What is a meeting transcript?
Updated Oct 25, 2026
Definition
A meeting transcript is a written, word-for-word record of what was said in a meeting, usually labelled with who said each part and when. It is the raw material for summaries, minutes and action items.
What a good transcript includes
- Speaker names: so you know who said each line, and who agreed to what.
- Timestamps: so you can jump to the moment in the recording.
- Readable text: split into turns, not one long block.
How AI creates a transcript
Speech-to-text turns the recording into words, and speaker identification works out who was talking. Clear audio matters most: a good microphone, a quiet room and one person speaking at a time give the most accurate result.
Transcript vs. meeting minutes
Transcript
Everything that was said, word for word. Long, but complete.
Meeting minutes
A short summary of what was discussed and decided. Easy to read, but leaves details out.
How Acta writes your transcripts
Acta transcribes each meeting once it ends, usually within a few minutes. Every line is labelled with the speaker's name, taken from the meeting and your calendar invite, and timestamped so you can play that moment. When a recording has no names, people show as “Speaker A” and “Speaker B”. You can then ask questions across your transcripts.
Meeting transcription helpFAQ
Is a meeting transcript the same as a recording?
No. The recording is the audio or video; the transcript is the text of what was said in it.
Does Acta show the transcript during the call?
No. Acta transcribes the meeting once it's over, and the transcript is usually ready a few minutes later.