Transcribing Videos Using ChatGPT: A Step-by-Step Guide

Published:March 9, 2024

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Extracting text transcripts from videos can be long and laborious. However, AI tools, notably ChatGPT, can make this process much easier.

ChatGPT is an AI assistant in multiple ways, but can also help with video transcriptions. Although it’s not a primary tool for that purpose, it can help straighten things out. 

This guide will go into the step-by-step process of using ChatGPT to get accurate text transcripts from videos. 

Key Takeaways

  • Although you need a primary tool for transcription, ChatGPT can help refine the content.
  • The guide provides insights on how to use ChatGPT for accurate and formatted transcription, including punctuation and resuming interrupted work.
  • Users can leverage ChatGPT for multilingual transcription and translation, with tips on ensuring quality and verifying translated content.
  • ChatGPT assists in summarizing, merging, and organizing transcripts for content comparison and validation.
  • Transcripts can be transformed into engaging content using ChatGPT.

Getting Started with Video Transcription

Choosing the Right Transcription Tool

Selecting the perfect transcription tool is the first step in this process. The right tool has to be easy to use and have a high degree of accuracy. Also, go for tools that integrate with video editing software, like Adobe Premiere Pro, for a seamless process.

You can also use Otter.ai, which is popular among podcasters because it provides clear transcripts with voice distinction. Trint editor is a great option as well. 

Here’s a quick comparison:

  • Adobe Premiere Pro: Great for video editors needing transcription integration.
  • Otter.ai: Ideal for podcasters and those needing voice recognition.
  • Trint: Best for detailed transcript editing and content repurposing.

One thing that should guide your choice of a tool is the purpose. Why exactly do you want a transcription? Accessibility, content repurposing, or something else? The intention will steer you towards the right choice.

Preparing Your Video for Transcription

First, check the video for audio quality. The clearer, the easier and better it is. Next, consider the video’s length, shorter clips are quicker to transcribe and easier to manage.

If your video seems lacking in audio quality and is on the longer side, you can remedy it using a few tweaks. First, improve the audio quality by removing background noise with a tool like CapCut

Second, break down longer videos into manageable segments. Also, identify speakers if there is more than one. And last, use a high-quality video format for the best results. 

Step-by-Step Guide for Very Long Videos

A computer screen displaying the YouTube icon (transcribing videos with ChatGPT)

1. Preparing Your Video

Before you begin, ensure your video is in a compatible format. Common formats include MP4, AVI, and MOV. However, if you’re trying to get the transcript of a YouTube video, you might need to download it using a video downloader tool.

2. Extracting Audio from the Video

The next step is to extract the audio from your video with software like Audacity or VLC Media Player. Once you have extracted the audio, save it in a commonly used format like MP3 or WAV.

3. Setting Up Chat GPT for Transcription

To use Chat GPT for transcription, you will need to integrate it with a speech-to-text service. This could be Google’s Speech-to-Text API or any other reliable service. Ensure that the integration is set up correctly by testing it with a sample audio file.

4. Transcribing the Audio

With the audio file ready and ChatGPT set up, you can now start the transcription process. Upload the audio file to the speech-to-text service integrated with Chat GPT. The service will convert the spoken words into text.

5. Refining the Transcription

Once you have the initial transcription, you can use ChatGPT to clean up and format the text. You can correct grammatical errors, add punctuation, and break the text into paragraphs. You can also instruct ChatGPT to add time stamps or speaker labels if needed.

6. Exporting the Transcript

After dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s, you can export the text from ChatGPT. Simply copy the text to a word processor or export it as a document file.

The Nitty-Gritty of Transcribing with ChatGPT

Transcribing videos with ChatGPT

1. Creating Effective Prompts for Accurate Transcription

An AI tool is only as good as the prompt you feed it. Ensure your prompts are clear and specific about your needs. For instance, if you’re transcribing a podcast, mention any technical jargon that might come up. This helps ChatGPT recognize and transcribe these terms accurately.

Also, keep the prompts concise but informative. Overloading ChatGPT with too much information can lead to confusion and errors.

Next, structure your prompt to guide ChatGPT’s output. Here’s a simple list to follow:

  • Introduce the content type (e.g., podcast, interview, lecture).
  • Specify any formatting requirements (e.g., timestamps, speaker labels).
  • Highlight areas needing special attention (e.g., sections with background noise).

Remember, ChatGPT can handle interruptions and resume where it left off. Just pinpoint the last correct part and ask it to continue from there. This ensures a seamless transcript.

