The Ultimate Guide: 6 Premier Automatic Transcription Programs

The Best Automatic Transcription Software

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Transcribing the audio and video recordings of interviews and meetings can help you to understand better the data you collected. Even if you are creating video content, a transcription can assist you in increasing its visibility on search engines. Transcribing a recording of any kind can make it easier to organize and archive the information the recording contains, and it enables you to have easy access to this data whenever you need it.

However, transcribing a single video or audio file can be a painstakingly long and time-consuming process. That is why opting for an automatic transcription software is the right choice for you if you are looking for a way to save time on audio and video transcription.

In this article, we are going to take you through some of the best automatic transcription software products and help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

The Best Automatic Transcription Software in 2020

Even though a quick Google search is going to reveal a broad spectrum of different automatic transcription software products that are advertised as free, you will still have to purchase a license or a subscription if you want to use all of their features. Let’s take a look at some of the best automatic transcription software in 2020, including free and paid solutions both.

1. Trint

Price: Free trial available, pricing options start at $44 per month

Compatibility: Web-based, iOS

In case you don’t want to go through the hustle of installing an automatic transcription software on your PC or Mac, then Trint is an excellent choice for you, as it allows you to transcribe audio and video files directly from your web browser. Besides turning video and files into text in minutes, Trint also lets you edit the transcribed text, add captions to videos or even share these files on the Internet.

The software is equipped with advanced text-to-speech algorithms that can transcribe audio and video recordings in a broad range of different languages, including all dialects of the English language.

Once the automatic transcription process is completed, you can use the software’s text editor to improve the quality of the transcription and then embed a searchable transcript to your website. However, the number of available features depends on the pricing plan you choose.

Pros

• All transcriptions are delivered quickly
• Excellent text editing tools
• Support for a large number of different languages
• Allows users to choose the format in which they save their text files

Cons

• More expensive than most automatic transcription software products
• Struggles with long and complex audio and video files

2. Happy Scribe

Price: $14 for one hour of transcription

Compatibility: web-based

Podcasters, video editors, journalists, and researchers can use Happy Scribe with the same level of efficiency, as this web-based application allows them to transcribe audio and video files quickly and accurately. It will take less than 20 minutes to get the first draft of an hour-long recording, while the Speaker Identification feature enables the app to create a new paragraph each time it recognizes a new speaker.

The platform’s algorithms have advanced punctuation capabilities that enable it to use commas, question marks, and full-stops correctly. Furthermore, Happy Scribe’s text editor provides proofreading help so that you can easily identify parts of the text that need to be tightened up. You can also highlight or comment on a section of a text and create a reminder for yourself or your colleagues. Happy Scribe can transcribe texts in 119 languages with excellent accuracy and it lets you export your transcripts in all commonly used text file formats.

Pros

• Quick upload times
• Available in 119 languages and accents
• Results are available within a short period of time
• Equipped with the Speaker Identification feature

Cons

• No monthly or annual subscription available
• Limited file-sharing capabilities

3. Sonix

Price: The first 30 minutes of transcription are free, pricing options start at $10 per hour

Compatibility: Web-based

If you are looking for an affordable automatic transcription software that is stacked with features that enable you to transcribe audio and video files in minutes then Sonix is the right choice for you. This web-based application needs three to four minutes to transcribe a 30-minute audio or video recording.

You can choose if you want to upload files from your computer, Google Drive or Dropbox, and Sonix is going to transcribe them for you automatically. The best part is that you can just click on any part of the generated text and the app is going to play the video or audio recording from that exact spot. Furthermore, you can alter the playback speed of all files you upload to Sonix, use the AudioText Editor that allows you to listen to the audio or video file you transcribed while you are editing it or download the snippets of highlighted text as audio files.

Pros

• Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Avid Media Compose integrations
• Features an integrated media player
• Audio and text are synchronized
• Allows users to export transcripts in a broad range of file formats

Cons

• Available features depend on the pricing model
• Automatic transcriptions aren’t always 100% accurate

4. Vocalmatic

Price: The first 30 minutes of transcription are free, pricing options start at $15 for one hour

Compatibility: Web-based

This is a simple online tool that enables podcasters and journalists to transcribe audio and video files. Vocalmatic allows its users to turn a video or an audio recording into text in just a few simple steps, as you just have to upload an MP3, WAV, MP4, WEBM, or MOV file to the platform, and Vocalmatic’s AI will transcribe it for you.

The platform sends you a link to your email once the transcription is completed so that you can edit the text. The app’s online text editor grants you complete control over the timecoded transcript and it allows you to speed up the playback of the file you are transcribing or quickly jump to a particular part of the recording. However, you won’t have a lot of options at your disposal while exporting from Vocalmatic, as you can only save a file as Raw Text or a Word document.

Pros

• The simple and quick transcription process
• Allows users to upload files in different audio and video formats
• Offers automatic transcription in more than a hundred languages
• Equipped with a powerful Speech-to-Text technology

Cons

• No Speaker Recognition capabilities
• Features only basic text editing tools

5. Temi

Price: The first 45 minutes of transcription are free, $0.25 per minute

Compatibility: Web-based, Android, iOS

Transcribing all types of audio and video files with Temi is a straightforward process that only requires you to upload, edit, and download the completed transcript. The web-based automatic transcription software is equipped with a powerful proprietary algorithm that identifies different speakers effortlessly and allows you to create custom timestamps.

Once the transcript is generated you can use the platform’s text editing tools to polish it, although you should keep in mind that Temi offers only basic text editing options. Besides using Temi from a web browser, you can also install the Temi app on your Android or your iPhone and transcribe all audio or video content you capture with your Smartphone just moments after recording it. However, the accuracy of the transcript largely depends on the quality of the recording, as transcripts of videos or audio recordings that contain heavy background noise are mostly unusable.

Pros

• Affordable, and easy to use
• Allows users to upload all types of audio and video files
• Features Speaker Identification technology
• Quick turnaround

Cons

• Temi can only transcribe audio and video files in the English language
• The accuracy of the transcription depends on the quality of the recording

6. Otter

Price: Free, pricing plans start at $8.33 per month

Compatibility: Web-based, iOS, Android

Otter is a great option for anyone in need of an online app that allows them to make audio recordings and transcribe them in real-time. The platform is equipped with speaker identification technology, and it grants you access to a variety of text editing and file-sharing options. However, you cannot transcribe more than 600 hours of content per month with the free version of Otter.

Furthermore, you will have to opt for either the Premium or the Team subscription model if you want to upload prerecorded audio and video files to Otter. The bulk import and export options, a custom vocabulary, or syncing video and audio directly from Dropbox are just a few among numerous options you will have at your disposal if you get a monthly subscription. However, capturing live notes in Zoom meetings, time codes or shared speaker voiceprints are only available within the Team subscription plan.

Pros

• Offers 600 hours of free transcriptions each month
• Transcribes audio recordings in real-time
• Allows users to sync Zoom cloud recordings
• Excellent collaboration features

Cons

• Importing audio or video files is not possible on the free version of Otter
• Time codes are only available within the Team subscription model

Part 2: 3 Tips for Choosing an Automatic Transcription Software

The features of automatic transcription software products offer vary, which is the reason why checking the software’s list of features is the first thing you need to do while searching for a new automatic transcription software. The accuracy with which a software transcribes audio and video files, the amount of text editing tools it offers, or the number of supported languages are just a few among numerous aspects you have to consider before deciding which automatic transcription software you should get.

You don’t have to worry about the software’s compatibility, as you just need a web browser to use any of the automatic subscription software products we featured in this article. However, if you want to transcribe audio and video files from your Smartphone, you should check if the app is compatible with your device and its operating system.

