Podcast Transcripts

What is a transcript? 

Basic transcripts are a text version of the speech and non-speech audio information needed to understand the content of an audio recording. Transcripts provide valuable information about the context of an audio recording, who is speaking, and the correct spelling of certain unfamiliar words that may be in the recording itself.

Transcripts also allow search engines to "hear" the content of the podcast by reading the transcript document. This makes it easier for your podcast to be found in search engines.

 

How do I write a transcript? 

Upload your audio file to Panopto, where Panopto will auto-transcribe it. NOTE: This transcript will need to be reviewed, and potentially edited, for clarity. Having Panopto auto-transcribe your podcast is one of the fastest ways to built a transcript. 

How to upload an audio file: 

 

How to download your automated transcript:

  1. Upload your .txt file to Notepad++
    • Select "File"
    • Select "Open"
    • Select the .txt file you want to upload 
  2. Remove all empty/blank lines 
    • Select "Edit" in the top menu
    • Select "Line Operations
    • Select "Remove Empty Lines"
    • Screenshot of a Notepad++ project. Edit, line operationjs, and remove empty lines is selected.
  3. Remove the line markers. 
    • Delete the "1" and move your first timestamp to the first line.  
    • Select "CTRL+H". This will open the "Replace" panel and will let us edit the entire document at one time. 
    • In the "Find what" panel, insert this: (?:[^\r\n]+\R){2}\K[^\r\n]+(?:\R|\z)
    • Leave the "Replace with" blank. 
    • Check "Wrap around"
    • Check "Regular expression
    • Select "Replace All
    • Screeshot of a Replace panel in Notepad++.
  4. Remove the time-stamps.
    • Select "CTRL+H". This will open the "Replace" panel and will let us edit the entire document at one time. 
    • In the "Find what" panel, insert this: .+\r\n(.+(\r\n|$))
    • In the "Replace with" panel, insert this: $1
    • Check "Wrap around"
    • Check "Regular expression
    • Select "Replace All
    • Screeshot of a Replace panel in Notepad++.
  5. Put all the information on one line. 
    • Select "CTRL+H". This will open the "Replace" panel and will let us edit the entire document at one time. 
    • In the "Find what" panel, insert this: (\h*\R)+
    • In the "Replace with" panel, insert this: \x20
    • Check "Wrap around"
    • Check "Regular expression
    • Select "Replace All
    • Screeshot of a Replace panel in Notepad++.
  6. Copy and Paste this line of text into a Word Document or other word processing software. 

Be aware: auto-transcription tools are nice, but they aren't perfect!

Transcripts should be formatted in a way that is easy for someone to read without any audio. Be sure to make sure the information is spelled correctly and that different speakers are identified

Before Editing:

Screenshot of the unedited transcript in a Word Document. The transcript is unstructured and is a long wall of text.

This unedited transcript has:

  • No speaker identifiers 
  • Misspelled words and phrases 
  • Difficult to understand sentence structure

After Editing: 

Screenshot of the edited transcript. The transcript has a title, a logo, is structured, and has identified the different speakers.

This edited transcript has: 

  • Speaker identifiers 
  • Correct spelling 
  • Easy to understand sentence structure 

For examples of excellent UADA podcast transcripts, check out the Grown Up "U" Podcast and the Beekeeping Basics Podcast

 

Additional Resources

Transcribing Audio to Text - W3C

Transcripts on the Web: Getting People to your Podcasts and Videos - uiAccess

How to Write a Transcript for Audio or Video: Transcription Writing Best Practices - Rev

 

Still Need Help? 

Let us know! We are happy to help you make your content more accessible. 

Please contact accessibility@uada.edu

 

Head back to video accessibility page