10 tips for more accurate transcriptions
Even the best AI depends on your audio. These ten practical tips help you get cleaner, more accurate transcripts every time.
1. Use a decent microphone
A dedicated USB or lavalier mic dramatically outperforms laptop mics. Cleaner input means fewer errors.
2. Record in a quiet room
Background noise, echo and HVAC hum confuse any transcriber. Choose a soft, quiet space when possible.
3. Keep speakers close to the mic
Consistent distance keeps volume even and speech intelligible.
4. Avoid talking over each other
Overlapping speech is the number-one cause of errors. Encourage speakers to take turns.
5. Use a lossless or high-bitrate format
WAV or high-bitrate MP3 preserves detail. Heavily compressed audio loses information the AI needs.
6. Set the correct language
Automatic detection is great, but if you know the language, confirming it improves accuracy — especially for code-switching.
7. Add context for names and jargon
Technical terms and proper nouns are the hardest to get right. A quick manual pass fixes them fast, and timestamps help you find them.
8. Split very long recordings
For multi-hour files, segmenting by topic makes reviewing and editing easier.
9. Review with timestamps
Word-level timestamps let you jump straight to uncertain moments instead of re-listening to everything.
10. Use a modern AI transcriber
State-of-the-art models like the one powering ZetaScripts reach around 99% accuracy on clean audio, in 98+ languages — the single biggest factor in your results.