Practical guide
Check names, numbers and meaning in an AI transcript
A fluent transcript can still contain the wrong name, number, or negative. Use the recording to check the details that change the meaning before you publish a quote, send research notes, or create captions.
This checklist is for reviewing a transcript you already have. It does not score a speech model or certify the document. Keep a copy of the untouched transcript and work in a separate reviewed version.
Make a short reference list first
List the people, organizations, products, abbreviations, and project names you expect to hear. Use names supplied by the speaker or an authoritative project document. Treat that list as a spelling reference, not permission to replace an uncertain word with a plausible one.
Review five details against the audio
| Detail | What to check | How to record uncertainty |
|---|---|---|
| Names and terms | Listen to the first occurrence and later repetitions. Check spelling separately. | “Name unclear — verify with speaker.” |
| Numbers and units | Check the value, decimal point, currency, unit, and comparison together. | “15 or 50? Replay at 03:12.” |
| Negatives and conditions | Look for “not,” “unless,” “may,” and “if.” A missing qualifier can reverse a statement. | Retain the qualifier that is audible; flag the rest. |
| Speaker changes | Confirm who said a sentence using the recording, especially during interruptions. | Use an unknown speaker label when attribution is uncertain. |
| Quotes and decisions | Listen before and after the selected passage. Keep the surrounding condition or question. | Link the quote to its source time and note any editorial cut. |
A synthetic example
Draft: “We can ship fifteen units on Friday.”
Recording, after review: “We can't ship fifty units until Friday.”
This invented example shows why a sentence can look reasonable while changing quantity, timing, and meaning. A spelling checker alone cannot settle these questions.
Keep a change log you can hand off
Source file: interview-final.wav Source time: 03:12–03:18 Draft: [original wording] Reviewed: [wording checked against the recording] Reason: number / name / speaker / missing qualifier Still uncertain: [what needs confirmation] Reviewed by: [name or initials]
For subtitles, verify text first, then watch the captions with the actual video. A structurally valid subtitle file can still be out of sync. The free subtitle checker checks file structure and can apply a constant timing shift; it does not listen to the audio.
Know when to stop guessing
If a passage is inaudible, mark the uncertainty and retain its timestamp. Do not infer a missing quote from context. Where another person will rely on the wording, arrange a review appropriate to the intended use.
Need a transcript to start from? Send an audio or video file through the existing upload page. For human editing or a specific delivery format, describe the scope in writing.
Upload a recording · Ask about human review