First, it's important to understand which factors may impact your transcription before diving into some best practices.
Factors Affecting Transcription Accuracy
1. Audio Input Quality
The clarity of the audio input plays a significant role in transcription accuracy. Here are key considerations:
- Background noise: Reduce ambient noise from sources such as traffic, typing, or electronic devices, as these can confuse the AI.
- Microphone quality: A high-quality microphone ensures crisp and clear audio, minimising issues like muffled sound.
- Volume and distance: Maintain a consistent and appropriate distance from the microphone. Speaking too softly or being too far from the mic can impact the system’s ability to recognise words accurately.
- Echo and reverberation: Choose spaces with soft furnishings or soundproofing to minimise echo.
2. Speaker Characteristics
Speaker behaviour and characteristics directly influence transcription quality:
Accents and dialects: Regional accents or unique dialects may introduce pronunciation variations that affect recognition.
Speaking pace: Speak at a moderate and steady pace. Extremely fast or slow speech can lead to inaccuracies.
Articulation: Clearly enunciate words to make it easier for the transcription system to interpret speech.
Overlapping conversations: Avoid talking over others. When multiple speakers overlap, it can create challenges for distinguishing individual voices.
Tips to enhance transcription quality
1. Optimise Your Audio Setup
- Select high-quality equipment: Use professional-grade microphones designed for capturing clear speech.
- Control background noise: Opt for quiet recording environments or leverage noise-cancelling technology.
- Positioning matters: Keep the microphone at an optimal distance—neither too close nor too far from the speaker.
2. Encourage clear and consistent speech
- Speak clearly: Ensure that all speakers articulate words distinctly and avoid mumbling.
- Maintain a steady Pace: Encourage participants to maintain a consistent speaking rhythm.
- Minimise interruptions: Promote a one-speaker-at-a-time approach to avoid overlapping dialogue.
When to seek support
If you face transcription accuracy issues despite following these practices, consider reaching out to customer support or reviewing the documentation of your transcription tool. We can provide updates or model enhancements that can improve performance.