Law Firms: Save 25% on 30+ Audio/Video Files With Bulk Transcriptions

You have 47 deposition recordings sitting in a case folder. Each one needs a working transcript for case prep. The question isn't whether to transcribe them — it's whether to upload them one at a time or use bulk.

BrassTranscripts offers both single-file and bulk transcription, and the pricing structures are different enough that the wrong choice costs real money. This guide breaks down exactly when bulk saves you money, when single-file is actually cheaper, and includes an AI prompt that calculates your specific breakeven point.

Quick Navigation

• Single-File vs. Bulk Pricing
• When Bulk Saves Money (And When It Doesn't)
• The Breakeven Formula
• Real Scenarios From Legal Practice
• AI Prompt: Bulk vs. Single-File Cost Calculator
• When to Just Use Single-File
• Frequently Asked Questions

Single-File vs. Bulk Pricing

BrassTranscripts single-file pricing uses two flat-rate tiers based on duration. Bulk pricing now does the same — each file in a bulk batch is priced by its audio duration, with the short-file and long-file rates both dropping across seven volume tiers.

Single-File Pricing:

Bulk Pricing (duration-aware):

Both include automatic speaker identification, files up to 450MB each (no duration limit), and concurrent processing. Single-file delivers 4 output formats (TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON); bulk delivers TXT format.

The critical difference: single-file pricing has no batch discount, bulk pricing does. A 7-minute short clip costs $2.50 single-file but as little as $1.25 in a 250+ bulk batch. A 90-minute long file costs $6.00 single-file but as little as $3.00 in a 250+ bulk batch. Bulk matches single-file at 1-5 files and undercuts it from 6 files onward at every duration.

When Bulk Saves Money (And When It Doesn't)

BrassTranscripts bulk pricing now matches single-file pricing at 1-5 files for any duration and beats single-file pricing from 6 files onward. Both the short-file and long-file rates drop together across seven batch-size tiers, so every file in a bulk batch costs less than its single-file equivalent once you're past the entry tier.

How the math works now: Single-file pricing charges $2.50 for files under 15 minutes and $6.00 for files over 15 minutes. Bulk pricing charges the same $2.50 / $6.00 at 1-5 files and discounts both bases proportionally at each higher tier. Short files in bulk drop to $1.25 at 250+ files; long files in bulk drop to $3.00.

• A 45-minute deposition in a 20-file batch: $6.00 single vs. $4.50 bulk (bulk wins by $1.50)
• A 10-minute phone call in a 20-file batch: $2.50 single vs. $1.88 bulk (bulk wins by $0.62)

Whatever your duration mix, bulk wins at 6+ files. At 1-5 files, bulk and single-file are exact equivalents — same prices, same per-file rates. The only reason to choose single-file over bulk now is the per-file 30-word preview or the SRT/VTT/JSON output formats (bulk delivers TXT only).

The Breakeven Formula

The breakeven for bulk-vs-single is no longer about mix — it's about batch size. With duration-aware pricing, bulk is equivalent to or cheaper than single-file for every batch size and every duration mix.

At 1-5 files (short $2.50 / long $6.00):

• Bulk matches single-file exactly for any duration mix.
• Verdict: bulk and single-file are equivalent. Choose single-file if you want the preview or non-TXT output formats. Choose bulk if you want the unified dashboard, duplicate detection, and silent-file handling.

At 6-10 files (short $2.08 / long $5.00):

• Each long file saves $1.00 vs. single ($6.00 - $5.00).
• Each short file saves $0.42 vs. single ($2.50 - $2.08).
• Verdict: bulk always wins, regardless of mix. Savings scale with the count of long files in the batch.

At 11-15 files (short $1.98 / long $4.75):

• Each long file saves $1.25; each short file saves $0.52.
• Verdict: bulk always wins.

At 16-49 files (short $1.88 / long $4.50):

• Each long file saves $1.50; each short file saves $0.62.
• Verdict: bulk always wins.
• Example: 20 files, 12 long + 8 short → Single $92, Bulk (12 × $4.50) + (8 × $1.88) = $54 + $15.04 = $69.04 → Bulk saves $22.96
• Example: 20 files, 10 long + 10 short → Single $85, Bulk (10 × $4.50) + (10 × $1.88) = $45 + $18.80 = $63.80 → Bulk saves $21.20

At 50-99 files (short $1.67 / long $4.00):

• Each long file saves $2.00; each short file saves $0.83.
• Verdict: bulk always wins.

At 100-249 files (short $1.46 / long $3.50):

• Each long file saves $2.50; each short file saves $1.04.
• Verdict: bulk always wins.