There are only a handful of automatic transcription software products on the market that can be used free of charge, which is why you need to decide if you want to pay per minute of transcription or get a monthly subscription. So, if you are transcribing hundreds of hours of audio and video content each month, it is more affordable to purchase a monthly subscription while paying per minute of transcription is a better option if you don’t transcribe audio and video files often.

Part 3: Automatic Transcription Software FAQs

What is Automatic Transcription?

Automatic transcription is the process during which AI algorithms listen to an audio or video file and transcribe it into text. All automatic transcription software products are equipped with a Speech-to-Text technology that generates text with varying levels of accuracy. That’s the reason why nearly all automatic transcription software products have text editors that allow you to identify and correct mistakes quickly.

What are the Biggest Benefits of Automatic Transcription?

Transcribing an audio or video file manually can take a lot of time and effort, while automatic transcription allows you to generate a transcript in just a few minutes. Afterward, you can just edit the text and use it to access important information quickly or upload it to your website in order to increase its visibility on search engines.

Conclusion

You don’t have to spend countless hours on audio and video file transcriptions since automatic transcription software products offer a simple solution. What’s more, you won’t even have to go through the software installation process, as each of the automatic transcriptions software products we featured in this article can be used from a web browser. Which automatic transcription software are you going to choose? Leave a comment and let us know.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Transcribing the audio and video recordings of interviews and meetings can help you to understand better the data you collected. Even if you are creating video content, a transcription can assist you in increasing its visibility on search engines. Transcribing a recording of any kind can make it easier to organize and archive the information the recording contains, and it enables you to have easy access to this data whenever you need it.

However, transcribing a single video or audio file can be a painstakingly long and time-consuming process. That is why opting for an automatic transcription software is the right choice for you if you are looking for a way to save time on audio and video transcription.

In this article, we are going to take you through some of the best automatic transcription software products and help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

The Best Automatic Transcription Software in 2020

Even though a quick Google search is going to reveal a broad spectrum of different automatic transcription software products that are advertised as free, you will still have to purchase a license or a subscription if you want to use all of their features. Let’s take a look at some of the best automatic transcription software in 2020, including free and paid solutions both.

1. Trint

Price: Free trial available, pricing options start at $44 per month

Compatibility: Web-based, iOS

In case you don’t want to go through the hustle of installing an automatic transcription software on your PC or Mac, then Trint is an excellent choice for you, as it allows you to transcribe audio and video files directly from your web browser. Besides turning video and files into text in minutes, Trint also lets you edit the transcribed text, add captions to videos or even share these files on the Internet.

The software is equipped with advanced text-to-speech algorithms that can transcribe audio and video recordings in a broad range of different languages, including all dialects of the English language.

Once the automatic transcription process is completed, you can use the software’s text editor to improve the quality of the transcription and then embed a searchable transcript to your website. However, the number of available features depends on the pricing plan you choose.

Pros

• All transcriptions are delivered quickly
• Excellent text editing tools
• Support for a large number of different languages
• Allows users to choose the format in which they save their text files

Cons

• More expensive than most automatic transcription software products
• Struggles with long and complex audio and video files

2. Happy Scribe

Price: $14 for one hour of transcription

Compatibility: web-based

Podcasters, video editors, journalists, and researchers can use Happy Scribe with the same level of efficiency, as this web-based application allows them to transcribe audio and video files quickly and accurately. It will take less than 20 minutes to get the first draft of an hour-long recording, while the Speaker Identification feature enables the app to create a new paragraph each time it recognizes a new speaker.

The platform’s algorithms have advanced punctuation capabilities that enable it to use commas, question marks, and full-stops correctly. Furthermore, Happy Scribe’s text editor provides proofreading help so that you can easily identify parts of the text that need to be tightened up. You can also highlight or comment on a section of a text and create a reminder for yourself or your colleagues. Happy Scribe can transcribe texts in 119 languages with excellent accuracy and it lets you export your transcripts in all commonly used text file formats.

Pros

• Quick upload times
• Available in 119 languages and accents
• Results are available within a short period of time
• Equipped with the Speaker Identification feature

Cons

• No monthly or annual subscription available
• Limited file-sharing capabilities

3. Sonix

Price: The first 30 minutes of transcription are free, pricing options start at $10 per hour

Compatibility: Web-based

If you are looking for an affordable automatic transcription software that is stacked with features that enable you to transcribe audio and video files in minutes then Sonix is the right choice for you. This web-based application needs three to four minutes to transcribe a 30-minute audio or video recording.

You can choose if you want to upload files from your computer, Google Drive or Dropbox, and Sonix is going to transcribe them for you automatically. The best part is that you can just click on any part of the generated text and the app is going to play the video or audio recording from that exact spot. Furthermore, you can alter the playback speed of all files you upload to Sonix, use the AudioText Editor that allows you to listen to the audio or video file you transcribed while you are editing it or download the snippets of highlighted text as audio files.

Pros

• Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Avid Media Compose integrations
• Features an integrated media player
• Audio and text are synchronized
• Allows users to export transcripts in a broad range of file formats

Cons

• Available features depend on the pricing model
• Automatic transcriptions aren’t always 100% accurate

4. Vocalmatic

Price: The first 30 minutes of transcription are free, pricing options start at $15 for one hour

Compatibility: Web-based

This is a simple online tool that enables podcasters and journalists to transcribe audio and video files. Vocalmatic allows its users to turn a video or an audio recording into text in just a few simple steps, as you just have to upload an MP3, WAV, MP4, WEBM, or MOV file to the platform, and Vocalmatic’s AI will transcribe it for you.

The platform sends you a link to your email once the transcription is completed so that you can edit the text. The app’s online text editor grants you complete control over the timecoded transcript and it allows you to speed up the playback of the file you are transcribing or quickly jump to a particular part of the recording. However, you won’t have a lot of options at your disposal while exporting from Vocalmatic, as you can only save a file as Raw Text or a Word document.

Pros

• The simple and quick transcription process
• Allows users to upload files in different audio and video formats
• Offers automatic transcription in more than a hundred languages
• Equipped with a powerful Speech-to-Text technology

Cons

• No Speaker Recognition capabilities
• Features only basic text editing tools

5. Temi

Price: The first 45 minutes of transcription are free, $0.25 per minute

Compatibility: Web-based, Android, iOS

Transcribing all types of audio and video files with Temi is a straightforward process that only requires you to upload, edit, and download the completed transcript. The web-based automatic transcription software is equipped with a powerful proprietary algorithm that identifies different speakers effortlessly and allows you to create custom timestamps.

Once the transcript is generated you can use the platform’s text editing tools to polish it, although you should keep in mind that Temi offers only basic text editing options. Besides using Temi from a web browser, you can also install the Temi app on your Android or your iPhone and transcribe all audio or video content you capture with your Smartphone just moments after recording it. However, the accuracy of the transcript largely depends on the quality of the recording, as transcripts of videos or audio recordings that contain heavy background noise are mostly unusable.

Pros

• Affordable, and easy to use
• Allows users to upload all types of audio and video files
• Features Speaker Identification technology
• Quick turnaround

Cons

• Temi can only transcribe audio and video files in the English language
• The accuracy of the transcription depends on the quality of the recording

6. Otter

Price: Free, pricing plans start at $8.33 per month

Compatibility: Web-based, iOS, Android

Otter is a great option for anyone in need of an online app that allows them to make audio recordings and transcribe them in real-time. The platform is equipped with speaker identification technology, and it grants you access to a variety of text editing and file-sharing options. However, you cannot transcribe more than 600 hours of content per month with the free version of Otter.

