New developments in speech to text software mean that recording and manually transcribing is a thing of the past. But the benefits don’t stop there. The varied applications of voice to text software place it firmly in the content creators’ toolkit. Today, we’ll look at what sets the best speech to text software apart and the most common ways it’s used.
What Can Speech to Text Software Be Used For?
Speech to text software has a range of personal and professional uses.
Speech recognition software can streamline processes any time dictation is taken. This can help students in lectures, journalists during interviews, and writers noting ideas or dictating their work directly. Some of the most common users include:
- Writers: The best speech to text software for writers can learn to understand their voice, record what they say, and produce an accurate transcription instantly. This kind of voice typing can save hours compared to traditional manual transcription. Once you have your transcription, you can easily create an audiobook with a professional voice using text to speech software.
- Content Creators: Powerful speech tools are also great for content creators who want to add more immersive experiences efficiently. We already know how creating AI voiceovers improves productivity, and when you want to automate your closed captions on social media posts, speech to text software does exactly the same. You no longer need to transcribe your subtitles manually, you just upload a video file and let the software do the work.
- Live Streamers: Real-time transcription allows you to have subtitles on your live video streams, too. This opens up your live audience to situations where audio alone isn’t enough. Just as text to speech software allows for narrating presentations to help the visually impaired, speech to text makes it easy to be inclusive to the hearing impaired.
The applications for live transcription don’t stop on social media. Any live presenter, from university lecturers to politicians, no longer needs to hire a sign language expert. Speech to text in real-time makes any presentation accessible for those who need it.
Key Considerations When Evaluating Speech to Text Software
Because of the innumerable possibilities that speech to text software provides, there are a lot of software options to choose from. When deciding which speech to text software is right for you, consider the following:
Is It Compatible With Your Operating System?
First, you must confirm that your chosen speech to text software is compatible with your operating system. The last thing you want to do is pay for a subscription and then realize you can’t use it on your device’s operating system. You should also consider whether you plan to use the software across multiple devices.
You may want to record something with your mobile device and then access the audio files or transcript later using the dictation software for your PC. Ensure that all the features you want are available across all operating systems. The best speech to text software for Windows 10 may not have all the same features available for Mac.
If you need speech-to-text software professionally, consider all team members who will be using it. It is common for different team members to use different operating systems depending on their role within a company, particularly if it is a remote team. Speech technologies can dramatically improve team efficiency, but only if all team members have access.
Does It Have a User-Friendly Interface?
A user-friendly interface clearly lays out all the product features and makes them easy to navigate. You don’t want to waste time going through a steep learning curve while figuring out where everything is and how to use it. A clear user interface reduces the risk of errors like thinking you are recording when you are not.
Speech to text software is commonly used by people with disabilities that may prevent them from traditional note-taking or being able to hear clearly. A simple, straightforward, and intuitive design means that it is accessible to everyone, even those who may have a medical impairment.
Is There a Mobile App Version?
Using your voice to text app from your mobile device will be essential for most people. Modern smartphones have high-quality, built-in microphones, allowing you to record easily without additional hardware. This is extremely useful if you are attending a lecture or recording in a situation where you must be respectful of other people around you. When you record on your mobile device, text is easily available in other mobile apps, such as messengers and note-takers. These integrations will rapidly streamline your workflow.
Just as you need to check the compatibility of your operating system, you also need to ensure that your chosen app works with your device. The software will often be developed for one mobile platform first, so if you are using an app from a new company, it may not be available on both iOS and Android. Remember to check with all team members again. You may love using the app on your iPhone, but it must also work on your teammate’s Android device.
Does It Have Advanced Features?
The best voice to text software will have advanced features that allow for hands-free control without keyboard shortcuts. This will include voice commands to add new paragraphs, trigger images in the text, and specify punctuation. They will also allow you to edit the text within the app, making any corrections or alterations without opening another piece of software.
The best speech to text apps for hearing-impaired people allow for real-time transcription. This means they can read a conversation as it happens, which is ideal for video calling software. Advanced software will also support multiple languages and offer real-time translation or be able to integrate into a third-party translation app.
Is It an AI-Powered Software?
Nowadays, the best dictation apps are powered by artificial intelligence. This immediately impacts the quality of the output, with improved accuracy rates and the ability to record sound while removing background noise.
The best AI speech to text software adds another layer of advanced customization. AI-powered software can identify individual speakers, allowing it to demarcate the individual speakers in the transcript and better understand the nuances of their speech patterns and accents for improved accuracy.
Benefit From the Best Speech to Text Software in the Market
If you want to learn more about how LOVO’s full suite of AI speech tools can improve your engagement, sign up for a free trial today. Over 500,000 creators and professionals already trust LOVO to streamline their production workflows, and you can too.
