Automatic transcription of interviews and meetings has become a daily necessity for journalists, students, professionals, and anyone looking to save time and gain accuracy by transforming conversations into text. Use Otter.ai from mobile Otter.ai is one of the most convenient and powerful solutions for achieving this, leveraging artificial intelligence to capture, organize, and share spoken content like never before. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by handwritten notes or missed important details in a conversation, this guide will show you why and how Otter.ai can radically change the way you work.
In this article, we are going to tell you Everything you need to know about getting the most out of Otter.ai on your mobile deviceWe'll cover everything from creating your account, initial setup, and integration with your favorite platforms to key tips for improving transcription accuracy and automating processes. We'll also explore alternatives and best practices so you can choose the best option for your needs. Get ready for a detailed, practical reading with that conversational touch that makes learning so much easier.
Why choose Otter.ai for mobile interview transcription?
Otter.ai has emerged as an essential tool for those who want to convert audio into text automatically, efficiently, and collaboratively.. Its mobile version, available for both Android like iOS, puts the ability to record, transcribe, organize, and share any conversation, whether in person or online, in the palm of your hand in a matter of seconds. What makes Otter.ai unique?
- Real-time transcription with AI in multiple languages (mainly English, but constantly improving to support more languages).
- Automatic speaker recognition and tagging, ideal for multi-person interviews.
- Cloud sync: Access your transcripts from any device with the app or browser.
- Collaboration tools: Allows you to share, comment, highlight, and assign tasks directly from the transcript.
- Integrations with Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Dropbox, and other key services to automate content capture.
- Free and paid plans to suit both casual users and professional teams.
Today, opt for Otter.ai It means freeing yourself from the heavy burden of taking notes during interviews, meetings or classes., spend more time listening and truly participating, and eliminate errors or oversights in the subsequent report. All this, right from your pocket.
Getting started with Otter.ai on your mobile: Getting started and setup
Getting started with Otter.ai from your mobile device is very simple, but there are a few steps you should know to get the most out of its features from the start. We guide you step by step so you don't miss any details:
1. Download the app and create your account
- Just search “Otter.ai” on Google Play or the App Store to install the official app.
- When you open the app, you can register using your email, a Google or Microsoft accountThe recommendation is to use the account you normally use for work or school, as it will facilitate synchronization and collaboration.
- Once registered, confirm your email through the message you will receive and you will have immediate access to the free version.
The free Otter.ai account It typically offers 300 minutes of transcription per month, with key features active and options to upgrade based on your needs.
2. Familiarization with the interface
The app is designed to be intuitive, with direct access to recording, importing files, and managing your conversations. From the main screen you can view your recent recordings, create folders, search within the text, and share transcripts. easily.
3. Synchronization and security
otter.ai Automatically sync your recordings and transcripts to the cloud, ensuring you never lose your work even if you change phones. All content is securely stored and can be accessed from any browser using your account.
4. Connect to your calendar, contacts, and favorite apps
One of the keys to Otter.ai's success is its integration with leading productivity tools:
- Sync your calendar so Otter can automatically join scheduled meetings and record without you having to do anything.
- Import Contact to make it easy to share notes and recordings with your team.
- Connect Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Dropbox and more from settings to automatically transcribe virtual meetings or save copies to your preferred cloud.
How to record and transcribe interviews and meetings from your mobile phone
The real magic of Otter.ai is in its ability to convert any conversation into a faithful transcript in near real timeThese are the most common and effective ways to use it on your mobile:
Record and transcribe live from the app
The most straightforward way to use it is to simply open the app and tap the “Record” button. At that point, Otter begins capturing audio using your device's microphone and displays the live transcript on screen. You can follow the conversation word by word, highlight phrases, insert notes or photos (like slides or whiteboards), and pause whenever you need.
By the end, the transcript is saved along with the audio recordingYou can then edit the text, correct any errors, split paragraphs, assign names to participants, or add tags to make searching easier.
Import audio or video files recorded outside the app
Have you already recorded your interview with another app, or have you received the file? Otter.ai makes it easy to import audio or video files. in formats like MP3, WAV, MP4, or MOV. Just tap "Import," select the file from your phone or cloud, and let the app do the rest.
This feature is very useful for transcribing podcasts, webinars, classes, and any previous recordings you want to transform into text.