At 250+ files (short $1.25 / long $3.00):

• Each long file saves $3.00; each short file saves $1.25.
• Verdict: bulk always wins.

The larger the batch, the bigger the per-file savings on every file. At 250+ files, every long file costs half its single-file price ($3 vs $6) and every short file costs half its single-file price ($1.25 vs $2.50). At 6-10 files, the discounts are smaller but still positive at every duration.

Real Scenarios From Legal Practice

Scenario 1: Discovery Package — 60 Deposition Recordings

A litigation team has 60 recorded depositions averaging 45-90 minutes each. All files exceed 15 minutes.

Bulk wins by $120. Every file benefits from the lower long-file rate.

Scenario 2: Client Interview Archive — 30 Mixed-Length Recordings

A solo practitioner has 30 client intake recordings: 12 are under 15 minutes (quick phone screens), 18 are over 15 minutes (full consultations).

Bulk wins by $34.44. Under the old flat bulk rate this batch was barely a wash; under duration-aware bulk the short files now bill at the short-file rate and the long files keep their savings.

Scenario 3: Paralegal's Weekly Upload — 25 Short Status Calls

A paralegal records 25 status calls per week, mostly 5-12 minutes each. Only 3 are over 15 minutes.

Bulk wins by $18.14. Under the old flat bulk rate, this short-heavy batch cost $112.50 — more than single-file. Duration-aware pricing flips it: bulk is now $18 cheaper than single-file for the same files.

AI Prompt: Bulk vs. Single-File Cost Calculator

BrassTranscripts built this prompt so legal teams can paste their file details — or just estimate counts and durations — and get an instant cost comparison between single-file and bulk transcription pricing.

The prompt handles two input modes: exact file lists with durations, or rough estimates like "about 50 files, most around 30 minutes." It calculates total costs, savings, and tells you which option wins.

You are a transcription cost calculator for BrassTranscripts pricing. Calculate whether single-file or bulk transcription is cheaper based on the user's files.

PRICING REFERENCE:

Single-file (duration-based, per file):
- Files 1-15 minutes (SHORT): $2.50 each
- Files 16+ minutes (LONG): $6.00 flat (any length) each

Bulk (duration-aware per file, no minimum file count). Each file in a batch is priced by its own duration, then both rates discount across the batch-size tier:

| Batch size | Short rate (≤15 min) | Long rate (16+ min) |
|------------|----------------------|---------------------|
| 1-5 files  | $2.50/file           | $6.00/file          |
| 6-10 files | $2.08/file           | $5.00/file          |
| 11-15 files| $1.98/file           | $4.75/file          |
| 16-49 files| $1.88/file           | $4.50/file          |
| 50-99 files| $1.67/file           | $4.00/file          |
| 100-249    | $1.46/file           | $3.50/file          |
| 250+ files | $1.25/file           | $3.00/file          |

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Accept the user's input in ANY of these formats:
   - Exact file list with durations (e.g., "12 files at 45 min, 8 files at 10 min")
   - Rough estimates (e.g., "about 50 files, most are 30-60 minutes")
   - File count with percentage split (e.g., "75 files, roughly 70% over 15 minutes")
   - Just a file count (e.g., "40 files" — ask: "About how many are over 15 minutes versus 15 minutes or under?")

2. For rough estimates, interpret vague language as:
   - "most" = 75%
   - "about half" / "half" = 50%
   - "almost all" = 90%
   - "a few" = 3 files
   - "a handful" = 5 files
   If estimates produce fractional file counts, round to the nearest whole file. Make sure totals still add up.

3. Calculate both options:

   SINGLE-FILE TOTAL:
   - Count files ≤15 min × $2.50
   - Count files >15 min × $6.00
   - Sum = single-file total

   BULK TOTAL:
   - Determine batch-size tier based on total file count
   - Count files ≤15 min × tier SHORT rate
   - Count files >15 min × tier LONG rate
   - Sum = bulk total

4. Present results as a clear comparison table showing both totals, the difference, and the percentage saved. Identify the cheaper option.

5. Important fact: under duration-aware bulk pricing, bulk is equivalent to single-file at 1-5 files for any duration mix, and bulk is cheaper than single-file from 6 files onward at every duration. The user should choose bulk unless the batch is 1-5 files AND they want the per-file 30-word preview or non-TXT output formats (SRT/VTT/JSON) — those are single-file features only.

6. If the difference is under 5%, call it a close call. If the user gave rough estimates and the result is close, note that the answer is unlikely to flip with a slightly different mix because bulk wins at every duration ratio above the 1-5 tier.

