Less time typing. More time understanding what was said.
Cockatoo converts interview recordings into accurate, editable text in seconds. Upload any audio or video file and get a transcript with speaker labels, word-level timestamps, and clean punctuation: ready to quote, analyze, or share.
Punctuation and capitalisation applied automatically.
No noise reduction is applied to uploads.
Researchers, journalists, and qualitative analysts use interview transcription software to turn hours of manual typing into a few minutes of upload and review.
What first drew you to this project? Was there a moment when the idea started to feel real?
It was the first conversation with our community. Listening to their stories changed the questions we were asking.
Could you tell me more about that conversation, and what you decided to do differently afterward?
Cockatoo identifies speakers automatically and labels every line of dialogue. Set the speaker count before upload and the tool separates voices without manual tagging.
Rename a speaker once in the editor and every line updates instantly.
Every word in the transcript carries a timestamp down to the second. Click any word and jump straight to that moment in the recording.
Journalists fact-checking quotes and researchers pulling soundbites use timestamps to verify context without scrubbing through the entire file. Export options include paragraph, sentence, and speaker-turn timestamps depending on your workflow.
Cockatoo removes filler words, false starts, and repeated phrases automatically while keeping the speaker's meaning intact. The transcript reads like written text instead of raw speech.
Qualitative analysts and content creators get a usable draft on the first pass instead of spending hours cleaning up ums and ahs.
Download transcripts as DOCX, PDF, TXT, or SRT with one click. DOCX files open in Word with speaker labels and timestamps intact. TXT exports import directly into qualitative analysis software like NVivo and Atlas.ti.
No reformatting, no copy-paste, no extra steps.
Cockatoo transcribes in dozens of languages and dialects without manual setup. Language auto-detect runs before transcription and can be overridden per file in the upload modal.
Accuracy holds up on difficult audio: accents, crosstalk, and background noise where cheaper tools collapse.
Upload recordings, store transcripts, and share files without paying for separate cloud storage.
Many users treat Cockatoo as a transcript archive.
Researchers conducting interviews for theses, dissertations, and academic studies upload recordings and get back transcripts ready for coding and analysis. Speaker labels and timestamps make it easy to track who said what and when.
Reporters transcribe interviews to verify quotes, check context, and pull exact wording for articles.
Market research teams transcribe customer interviews, user testing sessions, and feedback calls to identify patterns and extract quotes for reports. Speaker recognition separates moderator questions from participant responses automatically.
Podcasters, video producers, and content marketers transcribe interviews to create show notes, blog posts, social media clips, and video captions. SRT exports add subtitles to video without manual timing.
Legal professionals transcribe client interviews, depositions, and recorded statements to create written records. Clean-verbatim style produces readable documents while timestamps provide an audit trail back to the source recording.
One compliance officer transcribes internal investigation interviews and stores the DOCX files with timestamps as part of the case record. The transcript and the original recording stay linked for future reference.
Drag and drop any audio or video file into the browser. Cockatoo supports every common format: MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, MOV, and dozens more, so you never need to convert files before upload.
Video files have their audio extracted automatically with no transcoding step. Set the speaker count and choose your language, or let auto-detect handle it. No setup, no account required to try it.
Speaker labels, timestamps, and punctuation are applied automatically. The transcript appears in the browser editor where you can rename speakers, fix any errors, and review the text before export.
Files stay in your account until you delete them, so you can come back and re-export in a different format anytime.
Unlimited file transfers let you share transcripts with collaborators or move them to other tools.
Background noise, heavy accents, and crosstalk lower accuracy, but the editor makes fixes quick.
Clear audio with minimal background noise and distinct speakers produces the highest accuracy. Phone recordings, outdoor interviews, and files with heavy accents or crosstalk require more editing.
Cockatoo handles difficult audio better than cheaper tools, but no transcription software is perfect. The editor lets you fix errors in seconds by clicking the word and typing the correction.
Cockatoo V4 transcription modes balance speed and accuracy for different use cases. Fastest modes deliver results in seconds, while highest-accuracy modes take longer but handle difficult audio better.
The transcription engine and modes are versioned and improved over time. Practically unlimited default modes are available on paid plans, plus a weekly usage budget for the highest-accuracy modes shown in Settings. Unlimited modes remain available when the budget is hit.
Our users appreciate accuracy on difficult accents and dialects, raw speed, and ease of use.
| Language | Word error rate |
|---|---|
| English | 3.9% |
| Spanish | 1.0% |
| French | 7.8% |
| German | 2.4% |
Lower is better. Selected per-language results from the public benchmark. Updated October 27, 2026.
Explore the full accuracy reportDesigned for the fastest turnaround — up to 120× real time.
Mode preview · Select your mode when uploading.“The app has simplified my dissertation work by trascribing the interviews I am working with currently.”
“This transcriber is incredibly accurate, and not bothered by all the different accents i present it with. Highly recommended.”
Data is retained while your account is active and removed when you delete the file or close the account.
Support engineers access files only with your explicit permission. One legal professional uploads client interviews knowing the recordings stay private unless they specifically ask for help.
Cockatoo is independently owned and makes money by charging for the product, not from advertising. The business model is simple: you pay for transcription, and your data stays yours.
Delete a file and it is removed from storage immediately. Close your account and all data is removed.
3 free transcripts. No credit card required.
Background noise, heavy accents, and crosstalk lower accuracy, but the editor makes fixes quick. Most users spend a few minutes reviewing and correcting errors instead of hours typing from scratch.
Yes. Cockatoo identifies speakers automatically and labels every line of dialogue. Set the speaker count before upload and the tool separates voices without manual tagging.
Rename a speaker once in the editor and every line updates instantly.
Cockatoo supports every common audio and video format: MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, MOV, and dozens more. Video files have their audio extracted automatically with no transcoding step. Upload any format and get a transcript back without converting the file first.
Yes. Download transcripts as DOCX, PDF, TXT, or SRT with one click. DOCX files open in Word with speaker labels and timestamps intact.
TXT exports import directly into qualitative analysis software like NVivo and Atlas.ti. SRT files add subtitles to video without manual timing.
Data is retained while your account is active and removed when you delete the file or close the account.
Support engineers access files only with your explicit permission. Cockatoo is independently owned and makes money by charging for the product, not from advertising.
