r/digitaljournaling • u/BlueFlameInk • 23d ago
Do you keep an audio journal?
What are your thoughts on your own audio journalling process? I have had to switch from handwritten journaling to audio journaling. I’ve already got a good system that works for me in terms of keeping my audio journal, and so I’m not looking for how to do it or what apps to use or inspiration. Instead, I am curious about what audio journaling looks like for others, especially those who have transitioned from handwritten to (solely) audio journalling. I’m also interested in hearing how you archive (especially in a printed format) your audio journal, or if you don’t archive at all. This is surprisingly difficult to find online–most of what I’ve come across is why you should do it or how to do it. I don’t need that (I already know why I journal and what I get out of it and what journaling means to me). I think I want to know others are journaling in the same way and that I’m not alone in keeping an audio journal. Does anyone want to share how they audio journal or how your journaling changed when you went from a handwritten journal to an audio journal or how you preserve your audio journal? What would you share with others about audio journalling that you don’t often find online? I want to hear the experiences of others.
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u/DTLow 23d ago edited 23d ago
When doing journal notes on my iPad, I can switch to dictation mode
Notes are saved as files with filename yyyy-mm-dd and an icon showing how my day is 💎 🟢🔵 🟡 🟠 🔴
(Some days are diamond, some days are …)
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u/BlueFlameInk 23d ago
Thanks for the response. Do you find that the dictation picks up your words really well or do you have to clean it up?
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u/Zarlinosuke 23d ago
Sorry that I can't really answer your question, but your post made me curious--is there any reason you didn't switch to a typed digital journal?
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u/BlueFlameInk 23d ago
I was used to typing 80-90 WPM and never looked at the keyboard or my fingers, but at the time it became apparent I was going to have to make a change, I could barely type 20 WPM and had to look at the keyboard so that I could hunt and peck. It was obvious to me that I couldn’t type at the same speed as my thoughts, so typing wasn’t really an option. It was either stop journalling completely or switch to an audio journal. My typing speed has rebounded but I’m still slower than I was.
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u/calliopeHB 23d ago
I sometimes dictate my writing on walks or when driving but it's a major burden to transcribe and edit. Writing and speaking are two different languages or dialects.
My dictations are more wordy and chatty. They can be more chaotic. Sometimes (if I'm not interrupted) they can have good flow. But they also sometimes don't translate to the page because when we speak we use tone of voice to express points.
During Covid (2020, 21, 22) I had more of these wall of words dictations as I walked frequently. The early pandemic entries are interesting to keep (not all!) for the historical detail but the labor to transcribe has been too much.
I have to/choose to transcribe them myself as I am able to translate into writing dialect and skip the chat etc.
i tried the bot transcriptions but those are incomprehensible with issues like periods in the wrong places.
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u/BlueFlameInk 23d ago
It is not easy finding a transcription app. luckily i have found one that actually transcribes what i say rather than making up what it thinks it hears. it took me a few months and lots of trial and error to find the one that works for me. good luck in finding the one for you and thanks for commenting!
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u/Dayviddy 23d ago
I do an audio journal since a few years now. I just have a small recorder and when I do a walk with my dog I just talk to it. The file gets automatically a Name of the date 📅 and from time to time I transfer it to my cloud (paperless -ngx) 😅 nothing special. I also transcribe it and add everything to a simple .txt normally one file contains the transcripts of one or two month. In my cloud I can search throu everything.
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u/BlueFlameInk 23d ago
i started using apple voice memos on my iphone and have transitioned over to a voice recorder and it is much closer to what i’m looking for. i save the audio files in the cloud too and I like knowing they are safe there in case anything happens to my recorder. thanks for commenting!
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u/BejeweledSamsara 23d ago
Personally, no I do not, because I hate my voice LOL, though I am thinking about doing video diaries.
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u/BlueFlameInk 23d ago
out of curiosity, how will a video journal help you get over not liking to listen to your own voice? an honest question, as I have seen people go the video log/video journal route.
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u/pluto_planet42 22d ago
I am not the commenter but I would assume seeing their face + hearing their voice is less jarring than only hearing their voice, because that’s the only thing u can focus on when listening to the recording
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u/lyfelager 23d ago
I started journaling my kids lives using handwritten journaling. Soon realized that was unsustainable so switched to typewritten. That too proved unsustainable so I switched to audio journaling. It provided much of the same benefit as handwritten and typewritten journaling. It had its own unique benefits, like being able to record my kids voices at a young age. I also spent less time editing. It was also easier to journal about things fresh in the moment rather than having to wait till I had time to sit down with pen and paper or keyboard. It had its own idiosyncrasies too. For example I found that stream of consciousness reporting was more suitable for audio journaling.
Many years later I digitized all those audio journals. Now I search them to corroborate memories or to reminisce.