An hour of recording is quickly made – turning it into text yourself costs many times that. Researchers with interview series, companies with meeting recordings, editorial teams with podcast episodes and law firms with recorded conversations therefore outsource this work to UniTranslate: you receive a clean, quotable transcript – and, on request, the translation to go with it, in more than 100 languages.
Interviews, meetings, podcasts: what we transcribe
- Research interviews and focus groups – with timestamps and speaker attribution, following the transcription rules your methodology requires
- Meeting and negotiation recordings – as a basis for minutes, documentation or internal analysis
- Podcasts, videos and webinars – for show notes, subtitles, accessibility and better discoverability of your content
- Recorded conversations in a legal context – precise and verbatim, when the exact wording matters
- Lectures, training sessions and dictations – as a reusable text basis for reports, articles or course materials
Verbatim or smoothed: you set the rules
Not every transcript serves the same purpose. For qualitative research or legal analysis, we deliver verbatim transcripts that also document filler words, false starts and pauses; for minutes and publications, smoothed versions that read fluently without changing the content. Timestamps, speaker labelling and formatting requirements – for instance those of your university or your style guide – are implemented to your specifications. Unlike pure speech-recognition software, our transcribers also listen accurately where dialect, jargon or overlapping voices make machines fail – Swiss German in all its varieties included. We do not guess at unclear passages, but flag them transparently with a timestamp so that you can listen to them again yourself if needed.
Transcript and translation from a single source
Often the transcription is only half the journey: the Swiss German interview needs to be analysed in standard German, the English podcast episode prepared for the German market, the recorded conversation made accessible to participants abroad. With us, the same team handles both steps: you receive the transcript in the original language and the translation in the target language, consistent in terminology and speaker attribution – with no coordination effort between two providers. This pays off especially in multilingual projects: for example an interview study with participants in three languages whose statements need to be available in a single working language for analysis, or an international podcast whose episodes are prepared for several markets.
Your recordings stay under lock and key
Recordings are often more sensitive than texts: in interviews people speak openly, in meetings internal figures come up, in legal conversations personal details. Your files are transmitted in encrypted form, listened to exclusively by the team in charge and, on request, verifiably deleted after the project is completed. On request we sign a non-disclosure agreement – including towards your interview partners or clients. More than 6000 satisfied customers rely on this way of working; you are looked after personally from our office in Küsnacht ZH.
How your transcription order works
- Send your file: Upload your audio or video file – all common formats, including several files at once. Briefly describe the purpose of the transcript and any formatting requirements, such as your university’s transcription rules.
- Quote within 30 minutes: During office hours you receive a quote with a binding delivery date, tailored to the length and sound quality; we deliver urgent orders express within 12–24 hours.
- Transcription to your specifications: Verbatim or smoothed, with timestamps and speaker attribution as desired.
- Delivery and additional services: You receive the transcript as a Word or PDF file, on time for the agreed date – on request with a translation, summary or subtitle file.
Send us your recording – you will receive a quote with a binding delivery date within 30 minutes: Request a free quote →
FAQ
Which audio and video formats can you transcribe?＋
Practically all common formats – MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4 and more. We also have no trouble processing recordings from video-conferencing tools or from your smartphone. Simply send us your file and we will check it free of charge.
What is the difference between verbatim and smoothed transcription?＋
A verbatim transcription captures every word including filler words, repetitions and pauses – important for research or legal purposes, for example. A smoothed transcription removes slips and filler words to produce an easily readable text, for instance for minutes or publications. We will advise you on which form suits your purpose.
Can you translate the transcript at the same time?＋
Yes, that is one of our strengths: transcription and translation come from a single source, in more than 100 languages. On request you receive both versions – the transcript in the original language and the translation, consistent in terminology and speaker attribution.
How confidentially are my recordings treated?＋
Your files are transmitted in encrypted form, listened to only by the team in charge and, on request, verifiably deleted after completion. On request we sign an additional non-disclosure agreement – a matter of course for HR interviews, research data or legal recordings.
How quickly will I receive my transcript?＋
During office hours you receive a quote with a binding delivery date within 30 minutes – depending on the length and sound quality of the recording. For urgent cases we offer express delivery within 12 to 24 hours.