Furthermore, you will have to opt for either the Premium or the Team subscription model if you want to upload prerecorded audio and video files to Otter. The bulk import and export options, a custom vocabulary, or syncing video and audio directly from Dropbox are just a few among numerous options you will have at your disposal if you get a monthly subscription. However, capturing live notes in Zoom meetings, time codes or shared speaker voiceprints are only available within the Team subscription plan.

Pros

• Offers 600 hours of free transcriptions each month
• Transcribes audio recordings in real-time
• Allows users to sync Zoom cloud recordings
• Excellent collaboration features

Cons

• Importing audio or video files is not possible on the free version of Otter
• Time codes are only available within the Team subscription model

Part 2: 3 Tips for Choosing an Automatic Transcription Software

The features of automatic transcription software products offer vary, which is the reason why checking the software’s list of features is the first thing you need to do while searching for a new automatic transcription software. The accuracy with which a software transcribes audio and video files, the amount of text editing tools it offers, or the number of supported languages are just a few among numerous aspects you have to consider before deciding which automatic transcription software you should get.

You don’t have to worry about the software’s compatibility, as you just need a web browser to use any of the automatic subscription software products we featured in this article. However, if you want to transcribe audio and video files from your Smartphone, you should check if the app is compatible with your device and its operating system.

There are only a handful of automatic transcription software products on the market that can be used free of charge, which is why you need to decide if you want to pay per minute of transcription or get a monthly subscription. So, if you are transcribing hundreds of hours of audio and video content each month, it is more affordable to purchase a monthly subscription while paying per minute of transcription is a better option if you don’t transcribe audio and video files often.

Part 3: Automatic Transcription Software FAQs

What is Automatic Transcription?

Automatic transcription is the process during which AI algorithms listen to an audio or video file and transcribe it into text. All automatic transcription software products are equipped with a Speech-to-Text technology that generates text with varying levels of accuracy. That’s the reason why nearly all automatic transcription software products have text editors that allow you to identify and correct mistakes quickly.

What are the Biggest Benefits of Automatic Transcription?

Transcribing an audio or video file manually can take a lot of time and effort, while automatic transcription allows you to generate a transcript in just a few minutes. Afterward, you can just edit the text and use it to access important information quickly or upload it to your website in order to increase its visibility on search engines.

Conclusion

You don’t have to spend countless hours on audio and video file transcriptions since automatic transcription software products offer a simple solution. What’s more, you won’t even have to go through the software installation process, as each of the automatic transcriptions software products we featured in this article can be used from a web browser. Which automatic transcription software are you going to choose? Leave a comment and let us know.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Transcribing the audio and video recordings of interviews and meetings can help you to understand better the data you collected. Even if you are creating video content, a transcription can assist you in increasing its visibility on search engines. Transcribing a recording of any kind can make it easier to organize and archive the information the recording contains, and it enables you to have easy access to this data whenever you need it.

However, transcribing a single video or audio file can be a painstakingly long and time-consuming process. That is why opting for an automatic transcription software is the right choice for you if you are looking for a way to save time on audio and video transcription.

In this article, we are going to take you through some of the best automatic transcription software products and help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

The Best Automatic Transcription Software in 2020

Even though a quick Google search is going to reveal a broad spectrum of different automatic transcription software products that are advertised as free, you will still have to purchase a license or a subscription if you want to use all of their features. Let’s take a look at some of the best automatic transcription software in 2020, including free and paid solutions both.

1. Trint

Price: Free trial available, pricing options start at $44 per month

Compatibility: Web-based, iOS

In case you don’t want to go through the hustle of installing an automatic transcription software on your PC or Mac, then Trint is an excellent choice for you, as it allows you to transcribe audio and video files directly from your web browser. Besides turning video and files into text in minutes, Trint also lets you edit the transcribed text, add captions to videos or even share these files on the Internet.

The software is equipped with advanced text-to-speech algorithms that can transcribe audio and video recordings in a broad range of different languages, including all dialects of the English language.

Once the automatic transcription process is completed, you can use the software’s text editor to improve the quality of the transcription and then embed a searchable transcript to your website. However, the number of available features depends on the pricing plan you choose.

Pros

• All transcriptions are delivered quickly
• Excellent text editing tools
• Support for a large number of different languages
• Allows users to choose the format in which they save their text files

Cons

• More expensive than most automatic transcription software products
• Struggles with long and complex audio and video files

2. Happy Scribe

Price: $14 for one hour of transcription

Compatibility: web-based

Podcasters, video editors, journalists, and researchers can use Happy Scribe with the same level of efficiency, as this web-based application allows them to transcribe audio and video files quickly and accurately. It will take less than 20 minutes to get the first draft of an hour-long recording, while the Speaker Identification feature enables the app to create a new paragraph each time it recognizes a new speaker.

The platform’s algorithms have advanced punctuation capabilities that enable it to use commas, question marks, and full-stops correctly. Furthermore, Happy Scribe’s text editor provides proofreading help so that you can easily identify parts of the text that need to be tightened up. You can also highlight or comment on a section of a text and create a reminder for yourself or your colleagues. Happy Scribe can transcribe texts in 119 languages with excellent accuracy and it lets you export your transcripts in all commonly used text file formats.

Pros

• Quick upload times
• Available in 119 languages and accents
• Results are available within a short period of time
• Equipped with the Speaker Identification feature

Cons

• No monthly or annual subscription available
• Limited file-sharing capabilities

3. Sonix

Price: The first 30 minutes of transcription are free, pricing options start at $10 per hour

Compatibility: Web-based

If you are looking for an affordable automatic transcription software that is stacked with features that enable you to transcribe audio and video files in minutes then Sonix is the right choice for you. This web-based application needs three to four minutes to transcribe a 30-minute audio or video recording.

You can choose if you want to upload files from your computer, Google Drive or Dropbox, and Sonix is going to transcribe them for you automatically. The best part is that you can just click on any part of the generated text and the app is going to play the video or audio recording from that exact spot. Furthermore, you can alter the playback speed of all files you upload to Sonix, use the AudioText Editor that allows you to listen to the audio or video file you transcribed while you are editing it or download the snippets of highlighted text as audio files.

Pros

• Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Avid Media Compose integrations
• Features an integrated media player
• Audio and text are synchronized
• Allows users to export transcripts in a broad range of file formats

Cons

• Available features depend on the pricing model
• Automatic transcriptions aren’t always 100% accurate

4. Vocalmatic

Price: The first 30 minutes of transcription are free, pricing options start at $15 for one hour

Compatibility: Web-based

This is a simple online tool that enables podcasters and journalists to transcribe audio and video files. Vocalmatic allows its users to turn a video or an audio recording into text in just a few simple steps, as you just have to upload an MP3, WAV, MP4, WEBM, or MOV file to the platform, and Vocalmatic’s AI will transcribe it for you.

The platform sends you a link to your email once the transcription is completed so that you can edit the text. The app’s online text editor grants you complete control over the timecoded transcript and it allows you to speed up the playback of the file you are transcribing or quickly jump to a particular part of the recording. However, you won’t have a lot of options at your disposal while exporting from Vocalmatic, as you can only save a file as Raw Text or a Word document.

Pros

• The simple and quick transcription process
• Allows users to upload files in different audio and video formats
• Offers automatic transcription in more than a hundred languages
• Equipped with a powerful Speech-to-Text technology

Cons

• No Speaker Recognition capabilities
• Features only basic text editing tools

5. Temi

Price: The first 45 minutes of transcription are free, $0.25 per minute

Compatibility: Web-based, Android, iOS

Transcribing all types of audio and video files with Temi is a straightforward process that only requires you to upload, edit, and download the completed transcript. The web-based automatic transcription software is equipped with a powerful proprietary algorithm that identifies different speakers effortlessly and allows you to create custom timestamps.

