These days there are many transcription and subtitle solutions available online. Some platforms rely on speech-to-text software, whereas others focus more on manual transcription completed by real humans. But although there are numerous options, they are not all created equally.
Some platforms are better for desktop devices, others for mobile; some are great for teams, and others for individuals. With so many different features available, it can be hard to decide which transcription service to use in 2022.
Two of the best options available are Amberscript and Otter.ai. Both of these platforms offer transcription services, but which is the better overall platform? And why? Well, we did the homework, compared the features, and crunched the numbers so that we could bring you this comprehensive comparison.
In this article, we will go over five basic categories, including automatic transcription, manual transcription, automatic subtitles, manual subtitles, and translated subtitles. We will compare both Amberscript and Otter.ai in these five areas so that you can decide for yourself which platform will work best for you and your needs.
| Feature | Amberscript | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Language support | 39 | English |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Online editor | Yes | Yes |
| Export as SRT/VTT/EBU-STL | Yes | No |
| Manual Services | Yes | No |
| Price | From $ 0.17 / minute ^ | Only monthly subscription |
| Security | GDPR + ISO27001 & ISO9001 certified | N/A |
| Automatic Delivery time | 5 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Manual Delivery time | 3 business days | N/A |
| Automatic Accuracy | Up to 85% | Up to 80% |
| Manual Accuracy | 100% | N/A |
Transform your audio and
video to text and subtitles
- High accurate, on demand service
- Competitive pricing with the fastest turnaround using AI
- Upload, search edit and export subtitles with ease.
Automatic Transcription
Automatic transcription is the most common type of online transcription service in 2022. The idea is that voice-to-text software listens to the audio and then transcribes it. This type of software is great for people who want to get a first draft down quickly and are prepared to proofread and edit the document themselves.
Automatic transcription is certainly a cheaper and quicker way to transcribe documents, but it is also more prone to errors. Both Amberscript and Otter.ai offer automatic transcription services, but which platform is better for automatic transcription?
Amberscript vs. Otter.ai
Amberscript is primarily a transcription and subtitle platform that excels at all things transcription. Otter.ai, on the other hand, is primarily a team collaboration and note-taking tool.
Amberscript can automatically transcribe audio or video files that you upload and can render the transcription into various file types for export. Amberscript also includes a built-in editor so that you can clean up the transcription yourself directly within the dashboard.
Otter.ai works a bit differently. The system can transcribe audio from meetings and lectures in real-time; in other words, it takes notes for you so that if you have to step out during a meeting, you will have a fairly accurate record of what was said while you were away.
Both services work well but are intended for different purposes. If you need to transcribe an audio or video file, then Amberscript will be the best option. If you need to take notes in an online meeting, then Otter.ai can provide that service.
Manual Transcription
Manual transcription is essentially a transcription service performed by real humans who listen to your audio file and actually write it out word for word with timestamps and speaker tags.
With manual transcription, you’ll know who said what and when they said it. Manual transcription is almost always more accurate than automatic transcription, but it is also more expensive. Let’s see how both platforms stack up in terms of manual transcription.
Amberscript vs Otter.ai
Amberscript is the clear winner in this category for the simple reason that Otter.ai doesn’t offer manual transcription services. Amberscript is able to provide manual transcription services with up to 100% accuracy.
This means that if you need a document transcribed perfectly by a real human, then Amberscript is the way to go. The service takes longer than automatic transcription, but the turn-around time is still fast, and you won’t need to spend much, if any, time editing the document.
Automatic Subtitles
Subtitles are useful when you want your audience to see what’s being said in your video via text captions. Maybe the listener is hearing impaired, or maybe they learn better by reading; in either case, adding subtitles to your video files can enhance the experience for your viewers and help you get your point across better than audio alone.
Automatic subtitles are generated by speech-to-text software in much the same way as automatic transcription. This method of adding subtitles is not 100% perfect as the machine learning software does make a mistake here and there, but the service is much faster than manual subtitles, and it’s almost always significantly less expensive as well.
