Important Notes
Step-by-step Instructions
STEP 1: Open Zoom Open the Zoom application on your computer.
STEP 2: Set up Zoom to record separate tracks for each participant
Click on the "Settings wheel" located in the top right corner of the Zoom window.
From the settings menu, select "Recording."
Tick the box next to “Record a separate audio file for each participant.”
STEP 3: Record call, meeting, or webinar
Invite your interviewee or participants to the meeting.
Be sure to click the “Record” button, typically found in the middle of the screen during a meeting.
STEP 4: End meeting
Once your meeting, call, or webinar is complete, click “End Meeting.”
Your recordings will be saved in the "My Documents > Zoom" folder on your computer.
STEP 5: Enable multitrack in Sonix
Log into your Sonix account.
Go to the Upload page.
From the sidebar of the Upload page, select "Enable multi-track uploading."
Under Multi-track uploads, select YES: Enable multi-track uploading.
Click Save Upload Settings.
Now, when you upload, you’ll be able to choose whether you're uploading a multi-track recording or a single-track recording.
STEP 6: Upload to Sonix
In Sonix, you can optionally name your recording.
Click on "Select from computer" and navigate to your "My Documents > Zoom" folder.
Select all the individual audio files associated with your meeting (one for each speaker/participant).
STEP 7: Name speakers
After uploading, name each track with the corresponding speaker's name.
This step is crucial as it will automatically label the speakers correctly when Sonix combines all the tracks into a single transcript.
Select the language spoken in the recording.
Hit the "transcribe" button to begin the transcription process.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Why didn’t Zoom save separate audio tracks for each participant?
You may have forgotten to enable the "Record a separate audio file for each participant" option in Zoom’s recording settings. Before starting your meeting, go to Zoom settings, select "Recording," and ensure this option is checked.
Why are some audio files missing from my Zoom folder after the meeting?
This usually happens if the meeting wasn’t ended properly or the recording didn't finish processing. Always click “End Meeting for All” and give Zoom time to process the recording before accessing the files.
Why won’t Sonix accept multiple audio files for multitrack transcription?
You might not have enabled the multitrack upload feature in Sonix. Log into Sonix, go to the multitrack upload section, and make sure this option is turned on. If you can’t find it, check your subscription plan or contact Sonix support.
Why is the transcription inaccurate or why are speakers labeled incorrectly in Sonix?
This happens if the individual audio files were not correctly assigned to each speaker during upload. Double-check that you’ve named each track with the correct speaker's name before uploading to Sonix. You can also adjust speaker names later in the transcript editor.
Why is the transcription quality poor?
Low transcription quality can result from poor audio input or excessive background noise. Make sure each participant uses a good microphone and records in a quiet environment. Headsets often improve clarity significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a paid Zoom account to record separate audio tracks?
No, this feature is available even with Zoom’s free accounts.
Can I upload only one participant’s audio file to Sonix?
Yes, but for best results with multitrack transcription and automatic speaker labeling, upload all participant audio files.
How many speakers or tracks can Sonix handle in a multitrack transcription?
Currently, it is limited to five tracks, with each track corresponding to a single speaker.
What audio file formats does Sonix accept?
Sonix supports common audio formats such as MP3, M4A, WAV, and more. Zoom typically saves separate audio files in the M4A format, which Sonix accepts.
Can I edit or rename speaker labels after the transcription is complete in Sonix?
Yes, you can manually adjust speaker names within the Sonix transcript editor after transcription is processed.
My Zoom recording only saved a single audio file instead of multiple tracks. What went wrong?
Most likely, you forgot to enable the "Record a separate audio file for each participant" option in Zoom’s recording settings before starting the meeting.
For further assistance, please contact Sonix support at [email protected] or through the chatbox located in the bottom right corner of our website.