Once the transcript is generated you can use the platform’s text editing tools to polish it, although you should keep in mind that Temi offers only basic text editing options. Besides using Temi from a web browser, you can also install the Temi app on your Android or your iPhone and transcribe all audio or video content you capture with your Smartphone just moments after recording it. However, the accuracy of the transcript largely depends on the quality of the recording, as transcripts of videos or audio recordings that contain heavy background noise are mostly unusable.

Pros

• Affordable, and easy to use
• Allows users to upload all types of audio and video files
• Features Speaker Identification technology
• Quick turnaround

Cons

• Temi can only transcribe audio and video files in the English language
• The accuracy of the transcription depends on the quality of the recording

6. Otter

Price: Free, pricing plans start at $8.33 per month

Compatibility: Web-based, iOS, Android

Otter is a great option for anyone in need of an online app that allows them to make audio recordings and transcribe them in real-time. The platform is equipped with speaker identification technology, and it grants you access to a variety of text editing and file-sharing options. However, you cannot transcribe more than 600 hours of content per month with the free version of Otter.

Furthermore, you will have to opt for either the Premium or the Team subscription model if you want to upload prerecorded audio and video files to Otter. The bulk import and export options, a custom vocabulary, or syncing video and audio directly from Dropbox are just a few among numerous options you will have at your disposal if you get a monthly subscription. However, capturing live notes in Zoom meetings, time codes or shared speaker voiceprints are only available within the Team subscription plan.

Pros

• Offers 600 hours of free transcriptions each month
• Transcribes audio recordings in real-time
• Allows users to sync Zoom cloud recordings
• Excellent collaboration features

Cons

• Importing audio or video files is not possible on the free version of Otter
• Time codes are only available within the Team subscription model

Part 2: 3 Tips for Choosing an Automatic Transcription Software

The features of automatic transcription software products offer vary, which is the reason why checking the software’s list of features is the first thing you need to do while searching for a new automatic transcription software. The accuracy with which a software transcribes audio and video files, the amount of text editing tools it offers, or the number of supported languages are just a few among numerous aspects you have to consider before deciding which automatic transcription software you should get.

You don’t have to worry about the software’s compatibility, as you just need a web browser to use any of the automatic subscription software products we featured in this article. However, if you want to transcribe audio and video files from your Smartphone, you should check if the app is compatible with your device and its operating system.

There are only a handful of automatic transcription software products on the market that can be used free of charge, which is why you need to decide if you want to pay per minute of transcription or get a monthly subscription. So, if you are transcribing hundreds of hours of audio and video content each month, it is more affordable to purchase a monthly subscription while paying per minute of transcription is a better option if you don’t transcribe audio and video files often.

Part 3: Automatic Transcription Software FAQs

What is Automatic Transcription?

Automatic transcription is the process during which AI algorithms listen to an audio or video file and transcribe it into text. All automatic transcription software products are equipped with a Speech-to-Text technology that generates text with varying levels of accuracy. That’s the reason why nearly all automatic transcription software products have text editors that allow you to identify and correct mistakes quickly.

What are the Biggest Benefits of Automatic Transcription?

Transcribing an audio or video file manually can take a lot of time and effort, while automatic transcription allows you to generate a transcript in just a few minutes. Afterward, you can just edit the text and use it to access important information quickly or upload it to your website in order to increase its visibility on search engines.

Conclusion

You don’t have to spend countless hours on audio and video file transcriptions since automatic transcription software products offer a simple solution. What’s more, you won’t even have to go through the software installation process, as each of the automatic transcriptions software products we featured in this article can be used from a web browser. Which automatic transcription software are you going to choose? Leave a comment and let us know.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Transcribing the audio and video recordings of interviews and meetings can help you to understand better the data you collected. Even if you are creating video content, a transcription can assist you in increasing its visibility on search engines. Transcribing a recording of any kind can make it easier to organize and archive the information the recording contains, and it enables you to have easy access to this data whenever you need it.

However, transcribing a single video or audio file can be a painstakingly long and time-consuming process. That is why opting for an automatic transcription software is the right choice for you if you are looking for a way to save time on audio and video transcription.

In this article, we are going to take you through some of the best automatic transcription software products and help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

The Best Automatic Transcription Software in 2020

Even though a quick Google search is going to reveal a broad spectrum of different automatic transcription software products that are advertised as free, you will still have to purchase a license or a subscription if you want to use all of their features. Let’s take a look at some of the best automatic transcription software in 2020, including free and paid solutions both.

1. Trint

Price: Free trial available, pricing options start at $44 per month

Compatibility: Web-based, iOS

In case you don’t want to go through the hustle of installing an automatic transcription software on your PC or Mac, then Trint is an excellent choice for you, as it allows you to transcribe audio and video files directly from your web browser. Besides turning video and files into text in minutes, Trint also lets you edit the transcribed text, add captions to videos or even share these files on the Internet.

The software is equipped with advanced text-to-speech algorithms that can transcribe audio and video recordings in a broad range of different languages, including all dialects of the English language.

Once the automatic transcription process is completed, you can use the software’s text editor to improve the quality of the transcription and then embed a searchable transcript to your website. However, the number of available features depends on the pricing plan you choose.

Pros

• All transcriptions are delivered quickly
• Excellent text editing tools
• Support for a large number of different languages
• Allows users to choose the format in which they save their text files

Cons

• More expensive than most automatic transcription software products
• Struggles with long and complex audio and video files

2. Happy Scribe

Price: $14 for one hour of transcription

Compatibility: web-based

Podcasters, video editors, journalists, and researchers can use Happy Scribe with the same level of efficiency, as this web-based application allows them to transcribe audio and video files quickly and accurately. It will take less than 20 minutes to get the first draft of an hour-long recording, while the Speaker Identification feature enables the app to create a new paragraph each time it recognizes a new speaker.

The platform’s algorithms have advanced punctuation capabilities that enable it to use commas, question marks, and full-stops correctly. Furthermore, Happy Scribe’s text editor provides proofreading help so that you can easily identify parts of the text that need to be tightened up. You can also highlight or comment on a section of a text and create a reminder for yourself or your colleagues. Happy Scribe can transcribe texts in 119 languages with excellent accuracy and it lets you export your transcripts in all commonly used text file formats.

Pros

• Quick upload times
• Available in 119 languages and accents
• Results are available within a short period of time
• Equipped with the Speaker Identification feature

Cons

• No monthly or annual subscription available
• Limited file-sharing capabilities

3. Sonix

Price: The first 30 minutes of transcription are free, pricing options start at $10 per hour

Compatibility: Web-based

If you are looking for an affordable automatic transcription software that is stacked with features that enable you to transcribe audio and video files in minutes then Sonix is the right choice for you. This web-based application needs three to four minutes to transcribe a 30-minute audio or video recording.

You can choose if you want to upload files from your computer, Google Drive or Dropbox, and Sonix is going to transcribe them for you automatically. The best part is that you can just click on any part of the generated text and the app is going to play the video or audio recording from that exact spot. Furthermore, you can alter the playback speed of all files you upload to Sonix, use the AudioText Editor that allows you to listen to the audio or video file you transcribed while you are editing it or download the snippets of highlighted text as audio files.

Pros

• Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Avid Media Compose integrations
• Features an integrated media player
• Audio and text are synchronized
• Allows users to export transcripts in a broad range of file formats

Cons

• Available features depend on the pricing model
• Automatic transcriptions aren’t always 100% accurate

4. Vocalmatic

Price: The first 30 minutes of transcription are free, pricing options start at $15 for one hour

Compatibility: Web-based

This is a simple online tool that enables podcasters and journalists to transcribe audio and video files. Vocalmatic allows its users to turn a video or an audio recording into text in just a few simple steps, as you just have to upload an MP3, WAV, MP4, WEBM, or MOV file to the platform, and Vocalmatic’s AI will transcribe it for you.

