How to Transcribe an Interview (with 12 Best Practices)

Updated: 2024-10-11
Serra Ardem
6m to read

If we’re the drivers, then AI is our copilot. It should free humans from mundane tasks, transform how we work, and help us be more creative. Learning how to transcribe an interview with AI can significantly streamline the process, giving you more time to analyze key insights, develop tailored solutions, and explore new opportunities.

In this blog, we will:

Highlight the benefits of interview transcription for different use cases
Explain how to transcribe an interview with Maestra’s AI-powered software
List 12 best practices you can adopt to make the most of the process

Let’s get started.

Why should you transcribe interviews?

Before we delve into how to transcribe an interview, let’s quickly list the benefits of this practice.

Whether you’re a researcher, content creator, journalist, or lawyer, transcribing interviews with AI can save you a lot of time and allow you to put your energy into more high-level tasks. Plus, providing a transcript ensures the accessibility of your content for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, as well as those who prefer reading over listening.

Woman sitting on a chair and using a laptop.

Besides speeding up the task, AI-powered interview transcription offers specific benefits for the following use cases:

Use Case	Benefits
Academic Researchers	Detailed analysis of interviewee responses, identification of key themes and patterns, verbatim quotes for research papers
Content Creators	Repurposing transcripts for content creation, improvement in SEO and discoverability
Journalists	Accurate quotes and fact-checking, building a narrative
Lawyers and Legal Professionals	Legal documentation, evidence collection, preparation for legal proceedings
Market Researchers	In-depth analysis of customer feedback, identification of trends, product improvement insights

How to Transcribe an Interview with Maestra

Now let’s go over the steps on how to transcribe an interview with Maestra’s AI-powered interview transcription software, which supports 125+ languages and will make your workflow much more efficient.

1. Log in to your Maestra account and choose the “Transcription” section from the left-side menu.

2. Click “New Transcription”. A pop-up window will appear.

3. Upload your audio or video recording. Then choose the audio language among 125+ languages, and click “Submit”. The transcription process will start immediately.

4. When your transcript is ready, click on it to see the full text with speaker identification and timestamps. To edit the transcript, just click the part of the text you want to adjust. To change the speaker name, click on the pen icon next to it.

5. You can search for specific keywords via the search bar in the top left corner.

6. Right next to the search bar is the progress bar, where you can listen to the audio and follow it along with the transcript.

7. You will see editing functions on the right side. Feel free to make bulk corrections, style the text, or add notes. Plus, you can always revert to the original version of the transcript with one click.

8. When you’re ready, you can export your transcript in the format you prefer.

*You can also collaborate with others on the transcript in real-time. Just click “Share” in the top right corner to adjust the sharing settings and permissions based on your preferences.

*Need some help? Click “Help” in the top left corner to see the keyboard shortcuts.

*Your transcript will be encrypted and stored safely in Maestra’s cloud, so you can quickly access it wherever you are.

12 Best Practices for Interview Transcription

We’ve covered why and how to transcribe an interview; now let’s highlight the best practices you can adopt while converting interviews to text.

Pre-Transcription

Before the interview, test and ensure that all recording equipment is functioning properly. This will help you avoid technical issues that can impact the clarity of your recording.
Optimize audio quality by minimizing background noise. Choose a quiet recording environment and use noise-canceling headphones if available.
Always have a backup of your recording. Save it on cloud services to prevent loss, and make sure you can access the original audio whenever you need.
Select the interview transcription software that best fits your needs. Consider factors like accuracy, speed, user-friendliness, collaboration features, and compatibility with various media types.

Transcription Process

Pay close attention to accuracy and details. AI transcription services are powerful but not flawless; so always carefully review the transcript for any errors or inconsistencies.
Follow a consistent format, including speaker identification, timestamps, and paragraphing. This will enhance readability and organization, making your job much easier.
Pause and replay as needed. Utilize keyboard shortcuts and playback controls navigate the transcript and capture every detail, especially in fast-paced and complex dialogues.
Take breaks to avoid fatigue. This will help you maintain focus and minimize errors in your work.

A man stretching while working at his desk.

Post-Transcription

Proofread the final transcript. This step is crucial to spot any overlooked errors, spelling mistakes and formatting inconsistencies.
Identify highlights, memorable quotes, and actionable takeaways. These can be repurposed for social media, blog posts, and presentations.
Have a secure and organized system for archiving the transcript. Include metadata such as date, participants, and relevant keywords for easy retrieval.
Share with stakeholders. Distribute the transcript to relevant parties, such as team members, clients or partners, to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to transcribe interviews?

The best way to transcribe an interview is to use an AI-powered transcription software. Compared to manual transcription, this method is much faster and cost-effective. It also provides higher accuracy and consistency by utilizing advanced speech recognition technology.

Is there an AI tool to transcribe an interview for free?

You can transcribe an interview for free with Maestra’s free trial, which does not require an account or credit card. All you need to do is upload your audio or video file to the automatic transcription software, and select the audio language. Maestra will convert audio to text in seconds with precision, providing you a seamless transcription experience.

How long does it take to transcribe a 1-hour interview?

With Maestra, it generally takes minutes, or even seconds to transcribe a 1-hour interview. This will surely save you a lot of valuable time, and help you put your energy into more strategic, higher-level tasks.

What does a good interview transcript look like?

A good interview transcript is clear, accurate, and easy to navigate. It should include speaker identification, appropriate punctuation, timestamps, and paragraph breaks. Depending on your needs, it should also incorporate any relevant non-verbal cues to provide a fuller picture of the conversation.

Can ChatGPT transcribe audio?

As of August 2024, ChatGPT cannot transcribe audio directly. However, you can use ChatGPT to summarize, edit and proofread an existing transcript, and extract key points from it. The LLM can also organize the transcript for presentations, or turn it into other forms of content like blog posts.

How to analyze interview transcripts in qualitative research?

When analyzing interview transcripts in qualitative research, first read through the transcript to gain a holistic understanding. Then, look for recurring themes or patterns across the document. Interpret these themes and analyze how they connect to your research question.

Summary

This blog shared a step-by-step guide on how to transcribe an interview with Maestra’s AI-powered, user-friendly software. It also listed 12 best practices to adopt during interview transcription for a smooth, truly productive experience.

Before concluding, let’s recap what you must be mindful of when transcribing interviews with AI:

Make sure the audio quality is clear and free of background noise, so the software can more easily distinguish between speakers and accurately capture spoken words.
AI is not perfect, so always review and proofread the text for a polished final product.
Follow a consistent format throughout the transcript for a professional and easily understandable document.
Organize and archive your transcripts in a secure cloud system for easy retrieval.
Share the transcript with team members, clients or collaborators as needed, or repurpose it to create additional content.

By embracing these tips, you can maximize the value of your transcript and utilize it for more insightful and impactful outcomes in your work.

About Serra Ardem

Serra Ardem is a content writer and editor who explores the intersection of human experience and technology. She treats the digital landscape as a lab, consistently researching and experimenting with new tools, and how they can support the ways we think and create.

With over 10 years of experience in brand storytelling, Serra also focuses on the role of artificial intelligence in bringing people together. She views translation and language as pathways to a more accessible, shared world.