Transcription, Subtitling & Translation
What it is
Turning audio and video into accurate written text, adding subtitles, or translating between languages. AI tools do a first draft, and you earn by checking and correcting it, which makes the work faster than it used to be.
Watch this first
Step by step
- 1
Pick your lane
General transcription, subtitles for video creators, or translation if you speak a second language well. Specialising (legal, medical, academic) pays more.
- 2
Use AI as a first draft
Tools like Otter or Whisper-based apps give a rough transcript. Your job is to check names, jargon and context, and fix errors.
- 3
Build speed and accuracy
Practise with free recordings. Learn keyboard shortcuts and a foot pedal or app for playback control.
- 4
Find work
Rev, TranscribeMe and GoTranscript hire freelancers. Fiverr and Upwork suit subtitles and translation. YouTubers regularly need subtitles.
- 5
Quote by the audio minute
Charge per audio minute or per word, with a surcharge for poor audio or fast turnaround. Keep client files private and delete them afterwards.
AI prompts to try
Copy one of these into ChatGPT, Claude or your AI tool of choice and adapt it to your situation.
Get help setting it up
Hand the fiddly setup to a freelancer on Fiverr and start earning sooner.
Useful links
A free OddSync account gives you a booking page, quotes and invoices sent as a link, and a running tax estimate for your side hustle.
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