Automatic transcription of video calls and virtual meetings
With Otter.ai's strong integration with Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, you can set the app to automatically join calls and start transcribing immediately. This feature is essential for remote teams who want to centralize notes from each meeting effortlessly.
Otter recognizes and labels different voices; generates clear summaries; and automatically distributes key points, decisions, and tasks to the team after each session.
Improving transcription accuracy and personalizing Otter.ai
Like all AI, Otter.ai learns the more you use it. To ensure your transcripts accurately reflect the conversation, follow these recommendations:
- Use a quality microphone and place it close to the interlocutors, avoiding background noise and overlaps.
- Speak clearly and slowly, identifying the speakers at the beginning if there are several participants.
- Edit the transcripts after each meeting to correct errors and train Otter to recognize different voices and specific terms.
- Add custom vocabulary, proper names or frequently used technical terms in your meetings to increase precision.
- setup custom labels for projects, clients or tasks, which will facilitate the organization and future location of content within the platform.
Share, collaborate, and automate tasks with Otter.ai
Otter.ai is designed for teamwork and intelligent information management.Thanks to its collaborative system, you can transform your notes into actions:
- Share the transcripts via private links, export the file to PDF, TXT or Word, or share only summaries by email from the app.
- Edit and highlight in groups: Teams and colleagues can add comments, flag key items, or assign tasks directly on the transcript.
- Organize your recordings in folders or group them by topic, project, or team for quick access when you need it.
- Automate workflows with integrations with tools like Zapier, Trello, or Google Drive, so that, for example, each time a transcription is completed, it is stored in a shared folder or tasks are assigned to specific people.
Automatic summaries, task generation, and agreement tracking
What sets Otter.ai apart from simple recorders or transcribers is its ability to analyze the conversation and distill the essential points:
- Automatic meeting summaries: After completing the transcription, Otter identifies decisions made, tasks assigned, and next steps.
- Creating action items: Mark relevant fragments during the recording and assign them to responsible parties and deadlines.
- Tracking tasks and responsibilities: The material can be integrated with task managers so you don't lose track of any commitments made during the talk.
This feature is especially useful in business environments, but also for teachers, project teams, and any group that works collaboratively.
Templates for notes and summaries: Standardize your workflow
Leveraging AI and custom templates, You can standardize the way you share the main results of an interview or meeting.:
- Executive summary templates to send to your team immediately after the session, including task assignments, next steps, and a direct link to the transcript.
- Project update templates highlighting achievements, current status, and immediate priorities.
- Follow-up emails to clients, detailing commitments, schedules, and the next scheduled meeting.
These templates help keep everyone aligned and reduce the risk of misunderstandings or missed tasks.
Practical tips for interviews, meetings, and in-person events
Using Otter.ai isn't limited to video calls. Recording interviews or in-person events is easy with the mobile app, but it is important to follow some recommendations:
- Place the device near the speakers, preferably on a central table.
- Speak clearly and ask all participants to state their names when speaking.
- Take the opportunity to insert photos of whiteboards, slides, or relevant documents directly into the transcript from the app.
- Review the transcript after the meeting, identify errors, add tags, and highlight key points.
- In long interviews, use the search function to quickly locate specific comments or topics.
Otter.ai on Teams: Workspaces, Advanced Management, and Security
If you need to transcribe and organize multiple interviews or meetings regularly, You can create collaborative workspaces on Otter.ai. This allows you to:
- Group recordings by projects, departments, or teams.
- Assign different permissions to each user, ensuring privacy based on the sensitivity of the information.
- Manage members, control access, and share entire folders of notes.
- Add common custom vocabulary to refine AI accuracy at the team level.
Companies place special value on the security and confidentiality that Otter.ai guarantees: Data is stored on secure servers, the user has full control to delete any information, and the platform does not sell or share data with third parties.
Pricing Plans and Limitations: When Should You Upgrade to Pro?
Otter.ai has various subscription levels, designed to adapt to different needs:
- Free Plan: 300 minutes per month, 30 minutes per recording, basic recording, transcription, collaboration, and automatic summarization features.
- Pro plan: Approx. $8,33/month (billed annually), with unlimited recordings, extended minutes, advanced export, extra integrations, and priority support.
- Business plan: $20/user/month (annually), designed for teams, with advanced management tools, custom vocabulary, security, and premium support.