Amberscript vs. Otter.ai
Both Amberscript and Otter.ai offer a version of automatic subtitles, but again, both platforms do so in a different way and for different purposes.
Amberscript allows you to upload video files directly on the platform, and the software will automatically listen to the audio and add subtitles. You can then save, edit, and export the file. The whole process is quick, easy, and a good value.
Otter.ai also has an automatic subtitle feature, but it is primarily designed for adding subtitles to meetings in real-time. So, for example, if you are in an online class and want to see the text of what your professor is saying, then the automatic subtitles generated by Otter.ai can help. With a pro plan, you can also upload pre-recorded files.
Manual Subtitles
Much like with transcription, manual subtitles are reviewed and added to your video file by a real human. This method of adding subtitles is much more accurate, but it also takes a bit longer and is generally more expensive. That said, if you need the job done right, and don’t have the time to review or edit your video file, then manual subtitles will probably be your best bet.
Amberscript vs Otter.ai
Again, there is no competition here. Amberscript is certainly better than Otter.ai when it comes to manual subtitles because Otter.ai doesn’t offer a manual subtitle service. Otter.ai is a great tool for keeping track of what’s being said in online meetings and collaborating with teammates in real-time, but that’s about it.
Translated Subtitles
Let’s say you have recorded a lecture in English, but you want to make it available to a global audience. In that case, it would make sense to add subtitles in other languages so that non-English speakers can understand what’s being said and enjoy the content. This is where translated subtitles come into play.
Amberscript vs Otter.ai
Amberscript offers a high-quality translated subtitle service, with the work being performed by real humans. Considering how much work goes into translating and then adding subtitles to a video, this service is fast and competitively priced. It’s definitely one of the best value services for translated subtitles online.
Otter.ai doesn’t offer any translated subtitle service. The platform is designed for automatic note-taking and real-time speech-to-text in online classes and meetings.
Pros and Cons
Both Amberscript and Otter.ai have their respective pros and cons. Let’s briefly go over where each platform excels and some of the limitations inherent to both services.
Amberscript Pros
- Great automatic and manual transcription services
- Accurate subtitles for uploaded video files
- Translated subtitle service
- Fast turn-around times
- Excellent user experience
- Good value
Amberscript Cons
- Real-time transcription in meetings can only be done via the iOS app.
Otter.ai Pros
- Real-time transcription in online classes and meetings
- Automatic note-taking so you never miss what was said
- Team collaboration tools for your staff or colleagues
- Integrated with meeting platforms
- Good smartphone app
Otter.ai Cons
- No manual transcription services
- No manual subtitle services
- No translated subtitle services
- Not very good for subtitles in general
- Not a good experience in browsers
Pricing
Amberscript offers both pre-paid services and subscription plans. Pre-paid transcription starts at $10 per audio hour for automatic transcription. The lowest-tier subscription service is $32 per month and includes five audio hours of automatic transcription. Manual transcription is $1.25 per audio minute. The prices are the same for subtitles; however, for translated subtitles, the price is $7 per audio minute.
Otter.ai offers a free plan that allows users to record and transcribe live. For more minutes and features, a pro plan is available starting from $8.33 per month when paid annually. The pro version includes everything included in the free version, plus Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meets integration, as well as the ability to transcribe pre-recorded files.
Amberscript vs. Otter.ai: The Verdict
Both Amberscript and Otter.ai are good services, but they work differently and have different purposes. Amberscript is great when you need fast, accurate transcription services or subtitles added to your video files. Amberscript is also the best solution when it comes to translated subtitles.
Otter.ai is good when you need to caption live meetings or generate a record of what was said on Zoom or in an online class. That said, Otter.ai can also add subtitles to pre-recorded video meetings, but this requires a premium plan, and the service is not as good as the subtitle service offered by Amberscript.