Working with Interview Transcripts

Transform Audio into Searchable, Aligned Content

Transcripts unlock powerful post-production capabilities in InterviewCue. Upload your interview transcript and get timestamp alignment with edited audio, searchable conversation text, and precise export timing.

Why Use Transcripts?

Before transcripts:

  • Events aligned only with original recording
  • Can't search conversation content
  • Manual timestamp adjustment after editing
  • Guesswork finding specific moments

With transcripts:

  • ✅ Automatic timestamp alignment after editing
  • ✅ Search the actual conversation
  • ✅ See what was said at each event
  • ✅ Export with precise final timestamps
  • ✅ Navigate to exact moments

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing transcript alongside timeline]

What Are Transcripts?

A transcript is a text representation of your interview with precise timestamps showing when each word was spoken.

Supported Formats

InterviewCue supports two standard transcript formats:

WebVTT (.vtt) - Recommended

WEBVTT

00:00:02.340 --> 00:00:05.120
Welcome to the show, Sarah!

00:00:05.450 --> 00:00:08.230
Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here.

SubRip (.srt)

1
00:00:02,340 --> 00:00:05,120
Welcome to the show, Sarah!

2
00:00:05,450 --> 00:00:08,230
Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Plain Text (.txt) - Limited

  • Text only, no timestamps
  • For viewing alongside timeline
  • No alignment features

Getting Transcripts

Option 1: Transcription Services (Recommended)

Professional transcription services provide accurate, timestamped transcripts:

Automated (Fast & Affordable):

  • Otter.ai - Export as SRT
  • Trint - Export as VTT
  • Rev.com (automated) - Export as SRT
  • Descript - Export as VTT
  • Assembly AI - API with VTT export
  • Whisper API (OpenAI) - VTT format

Human (Most Accurate):

  • Rev.com (human) - Export as SRT
  • GoTranscript - Export as SRT
  • Scribie - Export as VTT

Option 2: Self-Transcription with Whisper

Whisper (by OpenAI) is a powerful free tool for audio transcription:

Installation options:

  • Whisper Desktop (Mac/Windows) - GUI application
  • whisper.cpp (all platforms) - Command-line tool
  • Whisper API (OpenAI) - Cloud service ($0.006/minute)

Basic usage (command-line):

whisper interview.mp3 --model medium --output_format vtt

Pros:

  • Free (self-hosted)
  • Good accuracy
  • Multiple language support
  • VTT export built-in

Cons:

  • Requires technical setup
  • Processing time (not instant)
  • GPU recommended for speed

Option 3: Video Platform Auto-Captions

If you publish video podcasts:

YouTube:

  1. Upload your video
  2. Wait for auto-captions
  3. Go to Subtitles → Options → Download
  4. Choose SRT format

Vimeo:

  1. Enable auto-captions
  2. Download as SRT

Pros: Free if you're already uploading
Cons: Quality varies, requires video upload

Uploading Transcripts

Step-by-Step Upload

  1. Navigate to post-production timeline:

    • Open your interview
    • Click "Post-Production" or "Timeline"

  2. Find transcript upload section:

    • Look for "Upload Transcript" button
    • Or "Transcript" tab/section

  3. Select your transcript file:

    • Click "Choose File"
    • Select your .vtt or .srt file
    • File must be under 10MB

  4. Upload:

    • Click "Upload"
    • Processing takes a few seconds
    • Transcript appears below timeline

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of transcript upload interface]

Transcript Compression

InterviewCue automatically compresses transcripts for storage efficiency:

  • Typical size: 140KB → 14KB (90% reduction)
  • Compression: XZ/LZMA algorithm
  • Performance: Decompression is instant (~1-2ms)
  • Benefits: Faster loading, lower storage costs

You won't notice anything different—it's completely transparent!

Viewing Transcripts

Transcript Display

Once uploaded, the transcript appears:

In post-production timeline:

  • Below the event timeline
  • Scrollable text area
  • Synced with events
  • Searchable (Ctrl+F/Cmd+F)

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of transcript display in timeline]

What you see:

  • Full conversation text
  • Timestamps for each caption
  • Speaker changes (if labeled)
  • Scrollable content

Reading Alongside Timeline

Powerful workflow:

  1. Review timeline events at the top
  2. Read transcript below
  3. See context for each captured moment
  4. Verify timestamps match conversation
  5. Find specific quotes easily

Example:

Timeline:
├─ 04:23 - Highlight: "Amazing Beijing story"

Transcript:
00:04:20 --> 00:04:35
When I was seven years old in Beijing, I saw
the smog so thick you couldn't see across the
street. That moment changed everything for me.