For individual users or small businesses with few meetings, the free version may be more than enoughIf you need to transcribe dozens of interviews per month, collaborate with larger teams, or integrate complex workflows, you'll want to upgrade to the higher-end plans.
Top alternatives to Otter.ai for automatic mobile transcription
Otter.ai leads the industry, but it's not alone. If you're looking for other options, These are some of the most notable alternatives in the Spanish and global market.:
- Bitrix24: A comprehensive solution that combines transcription, project management, and task automation. It offers automatic summaries and collaborative note-editing. Its free plan is very generous.
- Fellow: Focused on meeting organization, it allows you to transcribe, summarize, and assign tasks in real time. Ideal for teams, it offers practical templates for different types of meetings.
- note: stands out for transcribing and translating in over 10 languages (58 available for transcription), sharing audio clips, and ensuring data protection. Perfect for international teams.
- Rev.com: A robust option that integrates automatic and human transcription, collaborative editing, and multilingual support. Includes the VoiceHub feature to answer questions about the transcription.
- Theme: A pay-per-use, accurate, and agile model, designed for those who need to transcribe specific audio files without a subscription commitment.
- Sonix.ai: translates and transcribes in more than 49 languages, facilitates thematic organization and stands out for its integration with Zoom and Adobe Premiere.
- Trint: Transcribes, translates, and allows collaboration on text in over 40 languages. Very popular with video and content teams.
- krisp: Adds noise cancellation and accent smoothing intelligence. Ideal for ensuring clear transcriptions in noisy environments.
- Fireflies.ai: Turn meetings into knowledge bases, analyze engagement metrics, and integrate with leading virtual platforms.
- Descript: A creative option that allows you to edit audio as if it were text, generate subtitles, and prepare content ready for social media.
The choice depends on your needs: if you value the Automation, easy integration, and a fast learning curveOtter.ai is still a safe bet, but these alternatives can add specific features depending on your priorities.
Advanced Tips: Automation, Integrations, and Tricks to Get the Most Out of It
- Usa Zapier to automate workflows, such as automatically saving transcripts to Google Drive or sending tasks to Trello.
- krisp can improve audio quality and therefore the accuracy of Otter.ai by removing background noise before recording.
- Employ Grammarly to refine the final formatting of your notes and ensure seamless communication when sharing summaries with clients or colleagues.
- Set meeting and recording reminders so you never forget to capture your key conversations.
- Organize all your meetings with templates and labels, making it easy to track decisions and responsibilities over time.
Frequently asked questions about using Otter.ai on mobile
- Does Otter.ai work in Spanish? Although accuracy is much higher in English, the app is constantly developing and gradually improving its recognition capabilities in other languages. If your interviews are in Spanish, it's recommended to run a test and, if possible, manually grade the interviews to ensure quality.
- Can transcripts be shared with people who don't have Otter.ai? Yes, you can export any note to PDF, TXT, or Word and share it via email or even with public links, without any additional registration required.
- Does Otter.ai record phone calls? Not directly, for legal reasons in many regions. If you need to transcribe calls, record the audio first with a compatible app (like Call Recorder) and import it later.
- Are transcripts secure and private? Absolutely. Otter.ai doesn't sell or transfer data to third parties, and you can delete any recording at any time.
- Can I use Otter.ai offline? Automatic transcription requires an internet connection, but you can record audio offline and transcribe when you're back online.
Continuous Improvement: How to Train Otter.ai to Adapt to Your Workflow
The true strength of this tool lies in its customization capabilities. Tag speakers, add industry-specific terms, and regularly review transcripts.Every time you fix a mistake, Otter.ai learns and improves, increasing the quality of future recordings.
Collaboration also drives improvement: As multiple team members correct errors, highlight tasks, or add nuances to shared notes, AI refines its recognition and achieves greater fidelity with each use.
Transforming interview transcription into a fast, efficient, and reliable task is now a reality thanks to tools like Otter.ai. From simple automatic note-taking to integration with your favorite platforms, including customization, collaboration, and advanced automation, few applications offer such a comprehensive ecosystem.
Never again be overwhelmed by the stress of rushing through text or missing key details: with Otter.ai on your phone, manual labor becomes actionable intelligence and your time becomes real value. Share the information and more users will know about the tool.