The Best Audio File Formats for Speech-to-Text: A Guide

The accuracy of Speech-to-Text (STT) systems is highly dependent on the quality of audio input. Selecting the appropriate audio file format is crucial, as it directly impacts how accurately the system can interpret and transcribe spoken words. Key considerations for choosing an audio format include sound quality, file size, compatibility with STT software, sample rate, bit depth, and compression. The most commonly used audio formats for Speech-to-Text are WAV, FLAC, MP3, AAC, and M4A. While post-processing can sometimes improve transcription accuracy, it is essential to focus on capturing high-quality recordings from the start and apply minimal, targeted enhancements. For video files, choosing the right format is equally important, as video containers like MP4, MOV, AVI, and MKV impact both audio quality and file size. Ultimately, the right format for your Speech-to-Text project will depend on the specific requirements of your application, the quality of the original audio recording, and the capabilities of the STT system you're using.