What is the difference between verbatim and clean-read transcription?

Verbatim captures every word exactly as spoken, including fillers, false starts and non-verbal cues. Clean-read (word-for-word or grammatically correct) removes fillers and, at the top level, tidies grammar so the transcript reads like a finished document.

Can I use a transcription as subtitles?

A transcript is an essential first step towards subtitles, but it is not the same thing. Subtitles need timing, line breaks and formatting to subtitling standards. We can take your transcript and produce broadcast-standard subtitles from it.

How much does transcription cost?

It depends on the length and audio quality, the number of speakers, the language, the turnaround and the formatting required. Share your files and requirements and we will return an itemised quote.

How do I get started with a transcription project?

Send us your audio or video, the language, the style of transcript you need and your deadline. We come back with a quote — and most projects are underway within days.

Transcriber preparing a written transcript from audio in a studio

Audio & video transcription

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Professional transcription services

Transcription sounds simple — turn spoken words into a written transcript — but it is quietly easy to get wrong. The most common mix-up is with translation: if you need your content in another language, that is translation; if you need a written transcript in the same language as the original, that is transcription — and that is exactly what we do.

At GoLocalise, expert human transcribers deliver precise, flawless transcripts for audio and video content in over 100 languages. And because a good transcript is the foundation for subtitles, translation and voice over, everything we transcribe is ready to be repurposed across formats and markets.

Human transcribers, not raw machine output — accurate even with accents, crosstalk and technical terms
100+ languages, transcribed in the same language as your original content
Verbatim or clean-read, depending on whether you want every word or a polished transcript
A foundation for more — subtitles, translation and voice over from the same source file

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Specialist transcribing audio into a written document

How our transcription service works

Every project follows the same broad path: we review your source material, transcribe it in your chosen style, proofread and format the text, quality-check it against the original audio, and deliver it ready to use — or ready to become subtitles, a translation or a voice over.

Source review

Transcription

Proofreading

Formatting & timecodes

Quality assurance

Client review & revisions

Final delivery

Ready to repurpose

One team carries the project from source file to final transcript, so accuracy and consistency hold at every step.

Are there different types of transcription?

Verbatim transcription captures every word exactly as spoken — including interjections, false starts and emotional cues like sighs or laughter. It is ideal when you need the raw, unfiltered content of a conversation for editing or analysis.

Word-for-word transcription captures the text as spoken without correcting grammar or restructuring sentences, but removes filler words such as every “um” and “ahh” for a cleaner read.

Grammatically correct transcription removes fillers, drops false starts and self-corrections, and fixes grammar and mispronunciations. The result reads like a properly structured document — perfect for publishing as an article or anything public-facing.

Human quality, certified processes. Every transcript is produced and checked by people, backed by our ISO 9001 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental certifications — so you can relax and be assured of top-notch results.

How to choose the right transcription service

The first decision is which style of transcript serves your content: verbatim preserves every detail, word-for-word keeps the spoken flow without fillers, and a grammatically correct transcript reads like a finished document. The right choice depends on whether the text is for analysis, captioning or publication.

Next, look at language coverage in practice, not on paper. A provider may list dozens of languages and have real experience in only a handful. Ask what they have actually delivered in your language and industry.

Then consider what the transcript needs to become next. If subtitles, a translation or a voice over will follow, it pays to transcribe with a partner who handles those too, so the text is built to flow straight into the next step.

When we scope transcription work at GoLocalise, these are the areas we recommend pinning down first

Transcript style: verbatim, word-for-word or clean-read

Language coverage and proven experience

Timecodes, speaker labels and formatting

What the transcript becomes: subtitles, translation or voice over

Transcription pricing & project options

Transcription pricing depends on the length and audio quality of your material, the number of speakers, the language, the turnaround and the level of formatting you need. Because those variables change with every brief, we quote each project individually. The tiers below are reference points showing how projects of different scopes are usually structured:

Bronze

A simple, efficient option for clear single-speaker audio in the original language. Includes:

Clean-read transcription
Light proofreading
Delivery as a formatted document

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Silver

Ideal for interviews and multi-speaker content that needs more structure. Includes:

Verbatim or clean-read transcription
Speaker labels and timecodes
Proofreading and formatting
Delivery in your preferred format

Select plan

Gold

A complete solution for content that will be published or repurposed across platforms. Includes:

Verbatim or grammatically correct transcription
Speaker labels, timecodes and full formatting
Ready to convert into subtitles
Quality assurance against the source audio

Select plan

Custom projects

Most of the transcription work we take on is fully customised. Tell us what you are working with — languages, audio quality, deadlines and what the transcript needs to become — and we will build the quote around it.

Get a tailored quote for your project

The benefits of transcribing your audio & video content

Transcribing your content is not just about turning speech into text — it is about unlocking more value from materials you have already produced. A written version makes your content more discoverable, more accessible and far easier to repurpose.

Here is how a transcript earns its place across reach, accessibility and reuse.

Make your content more discoverable

Search engines cannot index what they cannot read. A text version of your podcast or video gives Google something to crawl, rank and surface.

That means more of the right people find your content when they search for related topics — boosting SEO, traffic and reach.

It also makes your material easier to quote: journalists and bloggers reach for the source they can cite, raising your profile and credibility.

Transcript being reviewed on screen for search visibility

Increase accessibility for every audience

Without a transcript, audio and video stay out of reach for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

A written version lets everyone engage with your message, regardless of hearing ability — and helps non-native speakers follow complex or colloquial content at their own pace.

Inclusive content is not only the right thing to do; it broadens the impact of everything you produce.

Editor preparing an accessible transcript from a video

Repurpose your content for maximum impact

High-quality audio and video is expensive to make — so why use it once? A transcript is the raw material for blog posts, newsletters and social snippets.

One podcast episode can become several articles or a run of social posts, keeping your message alive far longer.

And because our transcripts are built to flow straight into subtitles, translation and voice over, the same source can reach global audiences in any format you need.

Transcript repurposed into subtitles and articles in a studio

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What our happy customers say

Adam RuddickHead of Production at Casual Films

Patricia Leon-FedorkoAccount Specialist at Advanced Language

Lucas ColeSales and Marketing Director at Epipheo

FAQs

Transcription is the process of turning spoken words from audio or video content into a written transcript in the same language as the original. If you need the content in a different language, that is translation — which we also offer.