How to Transcribe Speech to Text in High Accuracy Using AI

In my years working with audio content, I’ve seen the transformation of speech-to-text technology from clunky and error-prone to impressively accurate.

Today, AI-powered transcription has become essential for content creators, businesses, and anyone working with spoken audio.

This blog post walks you through why accurate transcription matters and how to get the best results with modern AI tools.

Why Accurate Transcription Matters

Poor transcription creates more work than it saves. When I first started transcribing interviews, I would spend hours fixing automated transcripts, often wondering if I should have just typed everything manually from the start.

Accurate transcription:

• Saves hours of editing time
• Makes content accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences
• Creates searchable text from audio content
• Helps with content repurposing (turning podcasts into blog posts, etc.)
• Provides precise meeting notes and documentation

The Current State of AI Transcription

AI transcription has improved dramatically in recent years. New models can handle accents, background noise, multiple speakers, and even technical jargon with impressive accuracy.

ElevenLabs recently released Scribe, which claims to be the world’s most accurate transcription model. Their internal tests show it outperforming competitors like Gemini 2.0 Flash, Whisper Large V3, and Deepgram Nova-3 across 99 languages.

What makes modern AI transcription tools stand out:

• Multi-language support – Scribe works across 99 languages, with particular improvements in traditionally underserved languages like Serbian, Cantonese, and Malayalam
• Word-level timestamps – Precise timing for each word, making video captioning and audio synchronization much easier
• Speaker diarization – Automatic identification of different speakers in conversations
• Audio event tagging – Marking non-speech sounds like laughter or applause
• Structured output – Clean JSON or other formats that make post-processing simple

How to Get Started with ElevenLabs Scribe

I’ve tested Scribe myself, and the setup process is straightforward:

• Create an ElevenLabs account if you don’t already have one.
• Go to the ElevenLabs dashboard.
• Click on Speech to text option from the menu.

• Click the “Transcribe Files” button in the top right

• Upload your audio or video file.

• Choose whether to select the primary language yourself or let the AI detect it automatically
• Click “Upload files” to start the transcription process.
• Wait a few minutes for processing (time depends on file length)
• Once complete, use the “Export” button to download your transcript in various formats (DOCX, HTML, JSON, PDF, SRT, etc.)

Tips for Getting Better Transcription Results

I’ve found these practices help get better results with any AI transcription tool:

Improve Your Audio Quality

The cleaner your audio, the better your transcription. When possible:

• Record in a quiet environment with minimal background noise
• Use a good quality microphone positioned close to the speaker
• Ask speakers to talk clearly and at a moderate pace
• Avoid overlapping speech in conversations

Choose the Right Format for Your Needs

Different export formats serve different purposes:

• SRT/VTT: Best for video subtitles or captions
• DOCX: Good for editing in word processors
• JSON: Ideal for developers who need structured data with timestamps
• PDF: Best for sharing as a finished document
• HTML: Useful for web publishing

Smart Post-Processing

Even with 96-98% accuracy, you’ll likely want to review transcripts, especially for important content. Here’s my process:

• Export the transcript in an editable format
• Read through while listening to the audio at 1.5x speed
• Fix any errors, focusing on names, technical terms, and numbers
• Format the document with proper headings, paragraphs, and punctuation
• Remove filler words and verbal tics as needed

Use AI Transcription for Different Content Types

I’ve found that different types of content require different approaches:

Interviews and Podcasts

For interview content, speaker identification is crucial. Make sure your transcription tool supports speaker diarization. After transcribing:

• Label speakers with their full names (not “Speaker 1” and “Speaker 2”)
• Consider light editing to improve readability while maintaining the speaker’s voice
• Add section headings for different topics discussed

Meetings and Conferences

For meetings, accuracy of technical terms and action items is most important:

• Review carefully for names and numbers
• Bold or highlight action items and decisions
• Add timestamps for key moments

Educational Content and Lectures

For educational material:

• Pay special attention to technical terms and concepts
• Consider adding explanatory notes for complex terms
• Format with clear sections and subsections
• Link to additional resources where helpful

Cost Considerations

At the time of writing, Elevenlabs is providing this transcription service for free until April 9 2025. After this, they will be introducing an affordable pricing plan.

Privacy and Security Considerations

When using online transcription services, remember that you’re uploading potentially sensitive audio. Consider:

• The service’s data retention policies
• Whether they use your data to train their models
• Compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA if applicable
• On-premises options for highly sensitive content

The Future of AI Transcription

AI transcription will continue to improve. Current trends point toward:

• Real-time transcription with minimal delay
• Better handling of industry-specific terminology
• More accurate emotional context detection
• Integration with other AI tools for automatic summarization
• Improved accuracy for challenging audio environments

Accurate speech-to-text transcription has become accessible and practical thanks to AI advancements. Tools like ElevenLabs Scribe offer impressive accuracy across many languages, making transcription faster and more reliable than ever before.

For most users, the best approach is to start with a high-quality AI transcription and then review it quickly for any errors, especially for names and technical terms. The time saved compared to manual transcription is substantial, and the accuracy keeps improving.

Whether you’re creating content, documenting meetings, or making your audio accessible to wider audiences, modern AI transcription tools provide an excellent starting point that will only get better with time.