Zoom meetings are a major part of our daily lives. Whether it is a business
meeting or an online class, being able to generate a Zoom transcription
is beneficial in multiple ways.
In this article, we will talk about different ways you can transcribe
Zoom meetings and why you should.
Zoom Audio Transcription
Zoom provides an audio transcription feature for transcribing cloud recordings.
This is an automatic transcription feature that transcribes the audio of
a meeting or a webinar that you record to the cloud, and saves it as a
VTT file.
This feature works in multiple languages, and has a prerequisite to use,
which is having "A Pro, Business, Education, or Enterprise license with
cloud recording enabled". Also, only hosts and co-hosts can record
cloud recordings, which is a requirement we see often with Zoom.
A simple way of transcribing Zoom meetings is
through Maestra’s AI transcription tools. You can upload the Zoom recording
to Maestra, or use the free live transcription software to translate Zoom
meetings in real-time.
How to Transcribe Zoom Recordings with Maestra
With a built-in Zoom integration, you can upload Zoom meetings to Maestra
and automatically transcribe them in 125+ languages. Here’s how you can
try Maestra’s AI meeting transcription software for free:
Upload the meeting recording to Maestra’s meeting transcription software.
(If you have a Maestra account, you can use the built-in Zoom integration
to upload the file directly.)
You’ll be directed to a new tab, and a pop-up window will appear. Select
the spoken language and number of speakers in
the recording, and click “Upload File”.
Once your file is processed, you’ll see the transcript complete with speaker
identification and timestamps. If you want to edit the transcript,
just click the part of the text you want to make changes to. Here you can
also:
Click the pen icon to rename a speaker
Use the search bar in the top left to find specific keywords
Use the progress bar in the middle to play the meeting recording while
following the transcript
Make bulk edits, style the text, revert to
the original version, and add notes on the right side
To share the transcript with others, simply click “Share” in
the top right.
To export the transcript, click “Export” and choose to
download as a TXT, DOCX, PDF, or JSON file.
Transcribe Zoom Meetings in Seconds
Convert Zoom recordings to text instantly and accurately in 125+ languages. Plus, utilize Maestra’s Zoom integration to upload your files directly and effortlessly.
Real-Time Zoom Transcription (Free) and Translation
You can also transcribe Zoom meetings for free in real time with Maestra.
All you have to do is start the web captioner, which is really easy to
use:
Go to Maestra’s web captioner and
choose the language spoken in the meeting from the bottom
right. (Make sure you allow microphone access.)
Click “Start Captioning” to begin real-time Zoom transcription.
When the meeting ends, click “Stop Captioning”.
To download the transcript, click the head icon with three
dots in the bottom right corner and save it as a text file or Word document.
*With a Maestra subscription, you can translate meetings in real time using the web captioner. Simply enable the “Pro” option, choose the source and target languages, and click “Start Captioning.” The transcript will be displayed in both languages on the screen.
Live Zoom Transcription & Translation with AI
Transcribe Zoom meetings for free as they happen, or translate them to break language barriers in real time.
Generally, Zoom transcription is good for record-keeping, accessibility, comprehensibility, and repurposing.
Under these benefits, let's see who can benefit most from generating a
Zoom meeting transcription:
Students and Teachers: Students
and teachers who attend lectures or educational sessions on Zoom can use
transcripts as study aids. They can look back to analyze the content of
the lesson to make adjustments and use the transcripts as a reminder, and
for record-keeping.
Professionals and Business Executives:For business
meetings, transcripts serve as a record of decisions and discussions. They
can be used for future reference, ensuring that important points and action
items are not missed. Instead of manual note-taking, meetings can be summarized
and analyzed through Zoom meeting transcriptions.
Individuals with Hearing Impairments:Transcripts
are essential for accessibility and inclusivity, allowing individuals who
are deaf or hard of hearing to access the content of the meetings through
Zoom transcription.
Non-Native Speakers:People who are not fluent
in the language used in the Zoom meeting can benefit greatly from a Zoom
transcription. It allows them to read the content at their own pace, aiding
in better understanding.
