Interview Transcription for Academic Research
Turn interviews and focus groups into clean TXT ready for coding-no heavyweight templates, just text you can analyze in NVivo, ATLAS.ti, or MAXQDA.
Works with MP3, M4A, WAV, MP4, MOV · Export: TXT only · No timestamps
Built for Qualitative Interview Work
📝 Clean Verbatim Ready
Get streamlined text that preserves meaning without clutter-ideal for thematic analysis.
🔎 Analysis-Friendly TXT
Import into NVivo/ATLAS.ti/MAXQDA and start coding immediately-no reformatting headaches.
🧩 Simple Speaker Tags
Add I:, P:, RA: during review to track interviewer, participant, and interpreter when relevant.
🔒 Ethics-Aligned Workflow
Keep data private, anonymize identifiers in brackets, and delete files anytime.
⏱️ Faster to Findings
Skip manual typing and focus on coding, memoing, and sense-making.
How It Works
Collect with Consent
Follow IRB/ethics guidance. Obtain consent and explain how recordings will be used and stored.
Upload & Transcribe
Upload audio/video. Receive a clean TXT transcript (no timestamps) ready for quick review.
Light Edit & Import
Add optional speaker tags and anonymization brackets, then import TXT to your QDA tool for coding.
Clean Verbatim Defaults (Lightweight)
You don’t need a 10-page style sheet to get started. Use these minimal conventions (adapt or extend as your method requires):
👥 Speaker Tags (optional)
I:InterviewerP:Participant (use P1, P2 for groups)RA:Interpreter/Research Assistant
🧹 Clean Verbatim
- Omit fillers (um, uh) unless analytically relevant
- Standardize obvious false starts
- Keep meaning intact; don’t paraphrase content
🛡️ Anonymization
- Replace identifiers with
[city],[org],[name] - Mark uncertain audio as
[inaudible]or[unclear]
🌐 With Interpreter
- Keep English/French (or your analysis language)
- Optional note:
[translated]where needed
I: Could you walk me through your decision to adopt the new irrigation method? P: We saw yields dropping, so we tried a pilot on two plots. It reduced our labor on watering, and we kept it the next season. I: What changed for your household? P: Less time in the field meant I could take on shop work. Income was steadier after that.
Prefer a more formal guide? See this example of clean verbatim guidelines used in academic projects: Williams et al., 2012 argue recordings are valuable when used to complement-not replace-active participation. And for a compact transcription style reference, check this adaptation: Clean verbatim guidelines (PDF).
Not legal advice: always follow your institution’s ethics/IRB policies.
Import TXT into Your QDA Tool
NVivo
Project → Import → Files → select TXT. Use Cases or Nodes to code segments and memo insights.
ATLAS.ti
Home → Add Documents → Text. Begin assigning codes, comments, and quotations to passages.
MAXQDA
Import → Text documents (TXT). Create document groups (by site, wave, or cohort) and start coding.
FAQ
Does InstantTranscriber include timestamps or SRT/VTT?
No-export is TXT only, without timestamps or captions. This keeps transcripts lightweight for qualitative coding.
Can I do true verbatim?
Yes-add your own markers for pauses, disfluencies, and overlaps during review if your methodology requires it.
How do I handle multilingual interviews or interpreters?
Transcribe in the analysis language and use simple tags (I:, P:, RA:) with optional notes like [translated] where helpful.
What about anonymity?
Replace identifiers with bracketed labels (e.g., [name], [village]). Follow your IRB/ethics policy for storage and sharing.
Is there a free trial?
Yes-start free and upgrade when you’re ready.
Spend Time Analyzing, Not Transcribing
Clean TXT transcripts for evidence-based research, ready for immediate coding.