The platform sends you a link to your email once the transcription is completed so that you can edit the text. The app’s online text editor grants you complete control over the timecoded transcript and it allows you to speed up the playback of the file you are transcribing or quickly jump to a particular part of the recording. However, you won’t have a lot of options at your disposal while exporting from Vocalmatic, as you can only save a file as Raw Text or a Word document.

Pros

• The simple and quick transcription process
• Allows users to upload files in different audio and video formats
• Offers automatic transcription in more than a hundred languages
• Equipped with a powerful Speech-to-Text technology

Cons

• No Speaker Recognition capabilities
• Features only basic text editing tools

5. Temi

Price: The first 45 minutes of transcription are free, $0.25 per minute

Compatibility: Web-based, Android, iOS

Transcribing all types of audio and video files with Temi is a straightforward process that only requires you to upload, edit, and download the completed transcript. The web-based automatic transcription software is equipped with a powerful proprietary algorithm that identifies different speakers effortlessly and allows you to create custom timestamps.

Once the transcript is generated you can use the platform’s text editing tools to polish it, although you should keep in mind that Temi offers only basic text editing options. Besides using Temi from a web browser, you can also install the Temi app on your Android or your iPhone and transcribe all audio or video content you capture with your Smartphone just moments after recording it. However, the accuracy of the transcript largely depends on the quality of the recording, as transcripts of videos or audio recordings that contain heavy background noise are mostly unusable.

Pros

• Affordable, and easy to use
• Allows users to upload all types of audio and video files
• Features Speaker Identification technology
• Quick turnaround

Cons

• Temi can only transcribe audio and video files in the English language
• The accuracy of the transcription depends on the quality of the recording

6. Otter

Price: Free, pricing plans start at $8.33 per month

Compatibility: Web-based, iOS, Android

Otter is a great option for anyone in need of an online app that allows them to make audio recordings and transcribe them in real-time. The platform is equipped with speaker identification technology, and it grants you access to a variety of text editing and file-sharing options. However, you cannot transcribe more than 600 hours of content per month with the free version of Otter.

Furthermore, you will have to opt for either the Premium or the Team subscription model if you want to upload prerecorded audio and video files to Otter. The bulk import and export options, a custom vocabulary, or syncing video and audio directly from Dropbox are just a few among numerous options you will have at your disposal if you get a monthly subscription. However, capturing live notes in Zoom meetings, time codes or shared speaker voiceprints are only available within the Team subscription plan.

Pros

• Offers 600 hours of free transcriptions each month
• Transcribes audio recordings in real-time
• Allows users to sync Zoom cloud recordings
• Excellent collaboration features

Cons

• Importing audio or video files is not possible on the free version of Otter
• Time codes are only available within the Team subscription model

Part 2: 3 Tips for Choosing an Automatic Transcription Software

The features of automatic transcription software products offer vary, which is the reason why checking the software’s list of features is the first thing you need to do while searching for a new automatic transcription software. The accuracy with which a software transcribes audio and video files, the amount of text editing tools it offers, or the number of supported languages are just a few among numerous aspects you have to consider before deciding which automatic transcription software you should get.

You don’t have to worry about the software’s compatibility, as you just need a web browser to use any of the automatic subscription software products we featured in this article. However, if you want to transcribe audio and video files from your Smartphone, you should check if the app is compatible with your device and its operating system.

There are only a handful of automatic transcription software products on the market that can be used free of charge, which is why you need to decide if you want to pay per minute of transcription or get a monthly subscription. So, if you are transcribing hundreds of hours of audio and video content each month, it is more affordable to purchase a monthly subscription while paying per minute of transcription is a better option if you don’t transcribe audio and video files often.

Part 3: Automatic Transcription Software FAQs

What is Automatic Transcription?

Automatic transcription is the process during which AI algorithms listen to an audio or video file and transcribe it into text. All automatic transcription software products are equipped with a Speech-to-Text technology that generates text with varying levels of accuracy. That’s the reason why nearly all automatic transcription software products have text editors that allow you to identify and correct mistakes quickly.

What are the Biggest Benefits of Automatic Transcription?

Transcribing an audio or video file manually can take a lot of time and effort, while automatic transcription allows you to generate a transcript in just a few minutes. Afterward, you can just edit the text and use it to access important information quickly or upload it to your website in order to increase its visibility on search engines.

Conclusion

You don’t have to spend countless hours on audio and video file transcriptions since automatic transcription software products offer a simple solution. What’s more, you won’t even have to go through the software installation process, as each of the automatic transcriptions software products we featured in this article can be used from a web browser. Which automatic transcription software are you going to choose? Leave a comment and let us know.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

FREE 10 Best Online Music Makers

FREE 10 Best Online Music Makers

Benjamin Arango

Apr 26, 2024• Proven solutions

Expressing ideas through music was never easy, and even today in the age of powerful digital audio stations like Ableton Live or FruityLoops , producing original music requires a certain set of skills. However, online content producers often need music for their videos, but they neither have the time or the budget to hire a professional musician to create a soundtrack for their project in studio conditions. If you are looking for a quick way to make your own music online, then you should keep reading, because in this article we are going to take you through the ten best online music makers you should check out in 2021.

10 Best Online Music Makers in 2021

The music-making platforms that are currently available online are still not as nearly as powerful as professional software products for music producers. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use them to create the music you like or just have fun with them. Here are the ten best online music makers in 2019.

1. Typeatone

Price: Free

Image from Internet

Have you ever wondered what your words would sound like if they were turned into music? Head over to the Typeatone platform if you want to find out since all you have to do in order to start creating your own music is type in the text. As you type, the platform will automatically start playing your words and once you’re done, you’ll be able to hear your new song. You can also choose between different instruments to make the process of creating music with Typeatone even more entertaining. You can share all of your creations with your friends on social media.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

2. Audiotool

Price: Free

Image from Internet

Electronic music producers who often use synthesizers like Roland TB-303 or Roland TR-909 are going to love the features this online collaborative platform offers. Audiotool hosts a huge music library, you can explore even if you are not a registered user. In order to access the platform’s music studio, you first have to create an account and make sure that you are signed in. Audiotool is also a community of like-minded people where you can meet artists whose work you appreciate or hear what others think about your work. The only downside is that Audiotool’s abundance of features can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the world of electronic music production.

3. AudioSauna

Price: Free

Image from Internet

AudioSauna seems to offer everything its users need to create inspiring music because it is equipped with frequency modulation synth, virtual analog synth and a sampler that provides layering features. Moreover, its intuitive interface makes the process of arranging the song structure or changing several note values simultaneously much easier. Creating an account on AudioSauna will enable to record all your projects and export them as audio files that can be uploaded to SoundCloud or any other audio distribution platform. AudioSauna is a perfect tool for skilled producers who want to create their music online.

4. Soundtrap

Price: Free trial available, subscription plans start at $3.99 per month

Image from Internet

Soundtrap offers a long list of features that enable professional musicians to create their music online. All you have to do is create an account and you will get access to the Sountrap’s studio that let you create new beat patterns, use a synthesizer or even invite friends to make music together. The platform also offers the possibility to connect your own instruments to the Soundtrap’s studio, so that you can record your music as you play it. This online platform also has an Education section where you can share your knowledge with others or learn valuable music lessons.

