Guide
Transcription vs translation
One turns speech into text. The other turns meaning into another language. If you mix them up, you get confident, wrong notes — the worst failure mode.
The quick answer
- Transcription = speech → text in the same language.
- Translation = meaning → another language (often changes phrasing).
- For meetings, transcription is the “receipt.” Translation is a convenience layer you add after you have a reliable transcript.
Transcription: when you need receipts
If your goal is “perfect recall with receipts,” transcription is the artifact you need. It should preserve:
- Names and entities (people, companies, products)
- Numbers and units ($, %, dates, quantities)
- Speaker turns (who said what)
- Key commitments (decisions and action items)
Translation: when you need comprehension
Translation is great when your team needs to understand content across languages. But translation can accidentally “smooth over” details:
- Names can be transliterated inconsistently.
- Numbers can be reformatted or misinterpreted.
- Tone and qualifiers can get softened (“might” → “will”).
Rule of thumb: translate after you’ve captured a trustworthy transcript. Don’t treat translation output as
your primary receipt.
What to choose for meetings (most people only need this)
Choose transcription if…
- You need a record of decisions, commitments, and numbers.
- You’re writing follow‑ups, summaries, or minutes.
- You’ll paste outputs into CRM, tickets, or docs.
Add translation if…
- You have multi‑language stakeholders who need comprehension.
- You’re publishing content for a different language audience.
- You already trust the transcript and want an accessible version.
The failure mode to avoid
The most expensive outcome isn’t “no notes.” It’s confidently wrong notes. If a tool can’t reliably capture numbers or speaker overlap, it will betray you on the one moment that matters.
Want a transcript you can trust?
Use lab receipts + the buy table to pick the cheapest tool that won’t embarrass you.