You are typing out an interview, and every few seconds you stop to work out a mumbled word, then lose your place and have to type a time code by hand. Multiply that by a day of recordings and the typing is no longer the slow part. The FTW Transcriber is built to remove that friction. It is a Windows audio player made for transcriptionists, with automatic timestamps, hotkeys and foot pedal control.
Quick facts
- Latest version: 4.5
- Platform: Windows
- Cost: a free version you can download and try, plus a premium license sold as a one-off payment for a fixed term (1, 24, 36 or 60 months)
- Foot pedals: Infinity, Olympus, Philips and Grundig
- Important: it does not transcribe automatically. You type all the dialog yourself.
Key features
Timestamps that insert themselves
You can have timestamps and frames added automatically, which is optional. You choose the format, and you can start from any timecode rather than 00:00:00. This is the feature the vendor puts first, and it is the one that saves the most typing.
Clearer audio for hard-to-hear words
The player is marketed on sound quality, and the newest version adds noise reduction and audio enhancement inside the interface. A balance control and a speed adjuster are included. Version 4.1 added hotkeys to increase speed, decrease speed and toggle between 100% and a custom speed.
Hotkeys, pedals and common phrases
You can set hotkeys for phrases such as "overtalking" or "unclear". Keyboard combinations like CTRL-G also work as hotkeys. Playback can be driven by a foot pedal, including pedal fast-forward and rewind.
Settings saved per client
You can store different timestamp and hotkey settings for different clients and send them to other transcribers, so a team keeps one house style.
Plays most files, including video and remote files
It plays a wide range of file types, including dss and ds2. Video files such as mpeg, wmv and flv play with the picture shown. Files can be played from your drive or from a remote server without downloading first. Local files start instantly, except dss and ds2. It also has bookmarks, a playlist for several open files, and an option to insert the current time of day regularly.
It works with all word processors, and a Generic File Converter is free to use with it.
Who it's for
This suits solo transcribers and office teams who type from recordings all day. The vendor says it is used by police forces, hospitals, parliaments and firms. It is a poor fit if you want software to produce the text for you.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free version available to try
- Automatic timestamps in the format you choose
- Foot pedal and hotkey control
- Support is free for premium users
- Shareable settings keep a team consistent
Cons
- Windows only
- No automatic transcription
- Full-length playback and premium features need a paid license; the free version is limited
- Licenses are fixed-term, so the cheapest option is not the best value over time
- The installer offers add-ons, including the Olympus codecs and Equalizer APO, which the vendor says to accept
FAQs
Does it transcribe for me?
No. You type all the dialog. The software only makes listening and timestamping faster.
Is it really free?
You can download and try it free. The premium version lets you play a file's full length, use all premium features, and removes ads so the window can be minimized.
Are the license payments recurring?
No. The vendor says the license options are one-off payments, and each key works on one computer only.
Should I run it as administrator?
The vendor advises it for trouble-free use, and it can be set once in the program icon's Compatibility properties.
Which foot pedals work?
Infinity, Olympus, Philips and Grundig pedals are listed, and a vPedal is supported too.
System requirements
The FTW Transcriber runs on Windows. It is installed with extra audio components and is best run as an administrator.