Note: Always compare the final transcript with the original content. This will help catch any discrepancies and ensure the quality of your transcription.

2. Formatting and Punctuation Tips

Again, be clear with your instructions. ChatGPT can deliver spot-on punctuation if you prompt it correctly. For example, you might say, ‘Please overhaul this with full punctuation, including commas, periods, and question marks.’

Next, consider the structure. A good transcript should be easy to follow. Use short paragraphs and include speaker labels if there’s a dialogue. Here’s a simple format:

  • Speaker 1: ‘Good morning, everyone.’
  • Speaker 2: ‘Morning! How are we today?’

Lastly, always double-check. Once you’ve got your transcript, compare it with the original audio. This step ensures you catch any slips and maintain the accuracy and clarity that your audience expects.

3. Handling Interruptions and Resuming Transcription

An interruption doesn’t have to mean the end of the process. It can be remedied by pinpointing where the interruption occurred. After this, provide ChatGPT with the timestamp or the last transcribed sentence. Then, ask ChatGPT to pick up from the last clear segment. 

If you have to merge segments, just stitch them together. 

4. Using ChatGPT for Multilingual Transcripts

ChatGPT can help with translation due to its multilingual abilities. It can help with Spanish, Mandarin, or any other language. 

5. Verifying the Translated Content

Since the transcription process is AI-enabled, it can be hard to ensure its quality and accuracy. There is no sure-fire way, but you can use a tool like Rev for verification. Alternatively:

  • Review for consistency: Make sure the translation matches the tone and style of your original content.
  • Check for accuracy: Look out for any errors or misinterpretations.
  • Cultural relevance: Ensure that the translation is appropriate for the target audience.

Summarizing and Condensing Your Transcripts

1. Crafting Summaries with ChatGPT

After the final transcript is obtained, you can prompt ChatGPT to churn out a concise summary. A prompt like write me a well-detailed, concise summary of this text will suffice. For a more tailored summary, guide ChatGPT with specific questions like ‘What are the main takeaways?’ 

Tread with caution, though. ChatGPT can sometimes hallucinate and generate incorrect information. 

2. Comparing and Validating Your Summarized Content

Once you’ve got your transcript summary in hand, it’s crucial to ensure its accuracy. Start by comparing the summary to the original transcript. Look for key points and make sure nothing vital has slipped through the cracks. Next, validate the content. Here’s a simple checklist to guide you:

  • Is the summary coherent and logical?
  • Does it reflect the main ideas of the video?
  • Have you double-checked for any missing information?

Transforming Transcripts into Engaging Content

Once you’ve successfully gotten a transcript, you can repurpose it into different formats: blog posts, social media posts, and e-books. Simply ask ChatGPT to craft a blog post by inputting: 

“Please write a 600 blog post based on this text. The title should be [title]. Here are the writing instructions: [add writing instructions] ”

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can ChatGPT convert video to text?

Yes, ChatGPT can convert video to text by transcribing the audio content of the video. It is an AI-driven platform that can transcribe audio quickly and efficiently, allowing users to focus on editing and organizing the content.

2. How can I summarize a YouTube video with ChatGPT?

To summarize a YouTube video with ChatGPT, first transcribe the video using transcription tools like Fireflies or Whisper AI. Remove timestamps and create a prompt for ChatGPT to generate a summary of the transcript for efficient knowledge storage and organization.

3. What is the video ‘Master Transcription with ChatGPT: Free Tutorial for Accurate Transcripts’ about?

The video provides a tutorial on using ChatGPT for accurate transcription, explaining how to instruct ChatGPT to punctuate and format transcripts correctly. It also demonstrates how to resume transcription and ensure accurate results.

5. Can ChatGPT help with language translation of transcripts?

Yes, ChatGPT can assist with language translation of transcripts. It can be used to translate text into different languages, detect the language of given text, and perform advanced translations with specific tones and writing styles.

6. How do you resume an interrupted transcription with ChatGPT?

To resume an interrupted transcription with ChatGPT, find the last completed segment and provide ChatGPT with the subsequent audio or text content. ChatGPT can then continue transcribing from where it left off.

7. How can I ensure the accuracy of a transcript or translation done by ChatGPT?

To ensure the accuracy of a transcript or translation done by ChatGPT, compare the generated content with the original source. Provide clear instructions for formatting and punctuation, and verify the content by checking for consistency and correctness.

Matic

Contributor & AI Expert