After you finish recording a conversation or successfully upload an audio file, the audio processing begins automatically. Once processing is complete, you can view transcripts, edit conversations, export meeting notes, collaborate with team members, and view AI-powered summaries and insights.
The audio processing system uses advanced machine learning to identify speakers, separate conversations into speaker-specific segments, and organize dialogue using voice characteristics and timestamps. This speaker recognition and transcription process improves the accuracy of meeting transcripts, conversation summaries, and searchable notes, though processing times may vary depending on audio length and the number of speakers. Learn more about speaker learning.
How long does processing take?
Processing time varies depending on the length of the recording or uploaded file, the number of speakers detected, and current system demand on the Otter service. The table below outlines the estimated processing times for each supported input type, based on a 30-minute meeting.
| Input Type (based on a 30-minute recording) | Estimated Transcript Processing Time | Estimated AI Summary & Email Processing Time |
| Otter Notetaker, Live Notes, ad-hoc manual recording | 1.5 – 3 minutes | 2.5 – 6 minutes |
| Imported audio and video files | 4.5 – 6 minutes* | 5.5 – 7 minutes* |
| Offline ad-hoc recording (mobile) | 4.5 – 6 minutes** | 5.5 – 7 minutes** |
* Processing begins after the file is successfully uploaded.
** Processing begins after reconnecting to the internet, and the file is successfully uploaded.
Imported file(s) processing time
For imported files, transcript and AI summary processing only begin after the file has been fully uploaded to Otter. Once the upload is complete, Otter will display the processing progress percentage. Refer to our chart for estimated processing times based on a typical 30-minute meeting recording.
FAQs
How long does Otter take to process a meeting?
For a 30-minute meeting recorded by Otter, a draft transcript is available in real time during the meeting. After the meeting ends, the finalized transcript is typically available within 1.5 to 3 minutes, and the summary within 2.5 to 6 minutes.
How long does Otter take to process an imported file?
For a 30-minute recording imported into Otter, the transcript is typically generated within 4.5 – 6 minutes, and the summary within 5.5 – 7 minutes. Processing begins after the file is successfully uploaded.
How long does Otter take to process an offline recording?
For a 30-minute offline recording by Otter, the transcript is typically generated within 4.5 – 6 minutes of import, and the summary within 5.5 – 7 minutes. Processing begins after reconnecting to the internet, and the file is successfully uploaded.
Why is my conversation still processing?
Processing time depends on the length of the recording or file, the number of speakers, and current demand on the Otter service. During peak usage, even shorter recordings may take longer than usual to process. View our Status Page for any updates on outages.
If your conversation has been processing for several hours, it may be experiencing an unexpected delay. If this happens, please contact our Otter support team for assistance. Be sure to include the conversation title, date, and time so we can help resolve the issue more quickly.
Why won't my file import or process?
When you import an audio or video file into Otter.ai, a progress indicator displays the upload status and percentage completed. Transcript generation and AI summary processing only begin after the file has been fully uploaded to Otter’s servers.
If the upload progress remains stuck for an extended period or an error appears, it may be caused by:
- An unstable or slow internet connection
- Network interruptions or VPN/firewall restrictions
- Unsupported or corrupted audio/video files
- Large file sizes or limited device resources
Ensure your internet connection remains stable and keep the Otter.ai app or browser window open while the file is uploading. After the upload is successfully completed, you can safely close the app or browser, as transcript and AI summary processing continue on our Otter servers.
If the progress indicator is showing the same percentage for a longer than expected time or shows an error, there may be a problem with your internet connection or other factors.
Feedback
0 comments
Article is closed for comments.