Legal and Compliance Departments:In certain industries,
keeping records of meetings is a legal or compliance requirement. Transcripts
fulfill this need and can be archived for future reference. By using an
AI transcription tool, you can benefit from a great accuracy rate to lessen
your burden while proofreading.
Researchers and Academics:For those conducting
qualitative research or interviews via Zoom, transcripts provide a record
of the conversations, which is good for after-analysis and publication
purposes.
Journalists and Researchers:They can use transcripts
for accurate reporting or extracting quotes from interviews and discussions.
Accuracy is important when quoting, therefore keeping accurate records
of Zoom meetings is recommended.
Meeting Attendees with Conflicting Schedules:Individuals
who cannot attend a meeting due to conflicting schedules or time zone differences
can read the transcript after the meeting to stay informed and ensure that
they do not miss crucial information.
HR Departments for Training and Onboarding:Recorded
training sessions transcribed into documents can be used for onboarding
new employees, ensuring they have access to the same information as others,
during and after the Zoom meeting.
Zoom transcriptions are not just about convenience; they play a crucial
role in enhancing accessibility, improving communication, ensuring compliance,
and aiding in better information retention and analysis surrounding Zoom
meetings.
Let's take a look at why one might need a Zoom transcription:
Improved Meeting Efficiency:Having a transcript
can discourage off-topic discussions and encourage participants to be more
concise and focused, knowing their words are being recorded.
Accessibility:Perhaps the main reason for transcriptions
is accessibility for hearing-impaired individuals. Having a Zoom transcription
enhances the inclusivity and accessibility of your meetings.
Language Understanding:For online classes and
meetings, language learning can be an issue. Having transcripts of Zoom
meetings increases comprehensibility, allowing everyone to understand the
context of the meeting thanks to a Zoom meeting transcription.
Record Keeping:Keeping a record of meetings is
great afterward for remembering forgotten information and having records
of quotes from the Zoom meeting.
Review and Clarification:After a meeting, attendees
can review the transcript to clarify points or follow up on specific discussions.
Legal and Compliance Reasons:In some industries,
keeping a written record of meetings is a legal or compliance requirement.
It is recommended to seek if record-keeping is required for a particular
Zoom meeting.
Learning:Zoom transcription can be used as educational
or training material, allowing individuals to study the content of a meeting
at their own pace.
Engagement Analysis:Analyzing the transcript can
provide insights into meeting dynamics, such as who spoke the most, the
topics discussed, and the overall tone of the meeting. Engagement is particularly
important for online classes and business meetings since engagement can
be a problem for online gatherings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you transcribe a Zoom meeting for free?
Yes, you can transcribe a Zoom meeting for free using Maestra’s real-time transcription tool. Additionally, Maestra offers a free trial for its AI-powered meeting transcription software, which integrates with Zoom and supports 125+ languages.
Can Zoom create a transcript without recording?
Yes, Zoom can generate a live transcript without recording the meeting. However, as of February 2025, live Zoom transcription is available in 34 languages. For more options, you can use Maestra’s free real-time transcription tool, which supports 125+ languages.
How good is Zoom transcription?
Zoom’s in-app audio transcription is a good way of transcribing
Zoom meetings. However, it only works in certain languages and requires
a license to use. Alternatively, users can use Maestra’s Zoom integration
for seamless Zoom transcription.
How do you transcribe and translate in Zoom?
Zoom can provide transcripts in your preferred language, but this depends on the host’s settings. If the host hasn’t enabled captions in your preferred language, you may not be able to view them. If you have trouble understanding a Zoom meeting, try Maestra’s transcription tool for free to automatically generate and translate Zoom transcripts.
How accurate are Zoom translated captions?
While Zoom’s translated captions can be useful, they are not always perfectly accurate. A more reliable alternative is Maestra’s real-time translation tool, which provides precise translated captions during the meeting. It also includes a Chrome extension for added convenience.
