When Adobe Premiere Pro added its automatic transcription feature, it changed the game for editors using text-based editing. This video editing tool helped them speed up their subtitle and captioning work. However, people still recognize it for not always being accurate. It can also have common formatting issues that are hard to fix.

It can be frustrating to deal with random indents, odd line breaks, and inconsistent layouts that can make things messy. Here’s how to fix auto-transcription in Premiere Pro and get better control over your transcription formatting.

How to Enable Auto Transcription in Premiere Pro

If you’re new to Premiere Pro’s auto transcription and not sure it’s working, follow these steps to enable the feature:

1. Go to the Text Panel [Window > Text] on your program monitor

2. Click [Transcribe Sequence] to auto transcribe your sequence

3. Choose the Audio Track and language settings

4. Select [Transcribe] to create a transcription

5. Once you transcribe your video, your speech-to-text transcription will appear in the Transcript tab

If Premiere Pro's auto transcription is not working, check your internet connection.

Make sure that your audio file is clear and easy to transcribe. Transcribing after you've cleaned up background noise and made audio adjustments is better.

Also, ensure that you select the project sequence correctly. Also, update to the latest Adobe Premiere Pro version for full feature access.

How to Fix Auto-Transcription in Premiere Pro

1. Check the Transcript Panel Formatting Options

After generating your auto transcript in Premiere Pro, check the Transcript Panel itself. This is the first step to resolving formatting issues. Many users forget that Premiere offers subtle yet useful controls directly in this panel.

Start by checking if the Transcript Panel allows any layout adjustments, such as Premiere Pro transcription indent settings. You can adjust text formatting in Premiere Pro transcription by following these steps:

• Navigate to Text Panel → Transcript Tab

• Look for settings related to filtering, segment breaks, or speaker labels

• If line breaks seem inconsistent or the indentation seems off, try adjusting [Transcript View Options]. Sometimes switching from viewing the transcript without seeing the speakers can fix any weird layout issues.

• If the formatting still looks wrong, try rerunning the auto transcription with different language settings. There might be problems with aspects like spacing if Premiere Pro transcribes in the wrong language.

These controls aren't as advanced as those found in word processors. But knowing how to tweak the settings in the Transcript Panel can improve the formatting of your auto transcription.

2. Convert Transcript to Captions for More Control

If this still isn't cutting it, converting the Premiere Pro auto transcript to captions gives you more control. When you hit [Create Captions] in the Text Panel, you unlock a whole new set of customization options.

For improved control over layout and indentation, here are some Premiere Pro caption formatting tips:

• Click [Create Captions] in the Transcript tab

• Choose a format (single-line, double-line, etc.)

• Make text edits in the Captions tab, then move to the Properties Panel and Essential Graphics Panel for further control

• Here, you can tweak text alignment, spacing, and make changes to caption styles

• You can also change the number of characters per line, the number of lines, and the maximum line length

This workflow is especially helpful if you're creating subtitles or captions for social media, YouTube, or media distribution. For a step-by-step guide on how to add captions in Premiere Pro using an auto caption plugin, check out our article!

3. Use a Plugin for Advanced Transcription Formatting

Sometimes, the default Adobe Premiere Pro auto transcript tools just don’t cut it. In that case, you can use an auto transcription plugin tool to get the job done instead.

Here are three AI transcription tools that work with Premiere Pro. You can use them to create accurate transcripts for your videos.

• Simon Says AI – Known for better structure and formatting

• Cutback - Known for highly accurate transcription in over 100 languages and full control over structure and formatting. It can also produce a rough cut for you afterwards.

• Transcriptive by Digital Anarchy – Offers text editing, speaker separation, and layout control

If you would like even more suggestions on the best video transcription tools, then check out our featured article, too.

Tools like these are valuable. They make your transcription workflow easier with features like more language packs. They also help with other parts of video editing, such as rough cut editing.

4. Export and Edit the Transcript in External Software

If you choose not to use an auto transcription tool or plugin, you can use external software. This will help you fix layout issues.

• Go to the Transcript Panel and click [Export Transcript] in your desired file format (e.g., srt files, txt files, etc.)

• Open the exported text file in Word, Notepad, or Google Docs

• Manually fix line breaks, spacing, and indentation to your liking

• Re-import or use it as a script alongside your video and audio

If you have layout problems or need to enable auto transcription in Premiere Pro, these solutions can help. They will help you clean up your Adobe Premiere Pro auto transcript quickly.

When set up correctly, Premiere Pro's speech-to-text auto transcription saves a lot of time. Just be careful not to let formatting issues slow you down.

Try these fixes to achieve the best Premiere Pro transcription workflow and get back to editing with clean, accurate captions.

For more tips and tricks for Premiere Pro editing, check out our latest posts on the Cutback blog or our YouTube channel.