Interview Transcript Example and Template (Copy and Paste)

Q: How do you format an interview transcript?

Label every speaker turn (for example Interviewer and Participant), start a new line each time the speaker changes, add a timestamp at regular intervals or at each turn, and mark unclear audio and non-speech sounds in square brackets.

Q: What is the difference between verbatim and clean verbatim?

Verbatim keeps every word, including fillers, false starts and repeats. Clean verbatim removes fillers and false starts but keeps the meaning and the speaker's wording. Research interviews often use verbatim; articles and reports usually use clean verbatim.

Q: How often should I add timestamps?

Every speaker change or every 30 to 60 seconds is common. Timestamps make it easy to go back to the audio when a quote needs checking.

Q: Can I transcribe an interview on my iPhone?

Yes. Record or import the audio in Audio Notes AI to get a transcript, summary and action items. It does not label speakers, so add Interviewer and Participant labels yourself while you read along.

An interview transcript lists every speaker turn with a label, a timestamp at regular intervals, and the words spoken, with unclear audio and non-speech sounds marked in square brackets. Below is a copy-and-paste template, a short example, and the rules for verbatim and clean transcripts. The last section shows how to get the first draft from a recording on your iPhone.

Three transcript styles: pick one before you start

Style	What it keeps	Use it for
Verbatim	Every word: fillers (um, uh), false starts, repeats, pauses and laughter	Research, legal or linguistic work
Clean verbatim	The speaker's wording, without fillers and false starts	Articles, reports, podcasts, case studies
Summary	Only the main points, in your words	Quick notes and internal follow-ups

Interview transcript template

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Project: [Name]
Interview with: [Participant ID or name]
Interviewer: [Name]
Date: [Date]   Duration: [hh:mm:ss]   Location or platform: [Place or app]
Style: [Verbatim / Clean verbatim]
Consent: [Yes, recorded on date] 

[00:00:00]
Interviewer: [Question or comment]
Participant: [Answer]

[00:01:05]
Interviewer: [Question or comment]
Participant: [Answer]

Notation:
[inaudible 00:12:31]   = could not make out the words
[unclear: word?]       = best guess
[laughs] [pause]       = non-speech sounds and pauses
[...]                  = words left out
[Name removed]         = anonymised detail

Example: verbatim and clean verbatim side by side

An invented excerpt, to show the difference.

Verbatim	Clean verbatim
[00:03:12] Interviewer: So, um, how did you, how did you first hear about the programme? Participant: Well, uh, my manager, she, she mentioned it at a, a team meeting. [laughs] I wasn't really listening at first.	[00:03:12] Interviewer: How did you first hear about the programme? Participant: My manager mentioned it at a team meeting. I wasn't really listening at first.

Formatting rules that keep a transcript usable

One speaker per paragraph. Start a new line every time the speaker changes.
Use the same labels throughout. "Interviewer" and "Participant", or initials, but not both.
Timestamps at regular intervals, or at every speaker change, so you can find the audio again.
Square brackets for anything that is not speech: [laughs], [pause], [inaudible 00:12:31].
Do not fix grammar in a verbatim transcript. Change the words only in a clean transcript, and never change the meaning.
Anonymise early. Replace names and details with [Name removed] if your project requires it.

Get the first draft from a recording on your iPhone

Record the interview in Audio Notes AI with the phone near the speakers, or import the file you already have (m4a, mp3, wav, mp4 and more). Recordings can be up to 90 minutes; start a new one at the break for longer interviews.
You get a transcript in about 30 seconds in 60+ languages, plus a summary and action items.
Copy the transcript into the template above, then listen back and add the Interviewer and Participant labels. Audio Notes AI returns one block of text without speaker labels, so this step is yours.
Fix names and technical terms, mark [inaudible] passages, and add timestamps where you need them.

Honest limits: transcription runs on a server, so you need internet, and a draft always needs a read-through against the audio before you quote anyone. See how to transcribe interviews and the free-plan comparison of transcription apps.

Try Audio Notes AI free on the App Store — your first 3 notes or 60 minutes of transcription are included, no card required.

FAQ

How do you format an interview transcript?

Label every speaker turn, start a new line at each change of speaker, add timestamps at regular intervals or each turn, and put unclear audio and non-speech sounds in square brackets.

What is the difference between verbatim and clean verbatim?

Verbatim keeps every word, including fillers and false starts. Clean verbatim removes them but keeps the meaning and the speaker's wording.

How often should I add timestamps?

At every speaker change or every 30 to 60 seconds is common.

Can I transcribe an interview on my iPhone?

Yes. Audio Notes AI gives a transcript, summary and action items from a recording or an imported file. It does not label speakers, so add those labels yourself.

Do I need consent to record an interview?

Get it before you record, and in writing for research. Rules differ by country and state, and research projects follow their ethics board's rules.

More: meeting minutes template, best voice recorder apps, transcribe audio in any language.

Download Audio Notes AI free on the App Store — your first 3 notes or 60 minutes of transcription are included, no card required.