10 Tips to Improve AI Transcription Accuracy

AI transcription has come a long way, but getting the most accurate results still requires some know-how. Whether you're transcribing podcasts, interviews, or meetings, these practical tips will help you achieve better accuracy and spend less time editing.

1. Start with High-Quality Audio

The foundation of accurate transcription is clean, clear audio:

• Use a good microphone - Invest in a decent USB or XLR microphone
• Record in a quiet environment - Background noise confuses AI algorithms
• Maintain consistent volume - Avoid speaking too quietly or too loudly
• Use a pop filter - Reduces plosive sounds that can distort speech

2. Speak Clearly and at a Moderate Pace

AI transcription works best with clear, well-paced speech:

• Articulate your words - Don't mumble or slur speech
• Avoid speaking too fast - Give the AI time to process each word
• Use natural pauses - Brief pauses between sentences help with accuracy
• Pronounce technical terms clearly - Spell them out if necessary

3. Handle Multiple Speakers Properly

For interviews or group discussions:

• Introduce speakers by name at the beginning
• Avoid talking over each other - Wait for the other person to finish
• Use distinct speaking positions if possible
• Mention names occasionally during the conversation

4. Prepare Your Content

A little preparation goes a long way:

• Create a vocabulary list with industry jargon and proper nouns
• Plan your topics - Structured content is easier to transcribe
• Practice difficult words and technical terms
• Prepare clear speaker introductions

5. Choose the Right File Format

Technical specifications matter for accuracy:

• Use uncompressed formats like WAV or FLAC when possible
• Maintain good bit rate - At least 16-bit/44.1kHz for best results
• Check file size limits with your transcription service
• Test different formats to see what works best

Measuring Your Success

Track these metrics to improve over time:

• Word Error Rate (WER) - Aim for less than 5% for professional content
• Speaker identification accuracy - Should be above 90% for clear recordings
• Time spent editing - Good practices should reduce editing time significantly
• Readability score - Final transcripts should be easily readable

Tools for Better Audio Quality

Free Options

• Audacity - Free audio editing software
• GarageBand - Mac users can clean up audio easily
• Voice memos apps - Most smartphones have surprisingly good recording quality

Professional Options

• Adobe Audition - Industry-standard audio editing
• Hindenburg Pro - Designed specifically for speech recording
• Isotope RX - Excellent for noise reduction and audio repair

Conclusion

Improving AI transcription accuracy is a combination of good preparation, quality equipment, and understanding how AI processes speech. While these tips require some upfront effort, they'll save you significant time in post-processing.

Remember, the goal isn't perfection—it's getting transcripts that require minimal editing. With practice and attention to these details, you can achieve 95%+ accuracy rates that make transcription a valuable part of your content workflow.

Once the transcript is ready, open NotlyAI Chat to recap highlights or surface tasks instantly. Credits power both transcription and chat prompts today, and collaboration subscriptions will soon add shared history when you need it.

Ready to put these tips into practice? Try NotlyAI with your next recording and experiment with transcript chat to stay ahead.