Tools for Reporters

Share this post

Why I otter...

toolsforreporters.substack.com

Discover more from Tools for Reporters

A new tool in your inbox, every other week.
Over 5,000 subscribers
Continue reading
Sign in

Why I otter...

Samantha Sunne
Nov 20, 2019
Share this post

Why I otter...

toolsforreporters.substack.com
Share

Hey, reporters! I’ve been holding off on trying Otter, mainly cause I just don’t work with audio all that much. But HOLY COW.

Otter is an audio transcription tool (the latest of many, if we’re being honest). You record or upload a file and it spits out some text. Figuring I should finally try it out, I uploaded part of a City Council meeting - and boom!

I was shocked to see my text just sitting there, before I could even figure out how to start transcribing. It did take a few minutes to finish the rest, but it was a 9-minute piece of audio. And the transcript was quite accurate, as far as these things go.

Accurate + Fast + Cheap tends to be the “You can only choose one” triangle for audio transcription tools, but Otter very nearly hits them all.

You get 600 free minutes per month, which, I have to admit, made me immediately start checking if they’re selling my data. (Verdict: they’re not, necessarily, but nothing is stopping them, either.) But this is a shockingly good tool, even with that in mind. Transcribe your interviews, reporters!

Did you miss the last TFR? Find political donations, campaign funds and more with OpenSecrets

Share this post

Why I otter...

toolsforreporters.substack.com
Share
Comments
Top
New
Community

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2023 Samantha Sunne
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing