Word - Dictate/Transcribe Question

Question

The Transcribe feature of Word is awesome. I have a client that records their board meetings (around 12 participants) and they are 9 hours long. They need to be able to transcribe the audio to written text. The Transcribe function of Word works great but there is a 300min limitation per month. We are willing to pay for more time but I can't find a solution form Microsoft. Is there an option that can be purchased or a higher subscription level that will give more time? Or --- we have 40 users in out tenant. Is there a way to pool the min so that one or two people can use them? **** A Web based solution is not an option. I know Word uses OneDrive and the transcribing is done online but I cannot convince the exec to use one of those services. So please don't recommend one. I know they are out there. Thank you

Answer 1

Hi,

It's glad to hear that the Transcribe feature in Word useful. Unfortunately, Microsoft does not offer an option to purchase additional transcription minutes beyond the 300-minute limit per month.

Pooling minutes across multiple users in a tenant is also not supported. Each user is limited to their individual 300-minute quota.

If possible, you could create additional Microsoft 365 accounts specifically for transcription purposes. This way, you can utilize the 300-minute limit for each account.

If you have any feedback or suggestion about this behavior, you can try to give a feedback to Microsoft about your requirement:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-do-i-give-feedback-on-microsoft-office-2b102d44-b43f-4dd2-9ff4-23cf144cfb11

Microsoft values your opinion. Your feedback will help us shape the future of Microsoft products and services for all our users.

Hope the information will help.

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Answer 2

Years ago, I used a program Dragon Naturally Speaking. I suspect that it could handle this. The full legal version was quite pricey, as I recall. It is not web based, or at least was not then. Over the years I probably spent about $3,000 on their software (but that was the legal and professional software). Like Office and Word, it has come done somewhat it price.

Here is a link: https://www.nuance.com/dragon/transcription-solutions.html

My understanding is that although carrying the Nuance brand, the company is owned by Microsoft. It may be the source of their transcription and dictation abilities. I do not know that, but they seem to have appeared after the purchase of the company.