Getting accurate transcriptions depends on multiple factors, from recording quality to choosing the right settings. This guide provides comprehensive strategies to achieve the highest possible accuracy with the 360Converter Offline Transcriber software.
Quick Tips for Better Accuracy
Before diving into detailed settings, here are the most impactful ways to improve your transcription results:
Use Clear Audio
Good microphone placement and minimal background noise make the biggest difference in accuracy.
Add Hotwords
Add names, technical terms, or jargon to the custom dictionary for better recognition.
Use Prompts
Provide context like "This is a legal deposition" or "Medical terminology expected".
Select Correct Language
Ensure the right language model is selected for your content.
Enable Overlapped Speech
If words are missing due to speakers talking simultaneously, enable this option.
Understanding Transcription Accuracy
Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology has improved dramatically in recent years, but various factors still influence accuracy. Understanding these factors will help you get better results.
Key factors affecting accuracy:
- Audio quality – Clear audio with minimal background noise is essential
- Speaker clarity – How clearly and consistently speakers articulate words
- Speech patterns – Accents, dialects, speech impediments, or speaking speed
- Technical setup – Microphone quality, recording equipment, audio formats
- Domain-specific terminology – Specialized vocabulary or jargon
- Overlapped speech – Multiple speakers talking simultaneously
- Software settings – Accuracy level, ASR engine mode, and processing options
Optimizing Software Settings
Accuracy Level
Navigate to Settings → General to configure the accuracy level:
| Level | Description | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Good for clear recordings with common vocabulary | Fastest |
| Medium | Better handling of accents and background noise | Moderate |
| Highest Accuracy | Best for challenging audio or critical content | Longest |
Note: The accuracy level settings only apply when using ASR Mode 1. Higher accuracy requires longer processing time but produces better results, especially for difficult audio.
ASR Engine Mode
Navigate to Settings → Advanced to select the ASR engine mode:
| Mode | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| ASR Mode 1 | Original engine with accuracy level settings | When you need the highest accuracy and have time for processing |
| ASR Mode 2 | Faster processing | When speed is more important than maximum accuracy |
Tip: Switch from ASR Mode 2 to ASR Mode 1 for better accuracy when processing time is not a concern.
Audio File Slicing
Navigate to Settings → Advanced to configure audio slicing.
By default, audio files are sliced into 30-minute segments for processing. If you have sufficient memory, you can adjust this setting:
- Set "Audio File Slice" to 0 (no slicing) for potentially better accuracy
- This allows the ASR engine to maintain context across the entire file
- Recommended for systems with 16GB+ RAM
Warning: Setting Audio File Slice to 0 with very large files and insufficient memory may cause the program to crash. Keep the default 30-minute setting if you're unsure about your system's capabilities.
Overlapped Speech Detection
If your recording contains multiple speakers talking at the same time, enable "Contains overlapped speech" in the pre-configure transcription dialog before starting transcription.
This option helps recover words that might otherwise be missed when speakers overlap, which is common in:
- Meeting recordings
- Interview conversations
- Group discussions
- Panel debates
Custom Dictionary (Hotwords)
Add names, technical terms, acronyms, and domain-specific jargon to the custom dictionary. This significantly improves recognition of:
- Proper nouns and names of people, places, or companies
- Technical terminology specific to your industry
- Acronyms and abbreviations
- Brand names or product names
- Unusual words or specialized vocabulary
Using Prompts for Context
Provide context to improve accuracy by entering prompts in the pre-transcription dialog. Examples:
- "This is a legal deposition"
- "Medical terminology expected"
- "Technical discussion about software development"
- "Interview with [Name] about [Topic]"
Prompts help the ASR engine understand the domain and adjust its predictions accordingly.
Before Recording: Preparation Tips
Pre-Recording Checklist
- Choose a quiet environment with minimal background noise
- Use a quality microphone (external microphones outperform built-in ones)
- Position the microphone correctly (6-12 inches from speaker's mouth)
- Test audio levels to avoid clipping or distortion
- Brief speakers on clear articulation and consistent speaking pace
- Ask speakers to introduce themselves (helps with speaker identification)
- Prepare a list of technical terms, acronyms, or proper nouns
Pro tip: For important recordings, conduct a short test recording first. Transcribe the test segment to identify and address any issues before recording the full content.
Recording Environment
Optimize your recording environment for best results:
- Choose rooms with soft furnishings – carpets, curtains, and furniture reduce echo
- Turn off noisy equipment – HVAC, fans, or machines that generate constant noise
- Close windows – prevent traffic noise, wind, or other outdoor sounds
- Silence devices – turn off notifications on phones and computers
- Control room access – prevent interruptions and additional noise sources
Speaker Guidelines
Brief your speakers on these best practices:
- Speak at a moderate pace – not too fast, not unnaturally slow
- Articulate clearly – avoid mumbling or trailing off at the end of sentences
- Maintain consistent volume – try not to fluctuate between loud and quiet
- Avoid speaking over others – take turns speaking when multiple people are present
- Define acronyms and jargon – spell out acronyms the first time they're used
- Use complete sentences – more grammatical structure helps the ASR algorithm
Post-Transcription: Manual Review
After transcription, use the built-in editing tools to correct any remaining errors:
Proofread Mode
Use Proofread mode to review the transcript with audio playback. This allows you to:
- Listen to sections while reading the transcript
- Quickly identify and correct errors
- Verify speaker identification
- Check proper nouns and technical terms
Free-Edit Mode
Use Free-Edit mode for more extensive corrections:
- Fix any remaining transcription errors
- Adjust punctuation and formatting
- Correct speaker labels
- Add or modify timestamps
Troubleshooting Common Issues
| Problem | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Missing words | Overlapped speech | Enable "Contains overlapped speech" option |
| Wrong technical terms | Terms not in vocabulary | Add terms to custom dictionary |
| Poor accuracy overall | Low audio quality | Improve recording setup or use audio enhancement |
| Inconsistent results | Audio slicing breaking context | Set Audio File Slice to 0 (if memory allows) |
| Slow processing | Highest accuracy mode | Use Medium or Standard for faster results |
| Names incorrect | Proper nouns not recognized | Add names to custom dictionary and use prompts |
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are important, but a decent microphone in a very quiet environment will typically outperform an excellent microphone in a noisy environment. If you must choose, focus first on reducing background noise, then invest in better equipment.
Not necessarily. For clear recordings with standard vocabulary, the Standard or Medium settings may produce excellent results much faster. Reserve Highest Accuracy for challenging audio, heavy accents, or critical content where every word matters.
When you add terms to the custom dictionary, the ASR engine is "primed" to recognize these words. This is especially helpful for proper nouns, technical terms, and industry jargon that might not be in the general vocabulary.
This option enables special processing to handle situations where multiple speakers talk at the same time. Without this option, overlapping speech often results in missing words or garbled text.
While the software can handle files of any length, the default 30-minute slicing works well for most content. If you have sufficient memory (16GB+) and want to maintain context across longer sections, you can disable slicing by setting Audio File Slice to 0.
Yes! Use Proofread mode to review with audio playback, or Free-Edit mode to make corrections directly. Building a good custom dictionary over time will also improve future transcriptions.