Otter Transcription App Review

Stacey M. December 9, 2021 471 0

There are many cases when we need to transform audio like an online class or meeting into text. When doing this manually, you can spend plenty of time and still not finish. However, with modern technology, you don’t do such kinds of tasks manually. So, in this Otter review, you will find out how to automatically transcribe audio or video and do this for free.

What is Otter

Otter is an AI-based speech-recognition app that transcribes voice conversations into text. It can be used with popular meeting apps like Google Meets, Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, or Cisco Webex. So, the app allows in-app recording which will then turn into notes. Also, the app can generate rich notes for online classes, interviews, podcasts, or other voice conversations. Those notes can be shared with classmates or teammates.

Otter is a startup based in Silicon Valley with a team of about 50 people.

Pros

The free plan covers basic needs
Ability to train the app to recognize your voice
Easy integration with major meeting apps
Keyword extraction

Cons

Some inaccuracies, especially with punctuation
Only the English language is available
Not breaking the text into paragraphs

Otter Features

Speech to text. You can record and transcribe conversations or other materials using Otter on your mobile phone or web browser.
In-app recording. You just need to connect a third-party meeting app and you can record during an online call.
Keyword extraction. The app automatically extracts summary keywords from the audio or video during the transcription.
Custom vocabulary. Otter allows to add you own names and jargon to make the transcription more accurate.

Here are more features:

Within the app, you can create a group such as your teammates or classmates with whom you will share a conversation.
You can organize your conversations by creating folders within an Otter account.
Otter has Google Chrome extension which allows to add Otter meeting notes to any Google Calendar invite.
The app can recognize who is speaking.

How Otter works

Conversation recording

Recording a conversation can be done using Otter mobile app or a web browser (Google Chrome). To do this, you can use a built-in or external microphone, or a supported headset. While recording, you will see the transcript in real-time, and the recording can be paused. After recording the conversation, you can edit and share your transcribed conversation with someone or a group.

Meeting recording

You need to join an online meeting and make sure to play the audio through computer speakers, and with a headset. Then, you need to start recording a meeting and you will get the transcribed meeting. Same way, you can record phone calls with Otter.

Importing a recorded conversation

Moreover, you can import an audio or video file into the app and get the transcription.

Training the app

To get a better transcription, a user should train Otter to recognize their voice. For this, you need to create a voiceprint by recording yourself reading a short script. This way Otter will analyze your speech pattern and characteristics. Find this in the Account settings > My voiceprint. You can also teach the app names, jargon or some other custom words to increase the accuracy of the result.

Otter currently supports only English (U.S. and U.K.) and regional accents. Those supported accents are American, Canadian, Indian, Chinese, Russian, British, Scottish, Italian, German, Swiss, Irish, Scandinavian, and other European accents.

When you are signing up, you see the following options to choose.

How long does Otter take to transcribe?

If you record a conversation or a meeting using Otter with an internet connection, it takes several minutes after the recording ends. If you record using Otter without an internet connection, it takes the same time as the recording duration.

If you import files for transcription, it takes the same time as the audio or video file duration.

However, the time of processing may vary depending on the number of speakers, and how busy the Otter service is. During peak times, transcription will probably take extra processing time.

Otter free plan

The company offers for free basically all that is needed for personal use. Free Otter plan includes such services:

Up to 600 minutes transcriptions can be done per month
Up to 40 minutes duration per transcription
A user can import up to 3 audio or video files

Otter Pricing

Otter has four pricing plans.

Free version for personal use.
Pro for professionals that require more minutes and advanced features.
Business for larger businesses or those seeking advanced administration tools.
Enterprise for very large businesses or those in highly regulated industries.

	Basic (free)	Pro ($8.33/mo)	Business $20/user/mo)
Monthly transcription limit	600 minutes	6, 000 minutes	6,000 minutes per user
Max transcription duration (per conversation)	40 minutes	4 hours	4 hours
Importing files for transcription	up to 3	unlimited	unlimited
Custom vocabulary	up to 5 terms	200 names + 200 general terms	800 names + 800 general terms (for teams)
Real-time transcription and transcription collaboration	yes	yes	yes
User groups	yes	yes	yes

Otter for Education

This is a new version of Otter app designed for higher-level education institutions. It provides note-taking assistance for students. It can be used during lectures, to transcribe research interviews, capture notes from group study sessions, and process public audio data for research purposes.