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LECTURE TRANSCRIPTION
Turn recorded lectures into searchable study notes.
Upload a recorded lecture, seminar or online class. Media2Text creates a searchable transcript with timestamps, so you can find any explanation and listen to it again in context.
Transcribe a lecture →What this workflow gives you
Study outlines
With an account, a Course-style AI summary and a source-linked mind map help you review the structure of a lecture.
Learn in two languages
Create a translated transcript track and read it side by side with the original.
How it works
- Record or download the lecture. Use a phone recording, a lecture capture download or the video of an online class.
- Upload and transcribe. Audio and video files up to 6 GB are supported; video audio is extracted in your browser.
- Study from the transcript. Search, highlight key passages in your notes app and export DOCX, PDF or Markdown.
Why transcribe lectures?
Taking notes during a lecture means choosing between listening and writing. A transcript removes that trade-off: you can focus in class and still have every explanation in text afterwards. Transcripts also help students who are studying in a second language, students with disabilities, and anyone revising for an exam who needs to find "that example the lecturer gave in week four".
Recording a lecture so the transcript is useful
Sit near the front or place your phone close to the lecturer. Lecture halls echo, and audience noise near the back drowns out speech. If your institution provides lecture capture, download the official recording, which usually uses the lecturer's microphone. For online classes, use the platform's recording or a screen recording with system audio enabled.
Turning a transcript into study material
Search instead of rewatching
Search the transcript for a term, click the timestamp and listen to the explanation. This is often faster than scrubbing through a video.
Build an outline
With an account, generate a Course-style AI summary, which lists main topics and key points with references back to the transcript. A mind map shows how topics connect and can be exported as Markdown, OPML, XMind or an image for revision.
Make flashcards and notes
Export Markdown or DOCX and paste definitions and examples into your notes or flashcard app, keeping the timestamp so you can return to the source.
Check the details that matter
Speech recognition is a draft. Names, dates, equations, units and technical vocabulary are the most common errors. Before relying on the transcript for an exam or assignment, check these passages against the audio, and always cite the lecture or the original source rather than the transcript.
Online courses and recorded talks
Many courses publish videos on public platforms. If the video is public, you can paste its link on YouTube to text or Vimeo to text instead of uploading a file.
Reviewing the transcript before you use it
Automatic transcription gives you a fast, timed draft. Before you publish, quote or share it, spend a few minutes on the parts that matter most. Rename the speaker labels so every export shows real names. Use find and replace for names, brands and technical terms that appear more than once. Then click the timestamps for the passages you will actually quote and listen to them: overlapping voices, background music and fast speech are where errors cluster. The editor keeps the text and the audio together, so checking a line takes seconds instead of scrubbing through the whole recording.
Plans
The free trial includes up to 2 lifetime transcription tasks sharing 75 minutes in total, with no credit card. Paid plans have unlimited uploads and accept files up to 5 hours 15 minutes long. A one-time pack can suit a term with a fixed number of recorded classes.
Questions and limits
Is it allowed to record lectures?
Policies differ by institution and lecturer. Ask for permission, follow your school's rules and do not share recordings or transcripts publicly without consent. Disability services often arrange recording and transcripts as an accommodation.
Will it handle technical terms and formulas?
Common terminology is usually recognised, but specialist vocabulary, names and spoken formulas need checking. Use find and replace for terms that repeat.
Can I transcribe a lecture in a language I am still learning?
Yes. Transcribe in the original language, then create a translated track to compare side by side.
How long can a lecture recording be?
Files can be up to 6 GB. Paid plans accept recordings up to 5 hours 15 minutes; the free trial covers up to 2 tasks sharing 75 minutes.