Now you know exactly what was said!

Transcript Alignment (Advanced)

The Post-Production Problem

Here's what happens after recording:

  1. You record a 45-minute interview
  2. Your events are timestamped to the original recording
  3. You edit the audio:
    • Cut intro chatter (2 minutes)
    • Remove long "umm" section (30 seconds)
    • Trim ending (1 minute)
  4. Final published episode is 41 minutes
  5. Problem: Your event timestamps are now wrong!

Example:

  • Event captured at 12:30 in original
  • But that moment is at 10:15 in final edit
  • Chapter markers don't match published audio

How Alignment Works

InterviewCue's intelligent alignment fixes this automatically:

Process:

  1. Upload your original transcript (from raw audio)
  2. Record your interview with event capture
  3. Edit your audio (trim, cut, etc.)
  4. Upload the final transcript (from edited audio)
  5. Click "Align Timestamps"
  6. Magic happens:
    • InterviewCue finds unique phrases from events
    • Matches them in both transcripts
    • Calculates time offsets
    • Adjusts all timestamps automatically

[PLACEHOLDER: Diagram showing alignment process]

Using Alignment

Step-by-step:

  1. After editing your audio:

    • Generate a new transcript from edited version
    • This is your "final transcript"

  2. Upload final transcript:

    • Go to post-production timeline
    • Click "Align with Final Transcript"
    • Upload the edited audio's transcript

  3. Review alignment:

    • InterviewCue shows confidence scores
    • Green (90%+) = high confidence match
    • Yellow (70-89%) = good match
    • Red (<70%) = manual review needed

  4. Apply alignment:

    • Click "Apply Alignment"
    • All event timestamps updated
    • Original timestamps preserved

  5. Export with corrected timestamps!

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot of alignment UI with confidence scores]

Alignment Accuracy

High-accuracy matching:

  • Finds unique 3+ word phrases
  • Perfect matches get 90% confidence
  • Interpolation for nearby events
  • Handles complex edits

What it handles well:

  • Intro/outro trimming
  • Cutting "umm" and pauses
  • Removing sections
  • Reordering segments

Limitations:

  • Very heavy editing (50%+ cuts)
  • Major reordering
  • Added content (ads, music)

Best practice: Upload both transcripts and review confidence scores before exporting.

Searching Transcripts

Finding Specific Moments

Use your browser's search (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F):

  1. Open post-production timeline
  2. Press Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac)
  3. Type what you're looking for
  4. Browser highlights matches
  5. Scroll to see context

Perfect for:

  • Finding specific quotes
  • Locating guest's name mentions
  • Finding technical terms
  • Verifying what was said

[PLACEHOLDER: Screenshot showing search in transcript]

Combined Search Strategy

Powerful workflow:

Step 1: Search captured events

  • Use event type filters
  • Find approximate location

Step 2: Read transcript

  • See context around event
  • Find exact quote

Step 3: Verify timestamp

  • Check alignment
  • Confirm timing

Step 4: Export with confidence

  • Know exactly what's at each timestamp

Export with Transcripts

Enhanced Export Formats

When you have transcripts, exports can include more detail:

Markdown export:

## Timeline

### 02:15 - Question: "What inspired you?"

**Transcript excerpt:**
> I was seven years old in Beijing when I saw the smog...

### 04:23 - Highlight (Captured by Producer)

**Quote:**
> "That moment changed everything for me."

CSV export:

Time,Type,Note,Transcript
02:15,Question,"What inspired you?","[transcript excerpt]"
04:23,Highlight,"Beijing story","That moment changed..."

Exporting Transcript Separately

Download the transcript itself:

  1. Post-production timeline
  2. Click "Download Transcript"
  3. Choose format:
    • VTT (original format)
    • TXT (plain text, no timestamps)
    • JSON (with metadata)

Use cases:

  • Share with editor
  • Import into video editing software
  • Archive for records
  • Publish as show notes

Best Practices

Transcript Quality Matters

For best alignment results:

✅ Use professional transcription services (human or good AI)
✅ Include timestamps (VTT or SRT format)
✅ Keep speaker labels if available
✅ Verify accuracy before uploading

❌ Avoid very low-quality auto-transcripts
❌ Don't use transcripts with major errors
❌ Don't upload transcripts of wrong audio