5. PatternSketch

Price: Free

Image from Internet

This basic and yet effective drum machine can help you generate amazing beats for the songs you’re working on. Once you sign up, you will be able to choose from a number of different kits and patterns that are fully customizable or create your own original beats. After you create a pattern you like, you can save it with a single click or send it to your friends via email. Optionally, you can export all of your creations from PatternSketch and save them as wav, mp3 or ogg files, although in some cases mp3 audio files may not loop properly.

6. Soundation

Price: Free version available, pricing plans start at $1.99 per month

Image from Internet

If you choose to create music with the free version of Soundation, you’ll be able to work on up to ten projects, try out over 700 audio effects and loops, and export all your music in low quality. Purchasing the Intro pricing plan will enable you to work on an unlimited number of projects, make live audio recordings, import audio files smaller than 100MB or use an external midi controller. Moreover, opting for any of the annual or monthly subscription plans will allow you to export entire projects and audio files in high resolution from Soundation.

7. Text to Speech

Price: Free


online-music-maker-Text to Speech.jpg

Vocals are often overlooked in contemporary electronic music, but there are so many ways they can be used creatively. The platform lets you turn up to 50000 characters into speech at once, and it also offers several different voices you can choose from. Before you create an audio file you can determine how fast the text is going to be vocalized, so you should try different options and see which one fits your project the best. Text to Speech platform can be used during the process of creating a new song, but the tools it offers are not enough to make an entire song.

8. Looplabs

Price: Free

Music enthusiasts who would like to produce different genres of music online should definitely get familiar with Looplabs, as this online music maker lets its users remix songs or make music from scratch. Besides being one of the best places on the Internet to record music, Looplabs is also a community where you can meet people who like your music or discover artists whose work you admire. The Looplab’s studio features samples for a broad range of music genres and musical instruments, and you can use it to make Electro or Funk music equally effectively.

9. Online Sequencer

Price: Free

This is a perfect tool for developing an idea for a song, as you can create a sequence in just a few minutes. You can choose from Piano, Drums and Guitar categories of instruments or browse through a huge collection of fully customizable preset sequences that is updated on a daily basis. The platform also lets you import MIDI files and work on projects you’ve already started developing or you can export your sequences as MIDI files from the Online Sequencer and edit them with your DAW. Even though Online Sequencer is a useful tool for making music, the features it offers can’t really be compared with those on Soundation or AudioSauna.

10. Autochords

Price: Free

Finding new ideas for songs is often more difficult than it sounds, and if you ever face a creative block you should simply head over to Autochords. This platform suggests chord progressions based on the parameters you set, so you just have to select an instrument and the name of the song to set the feel, and the platform will show you the main progression and its alternatives. Rather than being an online music maker, Autochords is more a tool that helps piano and guitar players understand chord progressions better. iPhone and iPad users can download the Autochords app from the App Store for free.

Read More to Get : Best Free DAW for Windows and Mac for Beginners >>

Conclusion

You don’t have to be a professional musician in order to start making music online, you just have to love music, and an online music maker of your choice will take care of the rest. Do you use online music makers for entertainment or to express your creativity? Leave a comment below and share your opinions with us.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Apr 26, 2024• Proven solutions

Expressing ideas through music was never easy, and even today in the age of powerful digital audio stations like Ableton Live or FruityLoops , producing original music requires a certain set of skills. However, online content producers often need music for their videos, but they neither have the time or the budget to hire a professional musician to create a soundtrack for their project in studio conditions. If you are looking for a quick way to make your own music online, then you should keep reading, because in this article we are going to take you through the ten best online music makers you should check out in 2021.

10 Best Online Music Makers in 2021

The music-making platforms that are currently available online are still not as nearly as powerful as professional software products for music producers. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use them to create the music you like or just have fun with them. Here are the ten best online music makers in 2019.

1. Typeatone

Price: Free

Image from Internet

Have you ever wondered what your words would sound like if they were turned into music? Head over to the Typeatone platform if you want to find out since all you have to do in order to start creating your own music is type in the text. As you type, the platform will automatically start playing your words and once you’re done, you’ll be able to hear your new song. You can also choose between different instruments to make the process of creating music with Typeatone even more entertaining. You can share all of your creations with your friends on social media.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

2. Audiotool

Price: Free

Image from Internet

Electronic music producers who often use synthesizers like Roland TB-303 or Roland TR-909 are going to love the features this online collaborative platform offers. Audiotool hosts a huge music library, you can explore even if you are not a registered user. In order to access the platform’s music studio, you first have to create an account and make sure that you are signed in. Audiotool is also a community of like-minded people where you can meet artists whose work you appreciate or hear what others think about your work. The only downside is that Audiotool’s abundance of features can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the world of electronic music production.

3. AudioSauna

Price: Free

Image from Internet

AudioSauna seems to offer everything its users need to create inspiring music because it is equipped with frequency modulation synth, virtual analog synth and a sampler that provides layering features. Moreover, its intuitive interface makes the process of arranging the song structure or changing several note values simultaneously much easier. Creating an account on AudioSauna will enable to record all your projects and export them as audio files that can be uploaded to SoundCloud or any other audio distribution platform. AudioSauna is a perfect tool for skilled producers who want to create their music online.

4. Soundtrap

Price: Free trial available, subscription plans start at $3.99 per month

Image from Internet

Soundtrap offers a long list of features that enable professional musicians to create their music online. All you have to do is create an account and you will get access to the Sountrap’s studio that let you create new beat patterns, use a synthesizer or even invite friends to make music together. The platform also offers the possibility to connect your own instruments to the Soundtrap’s studio, so that you can record your music as you play it. This online platform also has an Education section where you can share your knowledge with others or learn valuable music lessons.

5. PatternSketch

Price: Free

Image from Internet

This basic and yet effective drum machine can help you generate amazing beats for the songs you’re working on. Once you sign up, you will be able to choose from a number of different kits and patterns that are fully customizable or create your own original beats. After you create a pattern you like, you can save it with a single click or send it to your friends via email. Optionally, you can export all of your creations from PatternSketch and save them as wav, mp3 or ogg files, although in some cases mp3 audio files may not loop properly.

6. Soundation

Price: Free version available, pricing plans start at $1.99 per month

Image from Internet

If you choose to create music with the free version of Soundation, you’ll be able to work on up to ten projects, try out over 700 audio effects and loops, and export all your music in low quality. Purchasing the Intro pricing plan will enable you to work on an unlimited number of projects, make live audio recordings, import audio files smaller than 100MB or use an external midi controller. Moreover, opting for any of the annual or monthly subscription plans will allow you to export entire projects and audio files in high resolution from Soundation.

7. Text to Speech

Price: Free


online-music-maker-Text to Speech.jpg

Vocals are often overlooked in contemporary electronic music, but there are so many ways they can be used creatively. The platform lets you turn up to 50000 characters into speech at once, and it also offers several different voices you can choose from. Before you create an audio file you can determine how fast the text is going to be vocalized, so you should try different options and see which one fits your project the best. Text to Speech platform can be used during the process of creating a new song, but the tools it offers are not enough to make an entire song.

8. Looplabs

Price: Free

Music enthusiasts who would like to produce different genres of music online should definitely get familiar with Looplabs, as this online music maker lets its users remix songs or make music from scratch. Besides being one of the best places on the Internet to record music, Looplabs is also a community where you can meet people who like your music or discover artists whose work you admire. The Looplab’s studio features samples for a broad range of music genres and musical instruments, and you can use it to make Electro or Funk music equally effectively.

9. Online Sequencer

Price: Free

This is a perfect tool for developing an idea for a song, as you can create a sequence in just a few minutes. You can choose from Piano, Drums and Guitar categories of instruments or browse through a huge collection of fully customizable preset sequences that is updated on a daily basis. The platform also lets you import MIDI files and work on projects you’ve already started developing or you can export your sequences as MIDI files from the Online Sequencer and edit them with your DAW. Even though Online Sequencer is a useful tool for making music, the features it offers can’t really be compared with those on Soundation or AudioSauna.

