!”
If you have any questions please feel to contact us. Take care & happy transcribing!
Hi! I’m just starting out and have started practicing with Express Scribe. I’ve very quickly realized the convenience of a foot pedal. I want to get one as well as a headset, but am at a loss of what will be compatible. I’m currently looking at an Olympus AS-2400 Tanscription Kit,…but how do I determine what is compatible with my Windows laptop & this specific software? Thank you in advance for your help!
Hi Stacy,
I would get this foot pedal: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MY6I7G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002MY6I7G&linkCode=as2&tag=flawlestransc-20&linkId=9b794d69bdec6d13aa774a4542cc1d65
The Infinity foot pedal works with Express Scribe and all PCs to my knowledge. If it doesn’t for some reason, Amazon has a very generous return policy. Any headset will work, it’s a matter of preference. A lot of people like the Wordslinger for transcription: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FGFUNPG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FGFUNPG&linkCode=as2&tag=flawlestransc-20&linkId=bb7ca47f00676aab999a87922736d744
I’m puzzled by the benefits of transcription software. If you still have to do all the typing, what are the benefits? I have literally 50 hours of taped interviews to transcribe for a major project and am clearly in need of the most convenient and accurate means of getting this done. Cost, of course, is an issue. Your counsel is most welcome.
Hi Craig,
Thanks again for reading the article! I responded offline via email.
One more question for you. I have a MacBook Air and per reviews I see there can be some issues with getting enough power to the foot pedal Amazon packages with ExpressScribe. Are you familiar with this problem? Is it common? Should I go a different direction? I really appreciate your willingness to provide answers to my pesky questions.
Hi Craig,
Unfortunately I haven’t heard of this issue with the MacBook Air. Sorry I don’t have any input on this.
I have a similar question regarding transcription much like Craig asked. I am going to interview roughly 30 folks for about 1 – 1.5 hours a piece over the next 45 days. Is there not software that will assist with typing the speech for me, or do I have to transcribe it all manually? Thank you in advance!
Hi David,
You could try using Dragon as others have mentioned, I personally haven’t used it in a while, but I’ve read it’s better at speech detection for multiple voices than it used to be. Dragon could get a rough transcript created and then you go back and edit it yourself. Alternatively you could also hire somebody to assist you in transcription.
The main thing with automated transcription (or even hiring somebody) is you have to make sure the audio quality is near perfect. If it’s muffled or the people are not mic’d up then any sort of automated transcription would be sub-par.
Hope that helps!
I am sorry but I do not understand the difference-you explained what transcription software is, to some degree, but failed to explain at all what speech to text is-so therefore I do not understand the difference. Also, clearly, just like everyone else, I have same question- if the software itself does not really transcribe what you say but you have to type when listening to the recording (like you have stated), then why is it called transcription software? And again what does the speech to text software do differently? I am a doctor and being able to record all details of my notes but having the majority of them typed out automatically would be a great help. I can go back and edit whatever the software did not get perfectly-but I wouldn’t worry about paying for a software if I have to re-listen to everything. Might as well have a person type. But that gets very expensive very fast. Thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge and for your willingness to explain this in more detail because clearly you have researched this and you can help a lot of us.
Hi Elena,
I can give it a shot, it would be a very long article so my apologies for condensing it too much when it was originally written.
Speech to text is when you speak into a microphone and a computer program — like Dragon — analyzes your speech and gives its best effort to then put it onto a text document (like MS word or any format that works on PC/MACs).
I believe Dragon you can now simply place an audio file in the software and it will analyze it, although I could be wrong, I haven’t used it in years.
The automated text services that are offered online do essentially the same thing and will analyze speech. You upload the audio file/speech file. The audio file is now on their server, the audio is processed and analyzed on their end of things. Their “AI” then automatically puts its results onto a Word document that you can edit later and/or while listening to the audio.
A transcription software simply speeds up the process for the typist and is generally the most accurate way to transcribe. So, for example, stenographers have their setups. At Flawless we use a specialized keyboard, foot pedal, and transcription software. The foot pedal allows us not stop the audio recording with our feet so we can continue typing with our hands.
It does get expensive to hire a typist as it can take 3, 4, 5 hours depending on the content to transcribe 1 full hour of audio.
Hope that helps. Thank you!
I’m puzzled by the benefits of transcription software. I have around 30 hours of taped interviews to transcribe for a major project and am clearly in need of the most convenient and accurate means of getting this done. Cost, of course, is an issue. Your counsel is most welcome.
Hi Aharon! We responded to you offline. Hope your had good luck with your project! Thanks and take care.