Microsoft is including an audio transcription feature into Word for the web today. Transcribe in Word will appear in the online version of Word for Microsoft 365 customers, providing a simple way to instantly transcribe audio. Microsoft is supporting existing audio files, or perhaps the ability to tape-record conversations straight within Word for the web and have them immediately transcribed.
That exercises to just 300 minutes a month, which is half the 600 minutes that competitors like Otter.ai deal monthly totally free of charge. Otter also offers a comparable web user interface to tape-record calls, and transcribes in genuine time. In my own screening I discovered that Microsofts Word Transcribe feature catches audio at higher quality than Otter, making it much easier to listen back to particular parts of the transcription that require remedying. Microsoft doesnt compress audio for Transcribe, rather its captured in the WAV format and published straight into a new “Transcribed Files” folder in your own OneDrive storage.
Update August 25th, 12:56 PM ET: Added clarification that the five-hour transcription limit is only for uploaded audio, while taped audio within Word on the internet has no limit.
Its hard to select in between Word and Otter here, but I believe if youre used to operating in Word then this new Transcribe feature makes it quicker to move from an audio file into a file. You can likewise take notes along with your recording, and insert parts of the transcription once its total. The only drawback is that its only presently offered on Word for web, and not on the desktop versions of Word for Windows and macOS. Microsoft seems to be focused on the web and mobile for this particular feature, so its not likely that well see Transcribe appear in routine desktop versions of Word at any time soon.
The transcription works by capturing any audio from your PC, suggesting you can use it to transcribe meetings, calls, or perhaps YouTube videos. Word will likewise catch your own audio from your PCs microphone. Microsoft is truly targeting this at journalists who transcribe interviews, students who tape-record lectures, and anybody else who needs to transcribe meetings and calls easily.
Transcribe in Word will appear in the online version of Word for Microsoft 365 subscribers, supplying a simple way to immediately transcribe audio. Transcribe is introducing at first on Word for the web, with plans to bring the exact same function to the Word for iOS and Android apps later this year. Its difficult to choose in between Word and Otter here, however I believe if youre utilized to working in Word then this brand-new Transcribe feature makes it quicker to move from an audio file into a file. The only downside is that its only currently offered on Word for web, and not on the desktop variations of Word for Windows and macOS.
Transcribe is releasing at first on Word for the web, with plans to bring the very same function to the Word for iOS and Android apps later this year. (For audio recorded within Word on the web, there is no transcription limitation.).
Transcribe in Word.
As soon as a discussion is transcribed, Microsofts AI will separate out each speaker and break the conversation into sections that are easy to play back, modify, and insert into a Word document. Transcribe also supports audio or video that youve captured in other places, with support for up to 200MB of MP3, WAV, M4A, or MP4 files. Processing time will undoubtedly vary significantly if youre submitting separate audio, but Ive been testing the feature for recording conferences and its a matter of seconds for transcription to complete if youve been tape-recording within Word itself.
