Express Scribe vs. Happy Scribe

It has a free trial, which is very nice if someone just needs temporary access to use, and it's not an expensive program overall. It may not be the most robust program available, but it gets the job done at a good price point. It might not be the best if you need something that allows transcriptionists to collaborate (i.e., working on the same file at the same time).

Incentivized

Happy Scribe saves us a lot of time in generating transcripts and subtitles. We have used other services, including human transcription, and really find Happy Scribe to be adequate for a starting point. Even human transcription isn't perfect when the transcriptionist isn't familiar with the domain and specific vocabulary used.

• Cost efficient - This is a fairly low-cost transcription software that can be downloaded quickly via web
• Easy to use - New users can get the hang of this software pretty quickly
• Customizable - Foot pedal controls and other preferences can be set based on what feels intuitive to the user

Incentivized

• Machine translation is remarkably accurate, though of course not perfect.
• The entire web app experience is thoughtfully designed and implemented. Using it is a pleasure.
• A sweet feature: the ability to share editable transcripts with guests through a share link.

• Interface - The look and feel of the software is quite dated and could use a refresh
• Enhancing audio - When we need to manipulate an audio file to try to enhance it (amplifying, for example), we have to use another program to do so
• Hotkeys - Setting up hotkeys may not be as intuitive for new users as would be ideal

Incentivized

• There's not much to dislike!

For our use, Happy Scribe's machine translation is nearly as accurate as the human translation services we used before at considerably lower cost. The web app is better designed than either of the others we tried, though we haven't used those alternatives in the past several years

• Very few 'inaudibles' (spots where we're unable to decipher what was said)
• Transcribing allows analysts to read scripts rather than listen to audio files, which saves time and money
• Low cost of software

Incentivized

• Happy Scribe enables us to make videos and audio accessible to people who prefer not to watch or listen.
• Happy Scribe saves us time and money.
• Happy Scribe just works.