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5 minute read
15 May 2023

How to transcribe your podcasts audio into text

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Digital accessibility

The podcasting industry is experiencing mind-blowing growth in the last few years. At the time we wrote this article, there were reportedly 850,000 active podcasts with 30 million episodes in over 100 languages.’ Therefore, making it important to make podcasts accessible to everyone!
Source: Musico OOmph!

Despite the popularity of this audio format, podcasts exclude a huge potential audience – the deaf and hard of hearing, which sums up to 10 – 17% of the global population. There are simple alternatives to make podcasts available to this group: transcripts and video podcasts. Let us explain how you can quickly recycle your content and increase the reach of your channel.  

Table of Contents

Convert your podcast to text and provide a transcript

This article published by Forbes describes how the “Deaf And Hard Of Hearing People Are Helping To Fix The Podcast Accessibility Problem”. Offering your content in a written form will give you a competitive advantage when reaching this audience that is so eager to consume podcast content.

The process is very simple since you already have the most important bit: the content itself. Since podcasts usually have good audio quality, which is crucial for AI-generated transcripts, you can use software like Amberscript to instantly transcribe your audio files.

How to transcribe a podcast. A step-by-step guide

Here is a step-by-step on how to transcribe a podcast with Amberscript. If you are using another transcription tool the process should be similar so you can still use this guide.

  1. Create an account
  2. Upload your file
  3. Inform the number of speakers and the language in the audio
  4. Select the transcription type (Amberscript offers manual and automatic transcriptions).
  5. If you selected the automatic transcriptions, your file will be ready in a few minutes. If you prefer 100% accurate transcripts, select the manual service and your text will be ready in up to 5 business days.
  6. You can now edit the file if you want, fixing minor mistakes, highlighting the most important parts, and changing the name of the speakers. This step is important to adjust your content to the reading experience. If you are using the automatic transcription service, you can remove the repetitions and shutters yourself. If you prefer to outsource it, you can hire our manual transcription services and order the “clean read” style. Learn more.
  7. Export your file in a text format. You can choose to include the timestamps or omit it.
  8. Done!
How to create subtitles with Amberscript

An SEO boost is a big incentive on its own, but you can leverage the accessibility of your podcasts by promoting it in catalogs and groups for the deaf and hard of hearing. Spread the word!

You can transcribe up to 10 minutes of audio with our free trial!

Video podcasts – how to make your audio content visual

In a study conducted by the University of Florida, 43% of monthly podcast listeners mentioned they had found podcast content on Youtube. The channel is even ahead of Spotify, which accounted for 23% of the respondents.

These numbers tell us a few things:

  • Youtube is consolidating its role as a big player in the podcasting industry
  • Even podcast listeners are visual creatures

Spotify seems to be aware of the threat as it recently launched video podcasts for selected channels.

As a podcaster, you need to have a spot on Youtube and gain access to the 2 billion users.
Would you like to learn about further benefits of transcribing your podcast? Read our news article on how Amberscript collaborated with Springcast to help creators.

How to convert your podcast into video

Here are a few options but you will need to test which one works better for the type of content you produce:

  • Static image: The easiest option is to convert your audio file into video format and add a static image to be displayed during the reproduction. It is less engaging but it only requires one video editing software to combine the image with the audio.
  • If you record interviews for your podcast, start filming them and use the footage. If the interview is done in person, make sure you use proper devices to ensure the quality of the audio. If it is done remotely, you can easily record the conversation via Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, or using your own computer.

If you are interested in how to record Video Calls on Zoom, Skype, Hangouts, or with your Computer, read our blog post.

Add subtitles to your video podcast

As we mentioned, the deaf and hard of hearing make for a large portion of the population.
Having your podcast in video format allows for using a different type of text version: subtitles.

One of the advantages is that subtitles favor those who are not completely deaf, or who are not native speakers, so they can still partially understand what is said in the audio but can use the subtitles to fully comprehend it.

Another way to increase the reach of your content is crossing borders: make your podcast available to an international audience by providing translated subtitles.

Here is what Amberscript has to offer:

In the options, once the subtitle file is created, you can add them to your video. Again, here you have some options: to encode the subtitles in the video file or use it as closed captions.

Do you want to know more about how to add subtitles for your content on different platforms? Click on the links to access our detailed guides.

You can find a description of the different type of subtitles and a step-by-step guide about how to create them in this article – a Step by Step Guide

Summary

  • Creating a text version of your podcasts will help you to tap into a new audience: the deaf and hard of hearing, which corresponds to 10-15% of the population.
  • Youtube is becoming a major player in the podcasting industry. To find your spot there, you need to have a video version of your audio content.
  • You can make your podcast accessible in a couple of ways: generate a transcription, text version, and leverage SEO.
  • Create a video podcast that can be added to Youtube and subtitled.

Frequently asked questions

  • Can I burn the subtitles directly onto my video?

    If you have exported the transcript as a SRT, EBU-STL or VTT file, you can easily burn them onto your video using video-editing software.

  • Can I export my files with timestamps?

    Yes, you can. The transcript always includes timestamps in our online editor and you can choose to export the file with or without timestamps.

  • Do you add timestamps?

    Yes, timestamps are included in the transcript.You can choose to export the transcript with or without timestamps.

  • Do you offer services in other languages?

    For our human-made subtitling services we work with a network of language experts in 15 different languages. Find out which here. If the language you want is not on the list, please contact us through our contact form.

  • How do I add captions to a video on Vimeo?

    To add captions to your Vimeo video, simply add the file you have created using Amberscript to your video in the editing window on Vimeo. Click on “distribution”, then “subtitles” and finally click on the + symbol to upload the SRT file.

  • How do I add captions to a Youtube video?

    To add captions to your Youtube video, simply add the file you have created using Amberscript to your video in the Youtube Studio. Click on “subtitles”, then “add” and finally “upload file” and select the SRT file.

  • How do I export my subtitles?

    Once your file is ready and available in your account, you can simply click on the file name and then select the “export file” button at the top left of the page. You can then select the file format, style of sutitles (between BBC and Netflix) and alignment. Please note that you can only export a file if you have validated your email address when creating an account.

  • How do you keep my files secure and confidential?

    Amberscript’s IT infrastructure is built on the server infrastructure of Amazon Web Services located in Frankfurt, Germany. All data that is processed by Amberscript will be stored and processed on highly secured servers with regular back-ups on the same infrastructure.

  • To which languages can you translate subtitles?

    For our human-made subtitling services we work with a network of language experts in 15 different languages. Find out which here. If the language you want is not on the list, please contact us through our contact form.

  • What is the turnaround time?

    The standard deliver time is up to 5 business days. You will also have the option to ask for a rush order. We will then prioritize your file and deliver up to 4 times as fast.

  • Will different speakers be distinguished?

    Yes, our software indicates different speakers and when the speaker changes. 

  • What subtitle file formats are supported?

    Our software allows you to export the transcript from the video or audio file as an SRT, EBU-STL or VTT file.

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