What Auto-Transcription Does
Auto-transcription removes the manual step of tapping Transcribe after every recording session. When enabled for a project, 12scribe automatically sends each completed recording to the server for AI speech-to-text processing the moment you tap Stop. There is no extra button to press, no confirmation dialog, and no delay — the transcription request is submitted immediately.
This is especially useful for users who always want their recordings transcribed. Instead of remembering to tap the button after each lecture, meeting, or interview — and occasionally forgetting — you configure the setting once and every session in that project is processed automatically from that point forward.
By the time you finish packing up your things after a one-hour lecture, the transcript may already be complete and ready to read. For longer recordings, you receive a push notification when processing finishes, even if the app is in the background.
How to Enable
You can enable auto-transcription at two independent levels, giving you flexible control over which projects get automatic processing:
- Per-project setting — open any project, navigate to the project settings screen, and toggle the Auto-Transcription switch on. This affects only that specific project. All future recording sessions in this project will be transcribed automatically when stopped.
- Global default — go to the Settings tab (the app-wide settings, not project settings) and enable auto-transcription as the default for new projects. From that point, every newly created project will have auto-transcription enabled from the start. Existing projects are not changed by this setting.
After enabling, no further action is required. Record as you normally would, and when you stop each session, the transcription pipeline begins automatically in the background.
Per-Project vs Global
The per-project setting always takes priority over the global default. Here is exactly how the two settings interact in every possible combination:
- Global ON, Project not explicitly set — auto-transcription is active for that project (it inherits the global default)
- Global ON, Project explicitly OFF — auto-transcription is disabled for that specific project, overriding the global setting
- Global OFF, Project explicitly ON — auto-transcription is active for that specific project, overriding the global setting
- Global OFF, Project not explicitly set — auto-transcription is disabled for that project (it inherits the global default)
This two-level system lets you tailor behavior precisely for each use case without constant manual toggling. University lectures — always transcribe automatically. Quick personal voice memos — skip transcription. Client meetings — always transcribe. Ambient sound recordings for a project — no transcription needed. Each project gets exactly the behavior you want.
When you create a new project, it inherits the current global default. If you later change the global setting, existing projects keep their current configuration — only new projects pick up the change.
Quota Impact
Auto-transcription consumes your monthly transcription minutes exactly like manual transcription — there is no difference in quota usage. Each minute of recorded audio uses one minute of your monthly allowance, regardless of whether the transcription was triggered manually or automatically.
On the Free plan with 150 minutes per month, enabling auto-transcription on all your projects can exhaust your quota quickly if you record frequently. A student recording three one-hour lectures per week would use 180 minutes in the first three weeks — exceeding the Free plan limit. Planning is important.
Here are strategies for managing quota effectively with auto-transcription enabled:
- Check your remaining minutes in the Profile tab before each recording week — know where you stand
- Disable auto-transcription for projects where you genuinely do not need text search or AI analysis
- Consider upgrading to the Pro plan with 1,500 minutes per month if you transcribe recordings daily or across multiple courses
- Prioritize which projects get auto-transcription and which ones you transcribe manually and selectively
If your quota runs out while an auto-transcription request is pending, the request enters a waiting queue. It will process automatically either when your quota resets at the start of the next month, or immediately if you upgrade to the Pro plan. No audio data is lost — the recording remains safely stored on your device regardless of quota status.
Learn more about the technical details of how transcription processes your audio in How Transcription Works in 12scribe.