Ever left a Zoom call wishing you had a written record of what was discussed? If you’re using Zoom’s free plan, you might think you’re out of luck. But fear not! This guide will show you how to get transcriptions of your Zoom meetings without spending a dime.
The Challenge with Free Zoom
While Zoom Pro offers advanced features, including easy access to transcriptions, these aren’t available on the free plan. However, with a little know-how, you can still capture your meeting content effectively.
Steps to Get Free Zoom Meeting Transcriptions
1. Enable Closed Captioning
First, turn on closed captioning for your Zoom account. This feature is available on all Zoom plans, including the free one. Here’s how:
- In your Zoom application, click on the three dots (More) and turn on Captions.
- If you don’t see this option, you’ll need to enable it from the zoom.us web portal:
- Log in to your zoom.us account
- Navigate to Admin -> Account Management -> Account Settings -> Meeting -> In Meeting Advanced
- Turn on “Automated Captioning”
2. Record Your Zoom Call
When you start your meeting, remember to hit the record button. This step is crucial! Also, make sure to turn on captions during the meeting.
3. Locate Your Recording and Transcriptions
After the meeting ends, Zoom will provide a recording and transcription. To find these:
- Open the Zoom application
- Go to settings
- Locate and open the recording folder
You should see a text file containing the transcription along with your video file.
4. Use VideoToBe.com for Transcription (If Needed)
If you can’t find the transcription or have a previously recorded audio/video that needs transcribing, visit VideoToBe.com/tools/transcribe:
- Upload your file
- Enter your email
- Click “Start Transcription”
This tool can be particularly useful if you forgot to enable captions during your meeting or if you’re working with older recordings.
Tips for Better Transcriptions
- Ensure all participants speak clearly and at a reasonable pace.
- Use a good quality microphone for better audio capture.
- Minimize background noise during the meeting.
- If possible, ask participants to identify themselves before speaking.
What’s Next?
Now that you have your meeting transcription, you might be wondering what to do with all this text. While having a written record is useful, you might want to distill it into something more manageable.
Interested in learning how to quickly summarize your Zoom meeting transcriptions? Check out our guide on How to Get a Summary of Your Zoom Meeting for some helpful tips and tricks.
Conclusion
With these steps, you can easily obtain transcriptions of your Zoom meetings, even on the free plan. This can be incredibly useful for record-keeping, following up on action items, or simply refreshing your memory on what was discussed.
Don’t forget to visit VideoTobe.com/tools/transcribe for all your transcription needs. And feel free to share your experiences or ask questions in the comments below!Version 2 of 2