f4 by audiotranskription
German transcription and qualitative analysis software for researchers, with automatic transcription on servers in Germany
Quick Overview
| Company | audiotranskription dr. dresing & pehl GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Transcription Software |
| Headquarters | Marburg, Germany |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | Servers in Germany (automatic transcription) |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Automatic transcription, manual transcription and correction, timestamps, USB footswitch support, qualitative text analysis and coding |
| Pricing | Software licence €149 (6 months), €299 (2 years), €449 (5 years); automatic transcription €25 for 2 hours, €88 for 10 hours, €440 for 50 hours (incl. VAT) |
| Best For | Researchers transcribing and coding interviews |
| Replaces | Rev, Otter.ai |
Detailed Review
f4 is published by audiotranskription dr. dresing & pehl GmbH, registered at the Amtsgericht Marburg (HRB 5141). The software merges the earlier f4x, f4transkript and f4analyse tools.
It targets qualitative researchers who transcribe interviews and then code the text in the same program.
Automatic and Manual Transcription
The site states that automatic transcription is AI-based on servers in Germany and GDPR compliant, with a 15 minute free test. A manual mode adds timestamps, correction features and support for a USB footswitch.
Qualitative Analysis in the Same Tool
After transcribing, researchers write memos, create codes and record interpretations inside f4, alone or in a team, which sets it apart from the general-purpose tools in this list.
Licence plus Time Quota
Pricing is split: a software licence for a period (€149 for six months, €299 for two years, €449 for five years) and prepaid automatic transcription hours from €25 for 2 hours. Student licences and free teaching licences are listed.
Limitations to Consider
f4 is software for research workflows, so it lacks the subtitle, translation and meeting-integration features of tools like Happy Scribe. It needs a licence plus separate transcription hours. The website and several documents are primarily in German, and it is installed software rather than a browser service.
Who Should Use f4 by audiotranskription
Academics, students and market researchers who transcribe interviews and analyse them qualitatively, and who want automatic transcription on German servers.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Automatic transcription on servers in Germany
- Transcription and coding in one program
- Licences from €149 plus pay-per-hour transcription
- Student and teaching licences
- USB footswitch support
Cons
- Research-oriented, no subtitle or meeting features
- Licence and transcription hours bought separately
- Installed software, not a web editor
- Much of the documentation is in German
Alternatives to f4 by audiotranskription
Other European transcription software worth comparing before you decide:
Happy Scribe
Ireland · AI and human transcription, subtitles and translation in 150+ languages
Amberscript
Netherlands · Dutch transcription and subtitles with machine and human options
Speechmatics
United Kingdom · Speech-to-text API for developers building at scale
Trint
United Kingdom · Transcript-based editing and verification for newsrooms and producers
See all European transcription software or compare them directly against Rev on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The vendor states that its automatic transcription is AI-based and runs on servers in Germany.
There is a software licence (€149 for 6 months, €299 for 2 years, €449 for 5 years) plus prepaid automatic transcription hours, for example €25 for 2 hours and €88 for 10 hours, all including VAT.
It is designed for transcription and qualitative analysis of interviews; for subtitles or meeting notes a different tool in this category fits better.