Transcribe a Zoom recording
Zoom interviews are easy to set up, and the recording already comes with a suitable audio file. Here is where to find it, which file to upload and what to set up before the call.
Transcribe 30 minutes free. No card needed.
Finding the right file
Zoom converts local recordings when the meeting ends and saves them in a Zoom folder inside Documents by default, with one subfolder per meeting. That folder usually holds an MP4 video and an audio-only M4A file, often named "audio_only.m4a". Upload the M4A: it is much smaller than the video and has everything the transcription needs.
Cloud recordings are downloaded from the Recordings section of the Zoom web portal. Whether an audio-only file is offered next to the video depends on your account’s recording settings.
If all you have is an MP4 video
Themera takes audio files, not video. To convert an MP4, open the free VLC media player, choose Media, then Convert / Save, add the file, pick the "Audio - MP3" profile and save. Upload the resulting MP3.
Before the interview: sound and consent
- Get consent to record before the call and keep a record of it. Zoom’s recording notice is not the same as informed consent.
- Ask the other person to use a headset or a quiet room; echo and keyboard noise noticeably hurt the transcript.
- Do not save local recordings to a cloud-sync folder or network drive; that can cause problems while the recording is saved and converted.
After you upload
The transcript with separated speakers and timestamps is usually ready within a few minutes, and you get an email. Rename the speakers, fix names and terms with the recording playing, pseudonymise if needed and download it as Word, text, SRT or with MAXQDA timestamps.
Frequently asked questions
MP4 or M4A: which Zoom file should be uploaded?
The M4A. It holds the meeting audio and is far smaller than the video. Themera does not accept MP4 video.
Where are local Zoom recordings saved?
By default in Documents/Zoom, in a subfolder per meeting, unless you chose a different location in Zoom’s settings.
Zoom can transcribe too. Why use Themera?
Depending on plan and settings, Zoom offers its own transcript for cloud recordings. Themera adds an editor with audio playback, pseudonymisation, Word export with line numbers and MAXQDA timestamps.
Related
Further reading
Transcribe 30 minutes free
No card needed. Upload a recording, check the transcript, download it as Word, text or for MAXQDA.