EXAMPLE OUTPUT FORMAT:

## Your Cost Comparison

| | Single-File | Bulk (50-99 tier) |
|---|---|---|
| 35 files over 15 min | 35 × $6.00 = $210 | 35 × $4.00 = $140 |
| 15 files under 15 min | 15 × $2.50 = $37.50 | 15 × $1.67 = $25.05 |
| **TOTAL** | **$247.50** | **$165.05** |

**Verdict: Bulk saves $82.45 (33%)**

At 50 files in the 50-99 tier, bulk beats single-file for every duration. Long files save $2.00 each; short files save $0.83 each.

Now ask the user to describe their files.

---
Prompt by BrassTranscripts (brasstranscripts.com) — Professional AI transcription with speaker identification for law firms.
---

📖 View Markdown Version | ⚙️ Download YAML Format

Copy this prompt into ChatGPT, Claude, or any AI assistant. Then describe your files — exact durations, rough estimates, or just a count and general length. The calculator handles all formats.

When to Just Use Single-File

Bulk and single-file are equivalent at 1-5 files and bulk wins from 6 files onward at every duration. The reasons to choose single-file over bulk are workflow features, not price:

• You need a 30-word preview before paying — single-file includes a preview before purchase; bulk processes all files upfront and bills at completion
• You need SRT, VTT, or JSON output — single-file delivers 4 formats; bulk delivers TXT only
• Files arrive one at a time — if you're transcribing recordings as they come in rather than processing a batch, single-file is simpler (no dashboard, no account, no batch checkout)
• Your batch is just 1-5 files — at this tier, bulk and single-file cost exactly the same per file, so either workflow is fine

For ongoing transcription needs with mixed volumes, many law firms use both: bulk for case discovery batches and single-file for daily recordings that benefit from the preview.

Getting Started With Bulk

If the math works for your batch:

1. Create a bulk account at brasstranscripts.com/bulk/signup — takes 30 seconds, no subscription
2. Upload your files — drag and drop up to your file limit, all processed concurrently
3. Pay per batch — charged based on your volume tier after processing completes
4. Download transcripts — TXT format with speaker labels

For a step-by-step walkthrough, see the Bulk Transcription Guide.

Speaker identification is included with every file — critical for depositions, client interviews, and multi-party recordings. For AI-powered legal analysis after transcription, BrassTranscripts provides specialized prompts for contradiction detection, timeline construction, and cross-examination preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does bulk transcription save money over single-file pricing?

Bulk transcription matches single-file pricing at 1-5 files for both short and long recordings and saves money from 6 files onward at every duration. Bulk now uses duration-aware pricing — short files (≤15 min) bill at $2.50 per file (1-5 batch) down to $1.25 per file (250+ batch), and long files (16+ min) bill at $6.00 down to $3.00 across the same tiers. Single-file pricing is $2.50 for short files and $6.00 for long files. From 6 files onward, every file in bulk costs less than the equivalent single-file rate.

What is the minimum number of files for bulk transcription?

There is no minimum file count. BrassTranscripts bulk transcription scales from 1 file upward with duration-aware volume pricing. Long-file rates (16+ min): 1-5 at $6.00, 6-10 at $5.00, 11-15 at $4.75, 16-49 at $4.50, 50-99 at $4.00, 100-249 at $3.50, 250+ at $3.00. Short-file rates (≤15 min): $2.50, $2.08, $1.98, $1.88, $1.67, $1.46, $1.25 across the same tiers. Each file can be up to 450MB (no enforced duration limit), and all files are processed concurrently with automatic speaker identification included.

Can I mix short and long audio files in a bulk upload?

Yes. BrassTranscripts bulk transcription prices each file by its actual audio duration — a 6-minute file bills at the short-file rate and a 90-minute file bills at the long-file rate within your batch's volume tier. The dashboard shows each file's individual price next to its filename. Mixing short and long files in a single batch is the most common use case; the total is the sum of each file's tier-adjusted rate.

How fast does bulk transcription process compared to single files?

BrassTranscripts processes bulk files concurrently rather than sequentially. A batch of 50 files completes in roughly the same time as processing a few files individually — typically 1-3 minutes per hour of audio. All files include automatic speaker identification, which is critical for depositions and multi-party recordings.

Do bulk transcripts include speaker identification?

Yes. Every BrassTranscripts transcription — single file or bulk — includes automatic speaker identification at no extra cost. The AI labels each speaker (Speaker 1, Speaker 2, etc.) with timestamps throughout the transcript. For depositions and interviews with 2-6 participants, this eliminates manual speaker tagging entirely.