10. Autochords

Price: Free

Finding new ideas for songs is often more difficult than it sounds, and if you ever face a creative block you should simply head over to Autochords. This platform suggests chord progressions based on the parameters you set, so you just have to select an instrument and the name of the song to set the feel, and the platform will show you the main progression and its alternatives. Rather than being an online music maker, Autochords is more a tool that helps piano and guitar players understand chord progressions better. iPhone and iPad users can download the Autochords app from the App Store for free.

Read More to Get : Best Free DAW for Windows and Mac for Beginners >>

Conclusion

You don’t have to be a professional musician in order to start making music online, you just have to love music, and an online music maker of your choice will take care of the rest. Do you use online music makers for entertainment or to express your creativity? Leave a comment below and share your opinions with us.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Apr 26, 2024• Proven solutions

Expressing ideas through music was never easy, and even today in the age of powerful digital audio stations like Ableton Live or FruityLoops , producing original music requires a certain set of skills. However, online content producers often need music for their videos, but they neither have the time or the budget to hire a professional musician to create a soundtrack for their project in studio conditions. If you are looking for a quick way to make your own music online, then you should keep reading, because in this article we are going to take you through the ten best online music makers you should check out in 2021.

10 Best Online Music Makers in 2021

The music-making platforms that are currently available online are still not as nearly as powerful as professional software products for music producers. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use them to create the music you like or just have fun with them. Here are the ten best online music makers in 2019.

1. Typeatone

Price: Free

Image from Internet

Have you ever wondered what your words would sound like if they were turned into music? Head over to the Typeatone platform if you want to find out since all you have to do in order to start creating your own music is type in the text. As you type, the platform will automatically start playing your words and once you’re done, you’ll be able to hear your new song. You can also choose between different instruments to make the process of creating music with Typeatone even more entertaining. You can share all of your creations with your friends on social media.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

• 100 Million+ Users
• 150+ Countries and Regions
• 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
• 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

2. Audiotool

Price: Free

Image from Internet

Electronic music producers who often use synthesizers like Roland TB-303 or Roland TR-909 are going to love the features this online collaborative platform offers. Audiotool hosts a huge music library, you can explore even if you are not a registered user. In order to access the platform’s music studio, you first have to create an account and make sure that you are signed in. Audiotool is also a community of like-minded people where you can meet artists whose work you appreciate or hear what others think about your work. The only downside is that Audiotool’s abundance of features can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the world of electronic music production.

3. AudioSauna

Price: Free

Image from Internet

AudioSauna seems to offer everything its users need to create inspiring music because it is equipped with frequency modulation synth, virtual analog synth and a sampler that provides layering features. Moreover, its intuitive interface makes the process of arranging the song structure or changing several note values simultaneously much easier. Creating an account on AudioSauna will enable to record all your projects and export them as audio files that can be uploaded to SoundCloud or any other audio distribution platform. AudioSauna is a perfect tool for skilled producers who want to create their music online.

4. Soundtrap

Price: Free trial available, subscription plans start at $3.99 per month

Image from Internet

Soundtrap offers a long list of features that enable professional musicians to create their music online. All you have to do is create an account and you will get access to the Sountrap’s studio that let you create new beat patterns, use a synthesizer or even invite friends to make music together. The platform also offers the possibility to connect your own instruments to the Soundtrap’s studio, so that you can record your music as you play it. This online platform also has an Education section where you can share your knowledge with others or learn valuable music lessons.

5. PatternSketch

Price: Free

Image from Internet

This basic and yet effective drum machine can help you generate amazing beats for the songs you’re working on. Once you sign up, you will be able to choose from a number of different kits and patterns that are fully customizable or create your own original beats. After you create a pattern you like, you can save it with a single click or send it to your friends via email. Optionally, you can export all of your creations from PatternSketch and save them as wav, mp3 or ogg files, although in some cases mp3 audio files may not loop properly.

6. Soundation

Price: Free version available, pricing plans start at $1.99 per month

Image from Internet

If you choose to create music with the free version of Soundation, you’ll be able to work on up to ten projects, try out over 700 audio effects and loops, and export all your music in low quality. Purchasing the Intro pricing plan will enable you to work on an unlimited number of projects, make live audio recordings, import audio files smaller than 100MB or use an external midi controller. Moreover, opting for any of the annual or monthly subscription plans will allow you to export entire projects and audio files in high resolution from Soundation.

7. Text to Speech

Price: Free


online-music-maker-Text to Speech.jpg

Vocals are often overlooked in contemporary electronic music, but there are so many ways they can be used creatively. The platform lets you turn up to 50000 characters into speech at once, and it also offers several different voices you can choose from. Before you create an audio file you can determine how fast the text is going to be vocalized, so you should try different options and see which one fits your project the best. Text to Speech platform can be used during the process of creating a new song, but the tools it offers are not enough to make an entire song.

8. Looplabs

Price: Free

Music enthusiasts who would like to produce different genres of music online should definitely get familiar with Looplabs, as this online music maker lets its users remix songs or make music from scratch. Besides being one of the best places on the Internet to record music, Looplabs is also a community where you can meet people who like your music or discover artists whose work you admire. The Looplab’s studio features samples for a broad range of music genres and musical instruments, and you can use it to make Electro or Funk music equally effectively.

9. Online Sequencer

Price: Free

This is a perfect tool for developing an idea for a song, as you can create a sequence in just a few minutes. You can choose from Piano, Drums and Guitar categories of instruments or browse through a huge collection of fully customizable preset sequences that is updated on a daily basis. The platform also lets you import MIDI files and work on projects you’ve already started developing or you can export your sequences as MIDI files from the Online Sequencer and edit them with your DAW. Even though Online Sequencer is a useful tool for making music, the features it offers can’t really be compared with those on Soundation or AudioSauna.

10. Autochords

Price: Free

Finding new ideas for songs is often more difficult than it sounds, and if you ever face a creative block you should simply head over to Autochords. This platform suggests chord progressions based on the parameters you set, so you just have to select an instrument and the name of the song to set the feel, and the platform will show you the main progression and its alternatives. Rather than being an online music maker, Autochords is more a tool that helps piano and guitar players understand chord progressions better. iPhone and iPad users can download the Autochords app from the App Store for free.

Read More to Get : Best Free DAW for Windows and Mac for Beginners >>

Conclusion

You don’t have to be a professional musician in order to start making music online, you just have to love music, and an online music maker of your choice will take care of the rest. Do you use online music makers for entertainment or to express your creativity? Leave a comment below and share your opinions with us.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Apr 26, 2024• Proven solutions

Expressing ideas through music was never easy, and even today in the age of powerful digital audio stations like Ableton Live or FruityLoops , producing original music requires a certain set of skills. However, online content producers often need music for their videos, but they neither have the time or the budget to hire a professional musician to create a soundtrack for their project in studio conditions. If you are looking for a quick way to make your own music online, then you should keep reading, because in this article we are going to take you through the ten best online music makers you should check out in 2021.

10 Best Online Music Makers in 2021

The music-making platforms that are currently available online are still not as nearly as powerful as professional software products for music producers. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use them to create the music you like or just have fun with them. Here are the ten best online music makers in 2019.

1. Typeatone

Price: Free

Image from Internet

Have you ever wondered what your words would sound like if they were turned into music? Head over to the Typeatone platform if you want to find out since all you have to do in order to start creating your own music is type in the text. As you type, the platform will automatically start playing your words and once you’re done, you’ll be able to hear your new song. You can also choose between different instruments to make the process of creating music with Typeatone even more entertaining. You can share all of your creations with your friends on social media.

