Transcribe a Focus Group, Get the Text with Speaker Labels
Upload a recording of a focus group, or paste a link, and ScreenApp turns the discussion into a transcript with each speaker labeled and timestamped. Record the session in the room with the browser recorder or the iOS and Android apps, or connect the meeting bot for Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams for a remote session, then upload the file when it’s ready.
A transcript you can search and quote from replaces re-listening to the recording to find who said what.
What you get:
- A transcript with speaker identification, in 99 languages
- AI chat with any recording, so you can ask what a participant said about a topic instead of scanning the whole transcript
- AI notes: action items with an owner and deadline, and decisions listed separately
- Export as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT
- Free plan: one recording of up to 45 minutes, with AI chat on it
How to Transcribe a Focus Group
- Upload or paste a link: Drag in the audio or video file of the session (MP4, WebM, MOV, AVI, MKV, WMV, and FLV), or paste a link. No account setup is needed to start.
- Let it transcribe: The audio is converted to text and each participant is separated into their own speaker label, with a timestamp on every sentence.
- Review and export: Read the transcript in the browser, correct a name or a term, and export as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT to share with the research team.
Accuracy depends on the audio. A central microphone with participants close by transcribes best; cross-talk, a room with an echo, or several people speaking at once will produce more gaps. See how we measure accuracy.
Focus Group Transcription vs Other Apps
| Feature | ScreenApp | Otter.ai | Rev | Sonix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | one recording, up to 45 min | 300 min/month | 45 min/month (AI) | 30-min trial |
| Transcription | Included | Included within the minute cap | $0.25/min (AI), $1.99/min (human) | Included with the plan, or $10/hour pay as you go |
| Speaker identification | Included | Basic | Included | Included |
| AI notes | Included | Pro, $8.33 to $16.99/month | Not stated | Not stated |
| Export formats | PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT | mp3, txt, pdf, docx, srt (Pro, Business and Enterprise plans, with bulk export) | Not stated | DOCX, PDF, TXT, SRT, VTT |
| Languages | 99 | 6 | Not stated | 54+ |
| Paid plan | $19/month annual | $8.33/month annual | $25.49/month annual | $25/month |
Sources, checked 2026-09-13: screenapp.io/accuracy#languages, github.com/screenappai/screenapp-new/blob/main/apps/web/src/app/api/files/[id]/transcript/export/route.ts, screenapp.io/pricing, screenapp.io/help/how-many-minutes-can-i-record, otter.ai/pricing, rev.com/pricing, sonix.ai/pricing, rev.com/apps-and-tools/audio-transcription-app
- vs Otter.ai: Otter’s free plan caps you at 300 minutes a month, and its speaker identification tier on the free plan is Basic. ScreenApp includes full speaker labels on every plan.
- vs Rev: Rev’s free tier gives 45 AI minutes a month, then charges $0.25 per minute for an AI transcript or $1.99 per minute for a human one. A long series of focus groups adds up fast at either rate.
- vs Sonix: Sonix gives a one-time 30-minute trial, then a $25-a-month plan. ScreenApp’s free plan renews rather than being a one-time trial.
Who Uses Focus Group Transcription
Market researchers transcribe consumer discussions about products, branding, and advertising, then search the text for the exact phrases participants used.
UX researchers transcribe usability sessions and feedback groups to pull direct quotes into a product brief.
Academic researchers record focus groups for sociology, psychology, and marketing studies, then work from the transcript instead of field notes.
HR teams transcribe employee focus groups and listening sessions, with speaker labels separating who raised each point.
Political and public-policy researchers transcribe voter and community focus groups to review what was said after the session ends.
Agencies run focus groups for multiple clients and need a transcript quickly to write up findings before the next round of sessions.
FAQ
How do you handle multiple people speaking at once?
speaker identification separates participants even with some cross-talk. A central microphone or a mic for each participant gives the clearest result; heavy overlap will still create gaps.
How accurate is the speaker identification?
Speaker identification runs automatically, and you can review and relabel a speaker in the online editor if it mislabels a turn. Transcription accuracy is 99% on clear audio, as measured on the accuracy page.
Can I export the transcript for analysis?
Yes, as PDF, DOCX, TXT, SRT and VTT. ScreenApp does not export directly into thematic-coding software, so you open the exported transcript in whatever tool you already use for coding and analysis.
Is my research data kept confidential?
Recordings are encrypted in transit and stored with AES-256, on SOC 2 Type 2 infrastructure, and are not used to train AI models. Security controls are published on the trust center.
Can I transcribe a whole series of focus groups?
Yes, bulk upload of multiple files lets you upload and process multiple sessions at once.
Can I record the session instead of uploading a file afterward?
Yes. Record in the room with the browser recorder or the iOS and Android apps, or use the meeting bot for Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams for a remote session on Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. Upload the file once the recording is done.
Can I ask questions about what participants said?
Yes, AI chat with any recording lets you ask a question about the discussion and get an answer that points to the moment in the recording.
