If you happen to’ve received a Microsoft 365 subscription, and also you’re nonetheless handwriting lecture notes or typing out assembly minutes, you’re not profiting from it! OneNote’s report and transcribe function can prevent all that effort and time. Right here’s how one can begin utilizing it.


The best way to Document and Transcribe in OneNote

Recording and transcribing audio in OneNote is tremendous simple and may prevent tons of time. Right here’s learn how to get began:

First, open a pocket book in OneNote and add a brand new web page. From the “House” tab, click on on the “Extra Choices” icon (it appears like three dots or an ellipsis). This can present you extra choices. Click on “Transcribe” from the dropdown.


The ribbon in Microsoft OneNote

A facet panel will pop up on the fitting, providing you with two methods to transcribe. If you have already got a pre-recorded audio file, hit “Add Audio,” and it’ll convey up your file explorer so you possibly can choose your file.


The Transcribe Pane in OneNote

If you happen to don’t have a recording but and need to seize dwell audio, click on “Begin Recording.” OneNote will instantly begin recording out of your pc’s mic. You possibly can pause and resume the recording everytime you need by clicking the microphone button. The recording may also preserve operating within the background, so you possibly can swap apps and proceed utilizing your PC like regular whereas it is ongoing.

When you’re pleased with the audio you’ve captured, click on “Save and Transcribe Now.”

The Transcription Pane in OneNote during recording


OneNote will add the file to OneDrive, course of it, and return a transcription. The velocity of the transcription relies on how giant your audio file is. I’ve examined it with a 15-minute audio file, and it returned the transcripts in round 3 minutes, though your web connection is certainly an element.

There are not any limits on audio size proper now, however Microsoft did embody a discover that it might add some sooner or later, so make the most of it when you can!

Your transcription is linked to the web page the place it was created, so don’t be concerned about dropping it even when you by chance shut the transcription pane. Nevertheless, it additionally means that you may solely have one transcript per web page. If it’s worthwhile to transcribe one thing else, you’ll must do it on a brand new web page. I’ve discovered that generally you’ll want to shut and reopen the transcription pane earlier than it offers you the choice to begin a brand new transcript on a brand new web page.


Above the transcript, you’ll discover a playback menu that permits you to take heed to your audio recording. What’s cool about that is that OneNote captures any drawings you make on the web page whereas recording. So, whenever you play again the audio, your ink strokes will seem too, completely matched with the audio. It is a good way to seize notes and visuals whereas retaining all the pieces in sync.

A transcript of an audio recording in OneNote

Modifying Your Transcript

After you have your transcript, you possibly can simply make edits to repair any errors. Simply hover your pointer over the a part of the transcript you need to edit and click on the pencil icon.

A pencil icon above a transcript in OneNote


From right here, you may make modifications to the textual content and even rename the audio system. If you happen to select to rename a speaker, you possibly can apply that change to all the transcript by ticking the “Change All Speaker” field. When you’re completed, hit the test mark to avoid wasting your modifications.

A transcript in OneNote

After you are blissful along with your transcript, the ultimate step is including it to your web page. You possibly can both add your transcripts part by part or abruptly.

To do it by part, hover your pointer over the transcript you need to add and click on the press plus button.

A transcript in OneNote

If you happen to select so as to add it abruptly, you’ve received 4 choices on what so as to add to the web page:


  • Simply textual content
  • Textual content with audio system
  • Textual content with timestamps
  • Audio system and timestamps

Decide whichever format works greatest for you, and also you’re good to go!

Suggestions for Getting the Finest Audio Recordings and Transcripts

Getting an correct transcript depends on capturing a top quality audio recording. There are some things you are able to do to get the best-sounding recording doable.

Firstly, evaluate your audio enter. Ensure you’re using the right microphone, and test it to make sure it’s working fine.

Subsequent, test that you just’re recording with the perfect sound high quality. Click on on “File” and choose “Choices.” Navigate to “Audio And Video,” click on on “Format” and select the very best worth within the drop-down menu. This can enhance the standard of your voice recordings, however word that it’s going to additionally enhance the dimensions of your audio recordsdata.

Audio settings in OneNote


Lastly, when you plan to make use of this function closely, spend money on a superb sound recorder. When you can report along with your pc’s built-in microphone, it gained’t do a superb job of isolating your voice and eradicating ambient noise. Moreover, exterior sounds just like the clacking of keys in your keyboard can intrude along with your recording. A voice recorder just like the Sony Mono Digital Voice Recorder may resolve this downside for you.

Sony Mono Digital Voice Recorder

$45 $60 Save $15

Sony’s digital voice recorder guarantees as much as 57 hours of battery life and has a USB connection so you possibly can switch your recordings to a pc.

Limitations of OneNote’s Recording Characteristic and Workarounds

By default, recording on OneNote is proscribed to gathering audio out of your pc’s microphone. That signifies that when you’re attempting to transcribe a Zoom name, you possibly can’t use a headset, and it’s important to put your quantity on full blast to present your mic the perfect probability of selecting up the sound.

Fortuitously, there is a method round this downside. You possibly can enable stereo mix after which change the audio enter settings of OneNote in order that it captures the sounds coming out of your pc. To do that, head again to the Audio and Video settings and click on “Gadgets.” Select “Studio Combine” from the drop-down, and press “OK” to finalize your modifications.


Audio settings in OneNote

If that does not work, don’t be concerned, you possibly can nonetheless attempt these strategies for recording the sound coming out of your PC after which add it for transcription.


OneNote’s report and transcription function is a recreation changer that may prevent hours of tedious work. You may make issues even simpler by using AI to organize those notes. And it doesn’t cease there. OneNote can boost your productivity by letting you narrow down on different apps and keep everything organized in one place.


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