Transcription Features

VideoToBe uses OpenAI's Whisper AI to deliver highly accurate transcriptions with advanced features like speaker identification and translation.

How Transcription Works

When you upload a file, VideoToBe:

  1. Extracts audio from video files (if needed)
  2. Uploads to secure cloud storage (R2)
  3. Sends to Modal.com transcription service
  4. Processes with Whisper AI model
  5. Generates multiple output formats
  6. Sends email notification when complete

Processing Time

Typical transcription takes 2-5 minutes depending on file length. Very long files (60+ minutes) may take 15-30 minutes.

Transcription Accuracy

Expected Accuracy Rates

  • Clear audio: 95%+ accuracy
  • Good audio: 90-95% accuracy
  • Noisy audio: 70-85% accuracy

Factors Affecting Accuracy

  • Audio quality and clarity
  • Background noise levels
  • Speaker accent and pronunciation
  • Technical jargon and terminology
  • Audio volume and recording quality
  • Number of overlapping speakers

Language Support

Whisper AI supports 90+ languages with automatic language detection:

Popular Languages

  • English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese
  • Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean
  • Arabic, Hindi, Russian, Turkish
  • Dutch, Polish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
  • And 75+ more languages

Language is automatically detected. You don't need to specify which language your audio is in.

Translation to English

Enable "Translate to English" when uploading to automatically translate any language to English. This feature:

  • Works with all 90+ supported languages
  • Maintains speaker labels (if diarization enabled)
  • Preserves timestamps
  • Generates both original and translated transcripts

Speaker Diarization

Speaker diarization identifies different speakers in your audio and labels them as "Speaker 1", "Speaker 2", etc.

How It Works

  1. Enable "Speaker Diarization" when uploading
  2. Whisper analyzes voice patterns
  3. Assigns speaker labels automatically
  4. You can rename speakers after transcription

Best Results

  • Use separate microphones for each speaker
  • Ensure voices are distinct (different genders/accents work best)
  • Avoid speakers talking over each other
  • Good audio quality is essential

Very similar voices may be grouped together. You can manually split sections after transcription.

Initial Prompt for Context

Provide context to improve accuracy, especially for:

When to Use Initial Prompt

  • Technical content: "This is a software engineering discussion about React, TypeScript, and API development"
  • Medical terminology: "Medical consultation discussing diabetes, insulin, and HbA1c levels"
  • Proper names: "Interview with Dr. Sarah Johnson and Michael Chen about climate change"
  • Industry jargon: "Financial earnings call discussing EBITDA, revenue growth, and market cap"

Output Formats

Every transcription generates multiple formats:

TXT - Plain Text

  • Simple text format
  • Easy to read and edit
  • No timestamps
  • Best for general use

SRT - SubRip Subtitle

  • Industry-standard subtitle format
  • Includes timestamps
  • Compatible with video players
  • Best for adding subtitles to videos

VTT - WebVTT

  • Web-native subtitle format
  • HTML5 video compatible
  • Supports styling
  • Best for web video players

JSON - Structured Data

  • Programmatic access
  • Includes paragraphs and metadata
  • Machine-readable format
  • Best for developers and automation

Tips for Better Transcriptions

Before Recording

  • Test microphone and audio levels
  • Choose quiet recording location
  • Close windows, turn off fans/AC
  • Use headphones for video calls

During Recording

  • Speak clearly at moderate pace
  • Avoid interrupting others
  • State names when introducing people
  • Spell out technical terms when first mentioned

When Uploading

  • Use initial prompt for technical content
  • Enable speaker diarization for conversations
  • Select translation if needed
  • Use high-quality formats (WAV, FLAC) when possible

Post-Transcription Editing

After transcription completes, you can:

  • Edit transcript text directly in VideoToBe
  • Rename speaker labels (Speaker 1 → John)
  • Download and edit in your preferred editor
  • Use AI chat to fix specific errors
  • Generate summaries and insights

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