Stephen Turner
Akash Kumar
Jordan Lee
Taylor Scott
What is a meeting transcript?
A meeting transcript is a written record of what people said in a meeting, usually with each line labeled by speaker. It can be produced live or after the call. Captions show the same speech on screen in sync with the video. Minutes and notes are shorter records written from the conversation.
What a transcript contains
The core of a transcript is the spoken words, in order. Most meeting transcripts add a label for who said each line, and many add timestamps so you can find a moment in the recording.
The W3C's accessibility guidance defines a basic transcript as a text version of the speech and non-speech audio needed to understand the content. In a meeting, non-speech audio might be [laughter] or [phone rings] when it matters to what happens next.
- Words: what each person said, close to verbatim.
- Speaker labels: a name, or a generic label such as Speaker 2.
- Timestamps: where each line sits in the recording.
- Relevant sounds: noises that change the meaning of the conversation.
Transcript, captions, minutes and notes
These four records start from the same conversation but serve different jobs.
| Record | What it is | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Transcript | The full text of what was said, with speakers | Reading along live, searching a past meeting, checking an exact quote |
| Captions | The same speech shown on screen, in sync with the audio or video | Following a call or recording while you watch it |
| Minutes | A short formal record of decisions, motions and action items | Boards, committees and teams that need an agreed record |
| Notes | A summary of key points, decisions and next steps | Catching up quickly or sharing the outcome |
A short example
This exchange is illustrative. A transcript keeps every line:
- Maya (00:14:02): Can we move the launch to the 18th?
- Dev (00:14:06): Only if support has the help article ready by the 16th.
- Maya (00:14:11): I'll check with support today and confirm in the channel.
The same moment as a note
A note from that exchange keeps only the outcome: "Launch may move to the 18th, depending on the help article. Maya to confirm with support today."
The note is quicker to read. The transcript shows who said what and the condition attached, which matters if someone later disputes the decision.
Why transcripts matter for accessibility
The W3C says basic transcripts are used by people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, people who have difficulty processing auditory information, and others. Descriptive transcripts also describe the visual information needed to follow a video.
Under WCAG, a transcript is required at Level A for prerecorded audio-only content. For prerecorded video with audio, captions are Level A and a transcript is Level AAA. For live audio-only content, a transcript or live text stream is Level AAA.
What makes a transcript useful
- Correct names. Replace generic labels such as Speaker 2 with real names before you share the transcript.
- Visual context. The W3C notes that transcripts made from captions usually need visual information added, such as text shown in the video and speaker identification.
- Easy to find. Put the transcript where people find the recording, so they don't have to ask for it.
- Checked quotes. Automatic transcripts make mistakes, so check any line you plan to quote or act on.
Meeting transcripts in Bridge
During a meeting, speech appears in the Conversation tab as it is recognized. Speaker names improve when Bridge knows the participants, such as calendar guests, workspace members and people in Memory.
After the meeting, the Conversation tab holds the full speaker-labeled transcript, with search and jump-to, alongside the recording when there is one. Structured notes sit in the Notes tab.
On paid plans (Professional, Business and Enterprise), you can copy the transcript or export it as a PDF, Word or Markdown file.
Sources & further reading
Keep readingWhat are meeting minutes? →