Workflow Recommendations

Option 1: Quick & Simple (No Alignment)

  1. Record interview
  2. Edit audio
  3. Generate transcript from final audio
  4. Upload to InterviewCue
  5. Export with rough timestamps

Good for: Fast turnaround, minimal editing

Option 2: Professional (With Alignment)

  1. Record interview
  2. Generate transcript from raw audio
  3. Upload to InterviewCue (original transcript)
  4. Conduct interview with event capture
  5. Edit audio (trim, cut, etc.)
  6. Generate transcript from edited audio
  7. Upload final transcript and align
  8. Export with precise timestamps

Good for: Professional production, chapter markers, complex edits

Storage & Performance

Transcript storage:

  • Compressed automatically (90% reduction)
  • No storage concerns
  • Instant decompression

Performance:

  • Transcripts load quickly
  • Search is instant (browser-based)
  • No lag from transcript size

Recommendation: Upload transcripts for all interviews—there's no downside!

Troubleshooting

Upload Fails

Possible causes:

  • File too large (>10MB)
  • Wrong format (not VTT/SRT/TXT)
  • Corrupted file
  • Network issue

Solutions:

  • Check file size and format
  • Re-export from transcription service
  • Try different browser
  • Check internet connection

Transcript Displays Incorrectly

Check:

  • File encoding (should be UTF-8)
  • Format validity (valid VTT/SRT)
  • Special characters rendering

Fix:

  • Re-export with UTF-8 encoding
  • Use text editor to validate format
  • Remove problematic characters

Alignment Confidence Low

If most matches are < 70%:

Possible causes:

  • Transcripts from different audio versions
  • Very heavy editing
  • Transcript quality too low
  • Wrong transcript uploaded

Solutions:

  • Verify you uploaded correct transcripts
  • Check if editing was too extensive
  • Consider manual timestamp adjustment
  • Use higher-quality transcription service

Can't Find Transcript After Upload

Check:

  • Did upload succeed? (look for success message)
  • Are you on the right interview?
  • Refresh the page
  • Check "Transcript" tab/section

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need transcripts to use InterviewCue?

No! Transcripts are optional. They enable advanced features but aren't required.

Can I edit transcripts after uploading?

Not currently. To change a transcript, re-upload a corrected version.

Will transcripts be auto-generated?

Future feature! We're exploring auto-transcription using Whisper.

Do transcripts work with all export formats?

Some formats include transcript excerpts (Markdown, JSON). Others focus on timestamps only (EDL, CUE).

Can I share transcripts with my share links?

Not currently. Share links show the timeline, but not full transcripts (privacy feature).

Are transcripts searchable from interview list?

Not yet. You can search event notes from the interview list, but not full transcripts.

How accurate does the transcript need to be?

For alignment: 85%+ accuracy recommended. For viewing: any accuracy helpful.

Can I upload multiple versions?

You can replace transcripts. Original transcript can be kept, then final transcript added for alignment.

Example Workflow

Professional Podcast Production

Day 1: Recording

  1. Interview Sarah about sustainable tech
  2. Record with InterviewCue Live Mode
  3. Capture 15 events (highlights, chapters, audio issues)
  4. Interview ends, timeline saved

Day 2: Transcription

  1. Send raw audio to Rev.com (human transcription)
  2. Receive VTT transcript (24-hour turnaround)
  3. Upload original transcript to InterviewCue

Day 3: Editing

  1. Edit audio in Audition:
    • Remove 2-minute intro chat
    • Cut several "umm" sections
    • Trim ending
    • Final: 41 minutes (from 45 minutes)

Day 4: Final Transcript & Alignment

  1. Generate new transcript from edited audio (Whisper)
  2. Upload final transcript to InterviewCue
  3. Click "Align Timestamps"
  4. Review confidence scores (all 90%+)
  5. Apply alignment

Day 5: Export & Publish

  1. Export CUE sheet with corrected timestamps
  2. Embed chapter markers in MP3
  3. Export Markdown show notes with quotes
  4. Publish episode with perfect chapters!

Result: Professional, perfectly-timed output.

Related Documentation

Get Started with Transcripts

Ready to add transcripts to your workflow?

  1. Record your interview with InterviewCue
  2. Get a transcript (Rev, Otter, Whisper, etc.)
  3. Upload to post-production timeline
  4. Experience enhanced post-production!

Transcripts turn audio into searchable, aligned, professional content. 📝✨