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

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2. Audiotool

Price: Free

Image from Internet

Electronic music producers who often use synthesizers like Roland TB-303 or Roland TR-909 are going to love the features this online collaborative platform offers. Audiotool hosts a huge music library, you can explore even if you are not a registered user. In order to access the platform’s music studio, you first have to create an account and make sure that you are signed in. Audiotool is also a community of like-minded people where you can meet artists whose work you appreciate or hear what others think about your work. The only downside is that Audiotool’s abundance of features can be overwhelming for the newcomers to the world of electronic music production.

3. AudioSauna

Price: Free

Image from Internet

AudioSauna seems to offer everything its users need to create inspiring music because it is equipped with frequency modulation synth, virtual analog synth and a sampler that provides layering features. Moreover, its intuitive interface makes the process of arranging the song structure or changing several note values simultaneously much easier. Creating an account on AudioSauna will enable to record all your projects and export them as audio files that can be uploaded to SoundCloud or any other audio distribution platform. AudioSauna is a perfect tool for skilled producers who want to create their music online.

4. Soundtrap

Price: Free trial available, subscription plans start at $3.99 per month

Image from Internet

Soundtrap offers a long list of features that enable professional musicians to create their music online. All you have to do is create an account and you will get access to the Sountrap’s studio that let you create new beat patterns, use a synthesizer or even invite friends to make music together. The platform also offers the possibility to connect your own instruments to the Soundtrap’s studio, so that you can record your music as you play it. This online platform also has an Education section where you can share your knowledge with others or learn valuable music lessons.

5. PatternSketch

Price: Free

Image from Internet

This basic and yet effective drum machine can help you generate amazing beats for the songs you’re working on. Once you sign up, you will be able to choose from a number of different kits and patterns that are fully customizable or create your own original beats. After you create a pattern you like, you can save it with a single click or send it to your friends via email. Optionally, you can export all of your creations from PatternSketch and save them as wav, mp3 or ogg files, although in some cases mp3 audio files may not loop properly.

6. Soundation

Price: Free version available, pricing plans start at $1.99 per month

Image from Internet

If you choose to create music with the free version of Soundation, you’ll be able to work on up to ten projects, try out over 700 audio effects and loops, and export all your music in low quality. Purchasing the Intro pricing plan will enable you to work on an unlimited number of projects, make live audio recordings, import audio files smaller than 100MB or use an external midi controller. Moreover, opting for any of the annual or monthly subscription plans will allow you to export entire projects and audio files in high resolution from Soundation.

7. Text to Speech

Price: Free


online-music-maker-Text to Speech.jpg

Vocals are often overlooked in contemporary electronic music, but there are so many ways they can be used creatively. The platform lets you turn up to 50000 characters into speech at once, and it also offers several different voices you can choose from. Before you create an audio file you can determine how fast the text is going to be vocalized, so you should try different options and see which one fits your project the best. Text to Speech platform can be used during the process of creating a new song, but the tools it offers are not enough to make an entire song.

8. Looplabs

Price: Free

Music enthusiasts who would like to produce different genres of music online should definitely get familiar with Looplabs, as this online music maker lets its users remix songs or make music from scratch. Besides being one of the best places on the Internet to record music, Looplabs is also a community where you can meet people who like your music or discover artists whose work you admire. The Looplab’s studio features samples for a broad range of music genres and musical instruments, and you can use it to make Electro or Funk music equally effectively.

9. Online Sequencer

Price: Free

This is a perfect tool for developing an idea for a song, as you can create a sequence in just a few minutes. You can choose from Piano, Drums and Guitar categories of instruments or browse through a huge collection of fully customizable preset sequences that is updated on a daily basis. The platform also lets you import MIDI files and work on projects you’ve already started developing or you can export your sequences as MIDI files from the Online Sequencer and edit them with your DAW. Even though Online Sequencer is a useful tool for making music, the features it offers can’t really be compared with those on Soundation or AudioSauna.

10. Autochords

Price: Free

Finding new ideas for songs is often more difficult than it sounds, and if you ever face a creative block you should simply head over to Autochords. This platform suggests chord progressions based on the parameters you set, so you just have to select an instrument and the name of the song to set the feel, and the platform will show you the main progression and its alternatives. Rather than being an online music maker, Autochords is more a tool that helps piano and guitar players understand chord progressions better. iPhone and iPad users can download the Autochords app from the App Store for free.

Read More to Get : Best Free DAW for Windows and Mac for Beginners >>

Conclusion

You don’t have to be a professional musician in order to start making music online, you just have to love music, and an online music maker of your choice will take care of the rest. Do you use online music makers for entertainment or to express your creativity? Leave a comment below and share your opinions with us.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

The Audio Experts’ Manual to Identifying Superior Sound Formats

How to Choose Best Audio Formats

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

• Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats
• Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?
• Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?
• Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

---

Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

• Uncompressed Audio Format
• Lossless Compressed Audio Format
• Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.

---

Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

• Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

• Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

• Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

• MPEG-2
  • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
  • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
• MPEG-4
  • **Video Codec:**264
  • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format	Corresponding Audio Encoder	Audio Type
MP4	Lossy Compressed
WMV	WMA8, WMA9	Uncompressed
AVI	MP3, PCM	Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV	Lossy Compressed
F4V	Lossy Compressed
MKV	MP3	Lossy Compressed
TS	MPEG-2 Audio	Lossy Compressed
3GP	Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2	MPEG-2 Audio	Lossy Compressed
WEBM	Vorbis	Lossy Compressed

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

• Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats
• Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?
• Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?
• Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

---

Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

• Uncompressed Audio Format
• Lossless Compressed Audio Format
• Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.

---

Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

• Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

• Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

• Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

• MPEG-2
  • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
  • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
• MPEG-4
  • **Video Codec:**264
  • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format	Corresponding Audio Encoder	Audio Type
MP4	Lossy Compressed
WMV	WMA8, WMA9	Uncompressed
AVI	MP3, PCM	Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV	Lossy Compressed
F4V	Lossy Compressed
MKV	MP3	Lossy Compressed
TS	MPEG-2 Audio	Lossy Compressed
3GP	Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2	MPEG-2 Audio	Lossy Compressed
WEBM	Vorbis	Lossy Compressed

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

• Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats
• Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?
• Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?
• Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

---

Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

• Uncompressed Audio Format
• Lossless Compressed Audio Format
• Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.

---

Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

• Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

• Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

• Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

• MPEG-2
  • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
  • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
• MPEG-4
  • **Video Codec:**264
  • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format	Corresponding Audio Encoder	Audio Type
MP4	Lossy Compressed
WMV	WMA8, WMA9	Uncompressed
AVI	MP3, PCM	Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV	Lossy Compressed
F4V	Lossy Compressed
MKV	MP3	Lossy Compressed
TS	MPEG-2 Audio	Lossy Compressed
3GP	Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2	MPEG-2 Audio	Lossy Compressed
WEBM	Vorbis	Lossy Compressed

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

• Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats
• Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?
• Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?
• Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

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Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

• Uncompressed Audio Format
• Lossless Compressed Audio Format
• Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.

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Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

• Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

• Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

• Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

• MPEG-2
  • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
  • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
• MPEG-4
  • **Video Codec:**264
  • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format	Corresponding Audio Encoder	Audio Type
MP4	Lossy Compressed
WMV	WMA8, WMA9	Uncompressed
AVI	MP3, PCM	Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV	Lossy Compressed
F4V	Lossy Compressed
MKV	MP3	Lossy Compressed
TS	MPEG-2 Audio	Lossy Compressed
3GP	Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2	MPEG-2 Audio	Lossy Compressed
WEBM	Vorbis	Lossy Compressed

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

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