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How long can you record with Yating Transcription?
Yating Transcription is a Taiwan-based AI speech-to-text service developed by the III (Institute for Information Industry) team, specifically optimized for Taiwanese accents, Taiwanese Hokkien, and mixed Chinese-English code-switching. Many users' first question when they start is: "How long can I record?"
The answer depends on two aspects: the time limit for live recording and the transcription limit for uploaded audio files.
Yating Transcription's Recording and Conversion Duration Rules
1. Free Plan Quota: 300 Minutes per Month
Yating Transcription offers a free trial quota, currently 300 minutes per month, which must be used within 30 days after registration.
For the average user, 300 minutes can cover about 4 to 6 one-hour meetings or several interview recordings. If you only need to transcribe recordings occasionally, the free plan is worth trying first.
2. Paid Plans: Billed by the Hour
Yating Transcription's paid plans are not a monthly subscription but are sold by duration. Currently, they offer 1-hour, 3-hour, and 10-hour packages, which can be stacked.
If you need a larger volume of hours, you can contact sales for a one-time purchase. Note that one account cannot be used on multiple devices simultaneously.
3. Actual Wait Time for Uploaded Audio Files
Yating Transcription's transcription process is: upload audio file → system deducts hours in advance → wait for transcription to complete → download the transcript.
The actual wait time depends on the audio file length and system processing load. Some users have noted in reviews that Yating's accuracy is good, but the wait time for each upload can be lengthy. If you're used to uploading audio after recording, this waiting period can be a variable in your workflow.
4. What Does the Progress Bar Stuck at 99% Mean?
According to Yating's official documentation, when the progress bar shows 99%, it means speech recognition is complete, and the system is performing post-processing such as speaker diarization and key point summarization.
This stage takes some time, so the progress bar pauses at 99%, but the system is still working. Once done, you can download the transcript from the "All Transcripts" list.
How to Use Yating Transcription
If you plan to use Yating Transcription to process recordings, here's the basic workflow:
- Open the app or web version, and choose live recording or upload an audio file.
- Select the speech-to-text method and set the language.
- Wait for the system to complete transcription, and check the progress in the meantime.
- Preview the transcript, manually proofread and edit, then export it in txt, docx, srt, or json format.
Yating only provides text export and does not allow re-downloading the original audio. So, make sure to keep the original recording files before uploading.
If You Need a Faster Meeting Notes Workflow
Yating Transcription is suitable for users who already have audio files and need to convert them to text afterward. But if you have meetings to organize every week, going through the "find audio → upload → wait → export" process each time can quickly add up in time costs.
With AI meeting notes tools like Tinrec, the approach is different: transcription starts while recording, and by the time the meeting ends, the transcript, summary, and action items are already there—no need to upload audio and wait for transcription.
Stop organizing recordings by hand
Upload audio or video and automatically get a transcript, summary, and action items
How to Choose an Audio-to-Text Tool? 4 Key Points
1. Determine Your Use Case First
If you have a batch of audio files that need transcription, upload-based services like Yating Transcription are a reasonable choice.
If your need is real-time recording of meetings, interviews, or classes, a tool that transcribes as you record will be more convenient. Tinrec supports real-time recording-to-text, so you can see the transcript immediately after recording, saving the upload wait.
2. What Can You Do After Transcription?
The transcript is just the first step. Whether the tool can help you organize key points afterward is where the real time savings come in.
In addition to the transcript, Tinrec automatically generates summaries, chapters, and action items. You can ask it directly, "Who mentioned the budget in the meeting?" or "What were the client's opinions?" without having to re-read the entire transcript.
3. Does Language Support Meet Your Needs?
Yating Transcription's strength is recognizing Taiwanese accents and Taiwanese Hokkien. If you mainly deal with Traditional Chinese content, this is a big plus.
Tinrec also supports Chinese and Traditional Chinese, covers mixed Chinese-English content and multilingual meetings, and offers real-time translation, making it suitable for teams that need cross-language communication.
4. Team Collaboration Needs
If you're using it individually, a single tool's transcription feature is sufficient.
But if meeting notes need to be shared with a team, Tinrec's team plan allows you to create team spaces and store meeting materials centrally. Members can view historical meetings, and admins can allocate seats, monitor usage, and access audit logs. Meeting data belongs to the team, so it doesn't disappear when a member leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can you record with Yating Transcription?
The time limit for live recording depends on your plan quota. The free plan offers 300 minutes per month, and paid plans are sold in 1-hour, 3-hour, and 10-hour units. When uploading audio for transcription, the system deducts hours in advance, and hours are automatically refunded if transcription fails.
Is Yating Transcription fast?
Yating's accuracy is good, but you need to wait for the system to process after uploading. Some users have reported longer upload wait times. If you need the transcript immediately after recording, consider real-time transcription tools like Tinrec.
Can you download the original audio file from Yating Transcription?
No. Yating only provides text export in formats including txt, docx, srt, and json. You need to save the original audio yourself before uploading.
Is it normal for the progress bar to be stuck at 99%?
Yes. 99% means speech recognition is complete, and the system is performing post-processing such as speaker diarization and key point summarization. This stage takes some time, and once done, you can download the transcript.
What's the difference between Yating Transcription and Tinrec?
Yating Transcription is more of an "upload audio → wait for transcription → export text" workflow, suitable for post-meeting transcription. Tinrec takes a real-time approach, transcribing while recording, so you get the transcript, summary, and action items right after the meeting, and it also supports team space collaboration.
Conclusion
Yating Transcription's recording duration depends on your plan quota: the free plan offers 300 minutes per month, and paid plans are billed by the hour. Its strength is recognizing Taiwanese accents, but you need to wait for transcription after uploading, making it more suitable for post-meeting transcription of audio files.
If you need a "ready-to-use right after recording" meeting notes workflow, Tinrec's real-time transcription, AI summaries, and team collaboration features can save you the repeated upload and wait time. We recommend starting with a free trial to see which workflow suits you better.
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