Loom Video Transcription: Complete Guide
Loom has become essential for async communication—quick video messages that replace lengthy emails or unnecessary meetings. But the value of a Loom video is locked in video format until you transcribe it.
This guide covers how to get text versions of Loom videos for better searchability, documentation, and accessibility.
Quick Navigation
- Loom's Built-In Transcription
- Why External Transcription
- Downloading Loom Videos
- Transcription Process
- Using Loom Transcripts
- Team and Workflow Integration
- FAQ
Loom's Built-In Transcription
According to Loom's support documentation, transcription is available on all plans with varying features.
Transcription by Plan
| Plan | Auto-Transcription | Languages | Downloadable Captions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | ✅ Yes | 50+ | ❌ No |
| Starter | ✅ Yes | 50+ | ❌ No |
| Business | ✅ Yes | 50+ | ✅ Yes |
| Enterprise | ✅ Yes | 50+ | ✅ Yes |
What Loom Transcription Offers
Available on ALL Plans:
- Automatic transcript generation after upload
- Transcript displayed alongside video
- 50+ language support
- Click-to-jump navigation within video
Business/Enterprise Only:
- Downloadable captions (SRT/VTT)
- Stylized captions
- AI features (summaries, chapters, filler word removal)
Why External Transcription
External transcription makes sense when:
Need Downloadable Files
On Free and Starter plans, Loom transcripts display alongside videos but can't be downloaded. External transcription provides:
- Standalone text files (TXT)
- Subtitle files (SRT, VTT) for other platforms
- Structured data (JSON) for analysis
- Editable content for repurposing
Speaker Identification
Loom's transcription doesn't identify individual speakers. For videos with multiple people, external transcription with speaker diarization labels who said what.
Quality Control
External transcription lets you:
- Review and correct before sharing
- Adjust speaker labels
- Format for specific uses
- Integrate with your own workflows
Cost Comparison
| Need | Loom Solution | External Option |
|---|---|---|
| View transcript | Free (all plans) | N/A |
| Download captions | Business plan ($15+/user/mo) | $2.50-6.00 per video |
| Speaker identification | Not available | Included |
| Multiple formats | Business+ only | TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON |
Downloading Loom Videos
From Your Own Videos
Method 1: From the Video Page
- Open your Loom video
- Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top right
- Select "Download"
- Choose quality (720p or 1080p)
- Video downloads as MP4
Method 2: From the Library
- Go to your Loom library
- Hover over the video thumbnail
- Click the three-dot menu
- Select "Download"
From Shared Videos
You can only download videos from others if:
- The creator enabled downloads in video settings
- Your admin has enabled downloads for your workspace
- The creator explicitly shares the file
If download isn't available, you'll need to request the file from the creator.
Download Settings (For Your Videos)
To enable/disable downloads for your videos:
- Open the video
- Click "Settings" (gear icon)
- Find "Allow viewers to download"
- Toggle on/off
Transcription Process
Step 1: Prepare Your File
Loom videos download as MP4 files, which are supported by most transcription services.
File Considerations:
- Most Loom videos are short (under 15 minutes)
- Standard quality is fine for transcription
- Audio quality is more important than video resolution
Step 2: Upload to Transcription Service
Using BrassTranscripts:
- Go to brasstranscripts.com
- Upload your Loom MP4 file
- Review the 30-word preview
- Confirm speaker detection
- Complete payment ($2.50 for videos under 15 minutes)
Step 3: Download Formats
After processing (typically under a minute for short Looms):
- TXT: Plain text for documentation
- SRT: Subtitles for other video platforms
- VTT: Web-friendly subtitle format
- JSON: Structured data with timestamps and speakers
Step 4: Review and Use
For short video messages, a quick review is usually sufficient:
- Check for technical terms or names
- Verify key points are captured
- Edit as needed for your use case
Using Loom Transcripts
Documentation and Knowledge Base
Convert Videos to Docs
Many teams use Loom for:
- Process explanations
- Software walkthroughs
- Team updates
- Training content
Transcripts let you create permanent documentation:
- Transcribe the video
- Edit into readable format
- Add to wiki/knowledge base
- Keep video as visual supplement
Example Workflow:
- Engineering team records architectural decisions
- Transcripts become ADR (Architecture Decision Records)
- Searchable text supplements video context
Searchable Video Archives
Problem: "I know someone sent a Loom about this, but I can't find it"
Solution:
- Transcribe important Looms
- Store transcripts in searchable system (Notion, Confluence, Google Drive)
- Search text to find relevant videos
- Link transcript to original Loom
Accessibility
Some team members prefer or need text over video:
- Faster to read than watch
- Better for non-native speakers
- Essential for deaf/hard-of-hearing colleagues
- Works in sound-sensitive environments
Transcripts make async video communication truly accessible.
Content Repurposing
Loom content can become:
- Email updates
- Slack summaries
- Documentation sections
- Training materials
- Blog posts
Transcripts are the starting point for all these transformations.
Team and Workflow Integration
Engineering Teams
Code Review Looms
- Transcribe walkthrough explanations
- Create permanent documentation
- Reference specific decisions later
Architecture Discussions
- Video explanations become written records
- Searchable decision history
- Onboarding resource for new team members
Sales Teams
Deal Updates
- Quick video updates to management
- Transcripts for CRM notes
- Searchable deal history
Training Videos
- Onboarding content transcribed
- Study materials for new reps
- Reference documentation
Customer Success
Customer Calls
- Video summaries of calls
- Transcripts for account records
- Handoff documentation
Product Feedback
- Video feedback collection
- Transcribed for analysis
- Quotable customer insights
Marketing Teams
Campaign Explanations
- Creative brief videos
- Transcribed for documentation
- Reference for future campaigns
Interview Content
- Video interviews transcribed
- Content for blog posts
- Quotes for social media
FAQ
Does transcribing Loom videos count against my Loom storage?
Downloading and transcribing externally doesn't affect your Loom storage. The original video stays in Loom; you're just creating a copy for transcription.
How long does Loom transcription take?
Loom's built-in transcription processes automatically after upload, usually within minutes. External transcription (like BrassTranscripts) also takes just 1-3 minutes per hour of video—most Looms are much shorter, so processing is nearly instant.
Can I transcribe Looms in other languages?
Yes, AI transcription supports 99+ languages. The transcript will be in the same language as the video. Translation would be a separate step after transcription.
What about screen-share Looms with no audio?
If there's no spoken audio, there's nothing to transcribe. For screen recordings without narration, consider adding voiceover or using annotation tools instead of transcription.
Should I transcribe every Loom I send?
Probably not—Loom already shows transcripts for every video on all plans. External transcription is most useful when you need:
- Downloadable files (Free/Starter plans)
- Speaker identification
- Multiple formats for other tools
- Content you'll repurpose elsewhere
Can I add the transcript back to Loom as captions?
Loom automatically generates and displays captions synced to its transcripts. You can't upload custom SRT files like you can with YouTube or Vimeo. If you need different captions than what Loom generates, external transcription would be for use outside Loom.
Related Resources:
- Standup Meeting Transcription Guide
- Remote Work Async Communication
- Video Transcription Complete Guide
Ready to transcribe your Looms? Upload a video and get a searchable transcript in seconds. Most Loom videos qualify for the $2.50 tier.