Speech recognition: The best audio files for transcription
There are few things technology won’t make easier for us. Now, you can talk to your phone, computer, and other devices and actions are triggered. This technology is known as speech recognition. It’s replacing typing and clicking increasing user-friendliness and productivity. We aren’t going to mention laziness.
Applications of speech recognition
There are many areas where speech recognition is used. The military, medical field, robotics, impaired person aid, etc.
Device control: Android devices and iPhones have taken it to another level. Siri and ‘OK Google’ are now responsible for firing up systems ready to respond to your command.
Vehicle Bluetooth systems: Most cars now come with Bluetooth systems that connect your radio to your smartphone. Now we simply make calls without touching our phones.
Transcription: Where you have to type so much information, audio transcription comes in handy. There are several smart software capable of transcribing your speech to text and make your work easier.
We’ll take a closer look at audio transcription files.
Choosing the best file for audio transcription
If it’s your first time doing audio transcription, choosing the right file is a daunting task. Compatibility, upload speed, and audio quality are some fears you’ll experience. More so if you don’t have a tech background.
I am not going to blatantly say that the file format doesn’t matter… but, it really doesn’t matter. You’ll discover that most transcription services work with a wide range of audio file formats. So, relax.
However, information is power and knowing some subtle differences between the file formats can improve your transcription process. Here you’ll find the best file formats to use for transcription for quality results.
A look at the different audio file categories will help you get it better.
Uncompressed files (WAV, PCM)
These are audio files that have been captured from soundwaves and no tampering has been done on them. They have the best quality audio the only limited by the microphone quality used. The only caveat is that they use too much storage space. As a result, the uploading speed is too slow.
Lossy files (MP3, AAC, MP4, WMA)
These are the most popular audio files thanks to their small file size and shareability. However, it comes at a cost to the audio quality. In most cases, you really can’t hear the difference in audio quality but if the file is too compressed you’ll hear the artifacts in it. This gives you less information to play with.
Lossless files (AIFF, FLAC)
The output files are smaller in size compared to the uncompressed files but bigger than their lossy counterparts. They maintain the same audio quality with the original files. The caveat is they are the least supported files and you are most likely to run into compatibility issues with them. At times, the headache isn’t worth it.
As long as you have a clear audio file, in most cases, the format doesn’t matter unless it’s not compatible with your device. If there is noise covering the audio in an uncompressed file, it’s no good. If there is total silence, then a lossy MP3 format will do just fine. Still, with an uncompressed format, you can easily clean up the audio. Especially if you are using speech-to-text software.
Generally, the audio file format you choose won’t make or break the quality and accuracy of your transcription if it’s clear.
Convert audio files
If you are looking to easily convert audio file types, check out our skills page over here under “audio files”.