How to transcribe text for free using AI

Harness the power of AI for effortless audio transcription! Before AI generated videos and code, it mastered speech-to-text. This technology powers virtual assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. The same algorithms can easily create digital transcripts from audio recordings – meetings, interviews, lectures, or personal notes. These transcripts provide searchable written records of spoken content.

While services like Rev and Happy Scribe offer limited free transcription, OpenAI's Whisper offers unlimited free transcription. You can use the convenient web version hosted on Hugging Face, or for faster processing, install it locally on Windows (requiring a capable PC).

Whisper Web App

Hugging Face's Whisper interface is accessible directly in your browser without registration. Upload audio files or record directly using a microphone. Note that your audio might contribute to future AI model training; privacy policies regarding this aren't entirely transparent.

To transcribe:

1. Select the "Audio file" tab.
2. Click "Click to Upload" and choose your file.
3. Check the "Transcribe" box.
4. Click "Submit."

Processing time depends on file length and server load. Expect potential delays due to the service's popularity. The app includes helpful tools like audio trimming via the pen icon above the playback bar. A "Microphone" tab allows direct recording, and a "YouTube" tab transcribes videos using their URLs (though YouTube often provides automatic transcripts already).

Whisper on Windows

For faster, more private transcriptions, install Whisper locally. This requires a CUDA-capable Nvidia graphics card (at least 4GB VRAM). The process is more technically involved, lacking a user-friendly interface, but offers speed and privacy advantages.

Prerequisites include: Python (ensure "Add python.exe to PATH"), PyTorch, Chocolatey, and FFmpeg. Installation instructions are available on their respective websites.

Install Whisper via Command Prompt: type "pip install -U openai-whisper" and press Enter. To transcribe:

1. Open the audio file's folder in File Explorer.
2. Type "cmd" in the address bar and press Enter.
3. Type "whisper [audio filename]" (replace "[audio filename]" with your file's name).
4. Press Enter to begin processing.

The transcript appears on screen and is saved as text files in the audio's folder. Multiple files can be transcribed simultaneously, separated by spaces after the "whisper" command. Numerous online guides provide assistance for this process.

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