Transcription, subtitles and captions
Accurate transcripts of audio and video in verbatim or clean-read style, time-coded where you need them, and subtitles or captions that make your content accessible in other languages.
SILA Linguists turns recordings of interviews, meetings, hearings, lectures, podcasts and webinars into accurate, well-formatted text. Speech-to-text technology can produce a fast first draft, but every transcript is always checked and corrected by a professional linguist, because automatic recognition cannot reliably handle overlapping speech, strong accents, poor audio or specialist terminology.
We transcribe in the original language and, where needed, translate the transcript into another language as part of the same project. That makes transcription a natural partner to our interpreting, translation and research services.
For video, we produce subtitles in other languages and captions for viewers who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Captions can include speaker identification and relevant sounds, helping your content meet the accessibility requirements that apply to it. Where a spoken version suits your audience better, we also record voice-overs in the target language.
Why choose SILA Linguists for transcription
Verbatim transcription
Every word, false start, filler and pause is captured, which suits legal, investigative and research use where exactly how something was said matters.
Clean-read transcription
Fillers and repetitions are removed and the text is lightly tidied without changing meaning, for reports, minutes and publications.
Time-coded transcripts
Timestamps at regular intervals or at each speaker change, for editing, review and subtitling workflows.
Subtitles and captions
Accurately timed subtitles in other languages, and captions for Deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers, delivered in SRT and WebVTT or another format your platform requires.
Transcription with translation
Recordings in one language can be transcribed and translated into another in a single project.
Secure file handling
Recordings and transcripts are transferred and stored securely and processed in line with GDPR.
Transcription, translated transcripts and subtitles from SILA Linguists®
SILA Linguists® transcribes audio and video in more than 350 languages and dialects, in English and in the original language, and translates the result where you need it. Our transcribers are trained for interviews, intercepted calls and body-worn video in police and justice; hearings, client meetings and evidence for law firms; voice notes and messaging app exports in private intelligence; research interviews and focus groups in education; and rushes, podcasts and documentary interviews in media. For the public sector, we transcribe committee meetings and consultations.
Transcripts can be verbatim or clean read, with speaker labels and time stamps, and evidential transcripts follow the layout your court or investigation requires. Our transcribers are native speakers who recognise dialect, slang and code-switching, which matters for recordings in Arabic, Kurdish Sorani, Albanian, Vietnamese, Punjabi or Romanian. We also produce subtitles and captions, including captions for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, for clients in the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Where audio quality is poor or voices overlap, transcribers mark inaudible passages clearly rather than guessing, so the transcript stays reliable as evidence or research data.
Transcription often leads to other services. Translated transcripts can be issued as certified translation for court; research transcripts go on to research translation; video content can be adapted through multimedia localisation; and recordings used in asylum cases can be reviewed by our language analysis experts. If you need to discuss a recording with the speaker, SILA Linguists® can book interpreting in person, by video or by telephone. Recordings are stored securely and handled under NDA and UK GDPR.
Step by step
Send your files
Share your audio or video files with details of the language, the number of speakers, the transcription style and any subtitle requirements.
Linguist assigned
We assign a transcriber or subtitler with the right language and, for specialist content, subject knowledge.
Transcribe and check
A draft is produced and then corrected and checked by a professional linguist against the recording.
Deliver in your format
You receive the transcript or subtitle files in the agreed format, ready to use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between verbatim and clean-read transcription?
Verbatim records everything that is said, including fillers, false starts and interruptions. Clean-read removes these and lightly tidies the text while keeping the speaker's meaning. Choose verbatim for evidential or research purposes and clean-read for readable records.
What is the difference between subtitles and captions?
Subtitles translate the dialogue for viewers who do not understand the spoken language. Captions, and subtitles for the Deaf and hard of hearing (SDH), also convey speaker identification and important sounds for viewers who cannot hear the audio.
Can you transcribe recordings in other languages?
Yes. We transcribe in many languages and can translate the transcript into English or another language.
Does poor audio quality matter?
Yes. Background noise, overlapping speech and distant microphones make transcription slower and may leave passages marked as inaudible. Send the best quality recording you have.
Tell us the language, the format and the date
Our bookings team will confirm the details with you and arrange the right linguist. Have the language (and dialect, if you know it), the type of assignment and the date ready.