How to transcribe a research interview

Decide how much of the conversation to preserve before you edit. Then check the transcript against the recording and use consistent speaker labels.

By TranscribeCat · Published

A researcher listens to a participant with a notebook and audio recorder between them.

Before uploading

  • Check participant permissions and your project’s data requirements.
  • Keep the original recording and interview date.
  • Decide whether to preserve hesitations and repetitions or make a readable edit.

Choose audio retention when uploading. See storage and privacy.

Review the interview

Listen before renaming speakers; automatic labels do not establish identity. Use names or consistent identifiers such as “Participant 01”. Check every quotation against the audio. Mark inaudible passages with a timestamp instead of guessing.

Export

Save edits, then download DOCX, TXT or supported PDF. SRT/VTT retain original wording and speaker renames; subtitle corrections are separate.

Interview example · Review checklist · Pricing · Transcribe an interview