10 Tips for Maximum Transcription Accuracy

The difference between a 90% accurate transcript and a 99% accurate one is huge in practice. A 10% error rate means roughly one mistake every sentence—that's exhausting to correct. Here are 10 tips to get transcripts right the first time.

Before Recording

1. Choose the Right Microphone

Your smartphone mic might work, but it won't give you the best results. For consistently great transcriptions:

• USB condenser mics work great for solo recordings
• Lavalier mics are perfect for interviews and movement
• Shotgun mics work well for video production

Distance matters too—stay 6-12 inches from the mic.

2. Control Your Environment

Background noise is the enemy of accurate transcription. Before recording:

• Close windows to block traffic noise
• Turn off fans, AC, and appliances
• Put your phone on silent
• Use soft furnishings to absorb echo
• Avoid rooms with hard, reflective surfaces

3. Test Before You Record

Do a quick test recording and listen back. Can you hear any background noise? Is the voice clear? Fix issues before your main recording.

During Recording

4. Speak Clearly (But Naturally)

You don't need to talk like a robot, but avoid:

• Mumbling
• Trailing off at the end of sentences
• Speaking too fast
• Excessive filler words (um, uh, like)

5. One Speaker at a Time

Overlapping speech confuses AI and annoys listeners. In group settings:

• Wait for others to finish before speaking
• Use visual cues to indicate who speaks next
• Pause between topics

6. Spell Out Unusual Words

When you use technical terms, brand names, or unusual words, consider spelling them out the first time: "We used Kubernetes—that's K-U-B-E-R-N-E-T-E-S—for container orchestration."

7. Use a Pop Filter

Those "p" and "b" sounds can create plosives that distort audio. A simple pop filter eliminates this problem.

After Recording

8. Choose the Right Format

Avoid over-compressing your audio. While MP3 works fine, higher quality formats like WAV or FLAC preserve more audio detail that can help with accuracy.

9. Don't Over-Edit

If you're editing audio before transcription, avoid:

• Aggressive noise reduction (can distort voices)
• Compression that reduces dynamic range
• Adding music or sound effects before transcribing

10. Review and Correct

Even the best AI makes mistakes. Always review your transcripts, especially for:

• Names and proper nouns
• Technical terminology
• Numbers and data
• Industry-specific jargon

Bonus: Create a Custom Vocabulary

Some transcription services let you add custom vocabulary—a list of words and phrases the AI should recognize. This is invaluable if you frequently discuss:

• Brand names
• Technical terms
• People's names
• Industry jargon
• Acronyms

The Payoff

Following these tips might seem like extra work, but the payoff is huge. Clean transcripts mean:

• Less time editing
• More accurate content
• Professional results
• Better accessibility

Start with the tips that are easiest for your workflow, then gradually incorporate more. Your transcripts (and your future self) will thank you.