Transitioning to Otter.ai for Notetaking Assistance

The Office of SDS has about some exciting changes coming to our notetaking assistance program. This Fall 2024, we’ll be transitioning from Glean software to Otter.ai for all notetaking services. Glean will still be available for the Fall semester, but starting Spring 2025, we’ll be fully switching over to Otter.ai.

Otter AI logo: A stylized "O" with a speech bubble inside, representing voice-based note-taking. Main Image: A laptop and a smartphone displaying the Otter AI app interface. A person is speaking into the microphone on the laptop, and the app is generating notes in real time. Text: Otter is where conversations live. Generate rich notes for meetings, interviews, lectures, and other important voice conversations with Otter, your AI-powered assistant.   Buttons: Get started, App Store, Google Play Awards: App Store App of the Day 2019, Google Play Best Daily Helper 2018, PC Magazine 100 Best Apps of 2018, Mashable 7 Best Apps of 2018, FAST COMPANY Best New Apps of 2018 Additional Context: Otter AI is an AI-powered note-taking app that automatically generates transcripts from voice conversations.

Otter.ai is a voice-to-text transcription tool that helps with note-taking and transcription. It captures spoken words from an audio feed, applies an AI algorithm to process the content, and then organizes the transcribed text on the page, making it ready for reading, highlighting, and copying. You can take notes by recording lectures, videos, and meetings or simply talking to it.

Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to use Otter.ai for note-taking:

  • Step 1: Create an Account

Visit the Otter.ai website or download the Otter.ai app from your device’s app store. Choose the Basic account type to get started. Sign up for a new account or log in if you already have one.

  • Step 2 (optional): Download the Otter.ai App

If you’re using a mobile device, download and install the Otter.ai app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). Learn more about the technical requirements to ensure that it supports your device.

  • Step 3: Record or Import Audio

You can start recording audio within the app or import an existing audio file. If you’re recording, ensure the app can access your microphone.

Transcription

As the audio is recorded or imported, Otter.ai will transcribe the spoken words into text in real time and display the transcribed text on the screen.

Image: A screenshot of the Otter AI app interface, showing various sections and features: Left Sidebar: G. Account Profile and Settings C. My Conversations D. Conversations shared with me E. Groups F. Folders Main Content Area: H. Transcription Panel (displays recorded conversations) A. Record Conversation button B. Import an Audio or Video File button Tool Bar (containing play, pause, rewind, forward, and other controls) Weekly Team Meeting transcription (sample text) Additional Context: The image showcases the Otter AI app's user interface, allowing users to record, import, and view transcribed conversations.

  • Step 4: Review and Edit

After the recording or import is complete, review the transcribed text. Edit any errors manually to ensure accuracy.

  • Step 5: Add Highlights and Comments

Use Otter.ai’s features to highlight key points in the transcript and add comments for additional context.

Image: A screenshot of the Otter AI app interface, showing a conversation transcript. Top Left: "Show only highlights" toggle button. Conversation: Dani: Absolutely. It's very easy to upload the old podcast on to the website. It's called otter.ai. Once you log in, there is an Import button. You can use that button to import all your old podcast. Dani: I think they can do old recording too. But the accuracy is very different. Nuance has been doing this for 20 years, but they are actually lagging behind in the last few years because their technology is pretty old. The new technology is all based on deep learning. So that's what we have created in the last few years.   Timestamp: 04:30 Playback Controls: Play/pause, rewind, forward, 1x speed Other Controls: Settings, Share, Edit, More Timestamp: 14:38 Additional Context: The image shows a section of a transcribed conversation using Otter AI, highlighting the ease of uploading old podcasts for transcription and discussing the differences in accuracy between Otter AI and older transcription technologies.

  • Step 6: Organize Notes

Explore the app’s organizational features. You can create folders, categorize your notes, and add tags to make it easier to find information later.

  • Step 7 (optional): Export and Share

Once your notes are complete, explore the options to export them. Otter.ai typically allows you to export notes in various formats (text, rich text) and share them via email or messaging apps. Note that the free version allows you to share in clipboard and text formats only.

Image: A screenshot of the Otter AI app interface showing a menu with options: Share button (with a lock icon) Keyboard Shortcuts button (with a keyboard icon) Move option (with a three-line icon) Export option (with an upload icon) Rematch speakers option (with a recycle symbol) Sync text to audio option (with a text and audio wave icon) Change start time option (with a clock icon) Reset start time option (with a clock icon) Show relative time option (with a clock icon) Delete option (with a trash can icon) Additional Context: This image shows the various actions and settings available in the Otter AI app for managing and editing recorded conversations.

  • Step 8 (optional):Integration with Other Apps

If you want to sync your notes with other platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox, explore Otter.ai’s integration settings.

 

Need more help? Check out these additional resources to get started with Otter.ai:

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our SDS Notetaking Staff is here to support you! You can email us at SDSnotetaking@umbc.edu with any concerns or questions. We’re here to make this transition as smooth as possible for everyone. We look forward to helping you get the most out of Otter.ai this fall!