Otter Transcriptions

Owned by Peter Means
Mar 30, 2020
2 min read

Otter allows you to upload videos and transcribe the text of the video for free. This is to create a transcription for posting the text of a recording. It is NOT for closed captioning 

Create an Account

  1. Got to https://otter.ai/

  2. Click Sign up

  3. Choose “Continue with Google”

  4. Select your Whitman.edu account

  5. Click “Go to the App” (no need to sync your account)

You are now in the Otter interface

NOTE: From this point forward you can login to Otter using your Whitman google account.

Upload a Video or Audio File

  1. Login to https://otter.ai/ (if you aren’t already)

  2. In Otter, click the “hamburger” (a square of three lines) in the upper left corner

  3. Click on “My Conversations”

  4. Click Import audio/video on the right

  5. Drag and drop the file to upload or click “Browse Files” and select it from your drive.

  6. Once the upload is finished, click “Done”

Working with Your Files

  1. In Otter, click the “hamburger” (a square of three lines) in the upper left corner

  2. Click on “My Conversations”

  3. Click on the file you want to work with

NOTE: You can now play your media file and see the translated text

Fixing Errors

  1. Not all text will be recognized perfectly.  Some editing will be needed. To edit the transcription:

  2. Click “Edit” in the upper right

  3. Close the shortcut pop-up (if showing)

  4. Edit the text and correct who’s speaking as needed

  5. Click “Done”

NOTE: You can play your media while editing

Downloading Your Transcription

You can download your transcribed file as a text file. Other file formats are listed but are only available with a paid account.

If not already there:

  1. Click on “My Conversations”

  2. Click on the file you want to work with

  3. In the upper right corner click the meatball menu (three dot ellipsis)

  4. Click “Export Text”

  5. Choose “TXT” as your export format

  6. Choose the options you want in your text file.

  7. Click “Continue” (upper right)

  8. Your file will download

You can now use this file like any other text file.

NOTE: Depending on your browser, you may be asked to save the file or it will download to your default download directory