Simon Says AI

Brief Overview of Simon Says

Simon Says is an AI-powered platform designed to transcribe, translate, and subtitle audio and video content with a focus on professional workflows. The service provides a robust video production solution for creators who need to quickly and accurately convert spoken dialogue into text. It addresses the time-consuming process of manual transcription by leveraging advanced AI, enabling users to generate editable transcripts in minutes. The platform supports over 100 languages for both transcription and translation, making it a versatile tool for global content creation.

A core differentiator for Simon Says is its deep integration with professional video editing software, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Avid Media Composer. This allows editors to seamlessly move transcripts and subtitles into their post-production timelines. Furthermore, the platform offers both cloud-based services for general use and a secure, air-gapped on-premises solution for organizations with stringent confidentiality requirements, such as studios, government agencies, and enterprises.

Simon Says Key Features for Content Creators

• AI Transcription and Translation: The platform uses advanced AI to accurately transcribe audio and video in over 100 languages. It can also translate the generated transcripts into more than 100 languages, facilitating global content distribution.

• Visual Subtitle Editor: A powerful editor allows creators to preview and adjust subtitles directly. Users can modify text, timings, and formatting, including characters per line and the layout of subtitle cards, before exporting.

• Direct Video Editor Integrations: Simon Says offers dedicated extensions and plugins for Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Avid Media Composer. This enables a smooth workflow where transcripts and captions can be imported directly into project timelines.

• Assembly Mode Video Editing: This feature allows users to edit video simply by editing the text of the transcript. By arranging and ordering text soundbites, creators can quickly assemble a rough cut of their video, significantly speeding up the initial editing phase.

• Secure On-Premises Solution: For users handling sensitive material, Simon Says provides an offline, air-gapped version that runs locally on Macs and PCs. This ensures no data is sent to the cloud, meeting high-security compliance standards like SOC 2, TPN, and HIPAA.

• Custom Dictionaries: To improve accuracy, users can create custom dictionaries with specific names, industry jargon, or unique nomenclature. The AI then references this dictionary during transcription to correctly identify these terms.

• Automatic Speaker Identification: The AI can automatically detect and separate different speakers in a transcript. Higher-tier plans offer more advanced channel-level speaker identification for greater precision.

• Collaborative Workspaces: The platform is built for teams, offering multi-user access and the ability to invite guests to view or edit projects. The Pro and Pro+ plans provide unlimited guest invites and advanced permissions for managing team workflows.

• Extensive Export Formats: Beyond video editor integrations, transcripts can be exported in numerous formats, including Microsoft Word, SRT, WebVTT, and other subtitle standards, providing flexibility for various use cases.

• Frame-Accurate Timecodes: Transcripts are synced to timecode and support both drop and non-drop frame rates, ensuring frame-accurate alignment for professional post-production environments.

Simon Says Target Users & Use Cases

Simon Says is engineered for a wide spectrum of professional users who work with audio and video content. Its features cater to solo creators and freelancers as well as large production houses, enterprises, and government agencies. The intuitive interface makes it accessible for various skill levels, while the advanced integrations and on-premise options meet the demands of high-end professional workflows.

• Primary creator types: Video editors, documentary filmmakers, production companies, broadcasters, journalists, researchers, marketers, and legal and medical professionals.
• Experience level: Suitable for both intermediate and expert users who are familiar with professional video editing and post-production workflows.
• Team size: The pricing plans scale from individual users (Starter) to small teams (Pro) and large organizations (Pro+ and On-Premises).
• Specific use cases:
  • Transcribing interviews for documentaries and corporate videos.
  • Generating and translating subtitles for films and series for international distribution.
  • Creating accurate captions for social media content to improve accessibility and engagement.
  • Assembling rough cuts of video projects by editing text in Assembly mode.
  • Logging and transcribing daily footage (rushes/dailies) in post-production.
  • Securely transcribing confidential recordings for legal, medical, or government purposes using the on-premise version.
  • Creating searchable text archives of video and audio content.
  • Translating training materials and corporate communications for a global workforce.
• Content types: Supports a wide range of audio and video file formats and codecs, including MP4, MOV, MP3, and WAV.

How to Get Started with Simon Says

Getting started with the cloud-based version of Simon Says is a straightforward process designed to get users transcribing quickly.

1. Upload or Import: Begin by uploading your audio or video files directly to the Simon Says web platform or through one of the integrated applications like the macOS app or video editor extensions.
2. Select Service and Pay: Choose whether you need transcription, translation, or both. The cost is calculated based on the duration of the media file.
3. Receive Transcript: The AI processes the file, and the transcription is typically completed within minutes. You will receive the finished transcript in your account.
4. Edit and Export: Use the Transcript Editor or Visual Subtitle Editor to review, annotate, and make any necessary corrections. Once finalized, you can collaborate with team members or export the project in your desired format.

Frequently Asked Questions About Simon Says

• How does Simon Says pricing work? The cost is based on the duration of the audio or video file, rounded to the minute. There is a Pay As You Go option for infrequent users and several subscription plans (Starter, Pro, Pro+) that include a monthly credit of transcription hours and offer a discounted rate for any additional usage.

• Can I edit the subtitles generated by Simon Says? Yes. The Visual Subtitle Editor allows you to fully edit the generated subtitles. You can adjust the text, timing, and formatting, such as characters per line, before exporting the file or burning the subtitles directly into the video.

• What file formats does Simon Says support? Simon Says supports a vast range of audio and video file formats and codecs. It is designed to handle almost any media file, including common formats like MP3, MP4, and MOV, making it highly flexible for professional workflows.

• Is Simon Says CCPA and GDPR Compliant? Yes, the platform is compliant with both the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It adheres to strict data protection and privacy measures, giving users control over their personal information.

• Can I cancel my subscription at any time? Yes, subscriptions can be canceled at any time from your profile page, and they will not renew. Users on the Pay As You Go plan do not have a subscription and therefore have nothing to cancel.

• Who owns the data I upload? You retain full ownership of all data you send to your account. You are in control and can delete your data whenever you choose.

Bottom Line: Should Content Creators Choose Simon Says?

Simon Says is a highly effective tool for any content creator or organization that regularly works with dialogue-heavy audio or video. Its primary strength lies in its combination of speed, AI-driven accuracy, and deep integration with the professional post-production ecosystem. For video editors, filmmakers, and production teams, the ability to send content directly from an editing timeline, receive a transcript, and import it back as captions or markers is a significant workflow enhancement.

The platform's flexible pricing, with both pay-as-you-go and subscription options, makes it accessible to freelancers and large companies alike. The addition of a secure, offline on-premises version is a critical feature for enterprises, government bodies, and studios handling confidential material, setting it apart from many cloud-only services.

For creators focused on making their content accessible, localizing it for international audiences, or simply speeding up their editing process, Simon Says offers a powerful and well-integrated solution. It is a valuable asset for anyone looking to streamline the conversion of speech to text within a professional content creation workflow.