Best Practices for Recording Audio for Transcription

Published November 5, 2025 • 10 minutes read • By Alessandro Saladino

AI transcription is remarkably good—but it's not magic. The quality of your transcription depends heavily on the quality of your recording. Follow these best practices to ensure crystal-clear audio and accurate transcripts.

The Golden Rule: Garbage In, Garbage Out

Even the best AI transcription systems struggle with poor audio. A $5,000 AI model can't fix a recording made on a broken phone mic in a noisy cafe. But a $50 microphone in a quiet room can produce transcripts with 98%+ accuracy.

Invest your time in good recording practices rather than hoping software can fix bad audio.

Choosing the Right Microphone

Built-in vs. External Microphones

Laptop and phone microphones have improved, but external microphones remain vastly superior for transcription quality.

Recommended USB Microphones

For most users, USB microphones offer the best balance of quality, ease, and price:

• Blue Yeti ($100): Popular, versatile, great for beginners
• Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ ($150): Studio quality, excellent clarity
• Shure MV7 ($250): Hybrid USB/XLR, professional quality
• Rode NT-USB Mini ($100): Compact, great sound, affordable

Recording Environment Matters

Choosing Your Space

The best microphone can't overcome a terrible room. Look for:

• Quiet Locations: Away from traffic, HVAC systems, and people
• Small Rooms: Smaller spaces have less echo than large, empty rooms
• Soft Furnishings: Curtains, carpets, and upholstered furniture absorb sound
• Avoid Hard Surfaces: Tile, concrete, and glass create echoes

Quick Tip: Record in a bedroom or carpeted office rather than a kitchen or bathroom. The difference in audio quality is dramatic.

Treating Room Acoustics

You don't need professional acoustic treatment for good transcription. Simple improvements help:

• Close curtains to absorb reflections
• Put a thick blanket over nearby hard surfaces
• Record in a closet surrounded by hanging clothes (surprisingly effective!)
• Use a pop filter to reduce plosives (hard P and B sounds)

Microphone Positioning

Distance Matters

Proper mic placement dramatically affects audio quality:

• Optimal Distance: 6-12 inches from mouth for most mics
• Angle: Slightly off-axis (not directly in front) reduces breath sounds
• Consistent Position: Maintain steady distance throughout recording
• Avoid Handling: Don't hold the microphone—use a stand

Common Mistakes:

• Too close (< 4 inches): Boomy bass, breathing sounds, plosives
• Too far (> 18 inches): Thin sound, room echo, low volume
• Moving around: Inconsistent volume levels

Recording Levels and Gain

The Goldilocks Zone

Audio should be neither too quiet nor too loud:

• Target: Peak levels between -12dB and -6dB
• Average: Speaking voice around -18dB to -12dB
• Never: Let audio hit 0dB (clipping causes distortion)

Most recording software shows a meter. Aim for the green zone, occasionally touching yellow, but never hitting red.

Test Before Important Recordings

Always record a 30-second test clip first:

1. Record yourself speaking at normal volume
2. Play back and listen on headphones
3. Check levels weren't too quiet or clipping
4. Adjust gain/volume and test again if needed

Five minutes of testing prevents hours of frustration transcribing unusable audio.

Dealing with Background Noise

Prevention is Easier Than Removal

Before recording:

• Turn off air conditioning/heating if possible
• Close windows to block traffic noise
• Silence phone notifications
• Mute computer notifications
• Turn off refrigerators, fans, and other appliances
• Put pets in another room
• Inform household members you're recording

Unavoidable Noise Scenarios

Sometimes you can't control the environment (interviews, field recording). In these cases:

• Use a directional (cardioid) microphone pointing at the speaker
• Get the mic as close as practical
• Position yourself away from noise sources
• Modern AI transcription handles some background noise well

Recording Format and Settings

Recommended Settings

For transcription purposes, use:

• Format: WAV or M4A (lossless)
• Sample Rate: 16kHz minimum, 44.1kHz or 48kHz ideal
• Bit Depth: 16-bit minimum, 24-bit for professional use
• Mono vs. Stereo: Mono is fine for single speaker, stereo for multiple

Avoid: Heavily compressed MP3s below 128kbps—they lose too much audio information for accurate transcription.

Multi-Person Recording

Individual Microphones

For best results with multiple speakers:

• Give each person their own microphone
• Record each mic to a separate track if possible
• This improves transcription and enables speaker identification

Single Microphone Interviews

If using one mic for two people:

• Sit close together, equidistant from the mic
• Use an omnidirectional mic or position mic between you
• Avoid talking over each other
• Pause between speaker turns to help AI identify changes

Phone and Mobile Recording

Smartphone Tips

Modern phones can produce surprisingly good audio:

• Use the native Voice Memos or recording app
• Hold phone 8-12 inches from mouth
• Speak toward the microphone (usually bottom of phone)
• Use airplane mode to prevent call interruptions
• Consider a clip-on lavalier mic for better quality

Interview Recording Apps

Specialized apps can improve mobile recordings:

• iOS: Voice Memos (free), Ferrite (professional)
• Android: Recorder by Google (free, good transcription preview)
• Cross-platform: Otter.ai (cloud transcription + recording)

Lecture and Meeting Recording

Permission First

Always get permission before recording lectures, meetings, or conversations. Laws vary by location—some require all-party consent.

Practical Tips

For classroom or meeting recording:

• Sit near the front to capture speaker clearly
• Use a small portable recorder (Zoom H1n, etc.)
• Test recording quality before the event
• Bring backup batteries or charging cable
• Check file saved successfully after recording

Post-Recording Checklist

After recording, immediately:

1. Listen to First 30 Seconds: Verify recording worked
2. Check File Size: Should be several MB for substantial recordings
3. Backup Immediately: Copy to cloud or external drive
4. Rename Descriptively: "2025-01-15-client-interview.wav" not "recording-001.wav"
5. Transcribe Promptly: Context helps identify any unclear sections

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not Testing: Always record a test clip before important sessions
• Wrong Input Selected: Double-check you're recording from the right mic
• Low Battery: Charge devices or have spares ready
• Insufficient Storage: Verify adequate disk space
• Forgetting to Hit Record: Yes, it happens! Develop a pre-recording ritual

Conclusion

Good transcription starts with good recording. While AI can handle less-than-perfect audio, following these best practices ensures:

• 95-98% transcription accuracy instead of 85-90%
• Less time spent correcting errors
• Professional-sounding audio for any purpose
• Usable recordings even years later

You don't need expensive equipment—a $50 USB mic and a quiet room produce excellent results. The key is understanding the fundamentals and applying them consistently.

Record well, transcribe easily, and focus on what matters: the content itself.