Does Live Recording Transcription for Windows work with audio from any app?

Yes, Live Recording Transcription records system audio at the system level, so it does not depend on individual programs. It can transcribe all the sound that the user can hear on their computer — for example, audio in the browser (whether it's YouTube, Coursera, or any other website), audio in any meeting apps (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Telegram, Discord), as well as audio in any specialized program.

Can I record and transcribe a call or meeting on Windows as a guest, without host permission, notifying participants, without bots and integrations?

You can. Technically, Live Recording Transcription from RiverScript captures audio at the Windows system level, so it does not require bots, integrations, or permission from individual applications. We trust our users and believe that you will use audio recording in a lawful manner. You are responsible for using the feature in compliance with the laws that apply in your country. Audio recording regulations vary by jurisdiction. In some countries, recording conversations requires the consent of all or some participants, while recording your own voice or content is generally permitted. Before recording other people's voices or copyrighted content, make sure you understand and follow the applicable laws and licensing requirements in your jurisdiction.

What is the maximum duration of audio and video that can be recorded and transcribed using Live Recording Transcription from RiverScript?

The maximum duration of a single recording is 4 hours. This limit was introduced to prevent unnecessary charges in case a user forgets to stop the recording. The 4-hour limit applies only to Live Recording Transcription and microphone speech transcription. A different duration limit applies to the transcription of uploaded audio and video files — 8 hours.

Can recording and transcription be done in one app?

Yes. RiverScript was specifically designed not as a standalone tool, but as a complete workflow for working with audio and text, so users can perform all the tasks they need in one place without having to switch between multiple programs, windows, and tabs, which is common with other transcription solutions. In the RiverScript Desktop Client, you can record audio from any application at the system level, transcribe audio and video, and get formatted text or subtitles with clickable timestamps, obtain text with diarized speakers, edit transcripts while listening to them, store transcripts, and export it in PDF, TXT, DOCX, VTT, and SRT formats. Additionally, if needed, you can directly within the RiverScript application translate your transcripts into 100 languages, generate a summary of the transcript, and ask the AI assistant questions about the content using the AI(Summarize&Ask) feature.

Does RiverScript have a free version?

Yes, RiverScript operates on a freemium model. It offers paid Pro and Premium plans with extensive features and more transcription hours, as well as a free option called Free Start, which allows you to transcribe audio and video for free. Every month, Free Start users get 1 media hour of transcription and 25 AI credits.

How to transcribe system audio on Microsoft Windows 10 & 11

Speech-to-Text software for Windows

RiverScript Desktop Client is an AI-powered workflow for audio and video to text transcription for Windows 10 & 11, developed by Finnish software engineers. It is a European product with European-quality standards and strong data protection. RiverScript is a full-featured STT-converter service that includes tools such as Live Recording Transcription for up to 4 hours, accurate AI transcript translation with no character limits, as well as summarizing and AI chat about the content.

Desktop Client is available as a free download from the download page for laptops and desktop computers such as Dell, Acer, ASUS, MSI, HP, Samsung, and Lenovo. You can learn how to install the software on Windows OS and capture internal sound here: Guide to recording system audio on Windows OS. After reading the guide, you can return to this page to explore the transcription feature.

If you're using macOS, see: Transcribe internal audio on Mac.

How to transcribe internal audio on Windows 10 & 11

To start the transcription, open the Live Recording tab in RiverScript Desktop and, once the recording has finished, click Start transcription in the pop-up window. If you've recorded system audio but don't want to transcribe it right away, simply save the recording locally by clicking Save locally.

Save locally is also useful if, for example, you accidentally recorded the wrong audio or captured a recording that's longer than you want to transcribe. The recording will be saved on your computer, and you can transcribe it later.

You can also:

rename the audio file,
open the file's location,
delete it if needed.

Simply click the corresponding icons next to the file name.

To convert a locally saved recording to text, click the Process button (↻ icon) next to the recording name. After a short time, the transcript will appear in the editor. You can edit it and export it in a variety of text formats.

Why users choose RiverScript

You can use RiverScript even when the audio or video you're transcribing contains sensitive information. For example, you can transcribe interviews for customer service quality assurance or scientific research. You can also convert speech from private calls into text and extract the key ideas from the conversation using our AI chat. If you're joining a Zoom, Teams, or another webinar or meeting as a guest, you can transcribe long group calls without connecting any bots.

RiverScript stores transcripts on secure Hetzner servers located in a Helsinki data center. Audio files are automatically deleted from RiverScript's servers 7 days after transcription. Files you've saved locally remain on your computer until you choose to delete them. RiverScript does not use audio files and transcripts to train AI models. The software also does not collect or store cookies for marketing purposes, which is why you only need an email address to sign in.

Transcribe system audio on Microsoft Windows 10 & 11

Speech-to-Text software for Windows

How to transcribe internal audio on Windows 10 & 11

Why users choose RiverScript

F.A.Q.

Transcribe everything you hear on your Microsoft Windows device