If you’ve ever tried turning an audio recording into a written transcript, you’ll know it’s not as simple as just typing along in real time. Even for seasoned pros, transcription takes a lot longer than people imagine.
The golden rule? It usually takes about four hours to transcribe one hour of audio.
So, if you’ve got a 60-minute recording, you’re looking at roughly four hours of transcriber time to get it down on paper.
Why does it take so long?
That four-to-one ratio assumes a “perfect” recording:
- Only one or two people talking.
- Everyone speaks clearly and at a steady pace.
- No heavy accents.
- Crisp audio quality, with minimal background noise.
But here’s the catch: most recordings aren’t perfect.
Real life gets messy
Recordings often throw curveballs that slow the process down. Things like:
- Background noise (traffic, rustling papers, coffee machines…).
- Speakers sitting too far from the mic.
- Strong regional or international accents.
- People talking over each other.
- Someone mumbling or speaking at lightning speed.
- File formats that just don’t play nicely.
And that’s why professional transcribers exist — because let’s face it, most audio needs a careful ear and a lot of patience to get right.
Specialist terms = more time
Another thing that makes a difference? Jargon. If a transcriber has been working with a medical client for months, they’ll sail through complex terms. But if it’s their first time hearing all that technical language, they’ll need to stop, check, and research — and that adds time.
Extra charges?
Some companies add on fees for tricky recordings — if the audio is poor, voices overlap, or there’s too much noise.
But others (like The Typing Works) don’t charge extra, no matter how messy the recording is. Our view is that dealing with difficult files is just part of our job.
The bottom line
If your recording is crystal clear, you can expect an hour-long audio file to take around four hours to transcribe. If it’s less than perfect (and let’s be honest, most are), it’ll take longer — but a reliable transcription service will always make it clear right from the start whether they are going to charge extra or not, and stick to their word.