In the digital age where virtual meetings are commonplace, AI-powered transcription services like tl;dv offer a convenient solution to capture and recall critical information. But as alluring as this technology may seem, it is not without its drawbacks.
This article scrutinizes the key issues that users encounter with tl;dv, providing a balanced look at its benefits, functionalities, and areas requiring enhancement. A tool we currently do not recommend, for the many reasons listed below.
Read the full review to find why!
A Revolutionary Concept: What is tl;dv?
tl;dv, or “too long; didn’t view,” seeks to revolutionize the way we record and transcribe meetings. It aims to capture essential meeting information, providing users with detailed descriptions and transcripts that eliminate the need for manual note-taking.
tl;dv is an AI-powered meeting recording tool for Zoom and Google Meet. With over 900,000 users, the tool has become a popular choice for capturing high-quality video and sound call moments.
Main Features
Automatic Meeting Recording and Transcription
The primary functionality of tl;dv is automatic meeting recording and transcription on Zoom and Google Meet. This feature allows users to immediately access their meetings afterward in their meetings library.
Transcription in 30+ Languages
tl;dv can automatically transcribe meetings in over 30 languages. This feature supports many languages, including German, English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and many more.
Focus on the Conversation with AI Assistance
With tl;dv, users can focus on the conversation while AI takes care of note-taking. The tool can summarize key moments during meetings with a simple click or shortcut.
Creation of Effective Short Clips
tl;dv allows users to tell a powerful story with bite-sized customer clips. Users can create clips from longer calls in just a couple of clicks, making it easy to share user feedback with the team.
AI-Powered Overview
Users can ask tl;dv’s AI for an overview of the meetings in their company. This functionality allows for searching for topics discussed during meetings to instantly find and summarize every discussion related to the keyword.
Workflow Automation
tl;dv seamlessly integrates with popular collaboration platforms and CRMs such as Notion, Google Docs, Slack, Salesforce, or HubSpot. This allows for sharing meeting moments and insights directly to your team’s workspaces, with no tab switching needed.
Getting Started with tl;dv
To get started with tl;dv, all you need to do is record, transcribe, clip, and share with Google Meet and Zoom. The tool makes the process of capturing and sharing meeting moments easier than ever.
Understanding the many Drawbacks
Despite its innovative premise, tl;dv has notable flaws that can impair its overall user experience.
Transcription Inaccuracies
Firstly, non-native English speakers have reported inaccuracies in the transcription process. This lack of precision can lead to potential miscommunication and misunderstandings, which is a significant concern in a professional setting where clear communication is vital.
Technical Issues
Further, some users have experienced technical issues with the Chrome extension, calling into question its reliability for consistent use.
Feature Fuzziness
Moreover, certain features of tl;dv are somewhat unclear or difficult to use. For example, some users have reported issues with the button to generate notes manually, which can lead to overlooked points that should have been highlighted. This oversight can lead to crucial information slipping through the cracks.
Inconsistency in Performance
Lastly, while tl;dv’s ability to record meetings and provide detailed notes has been praised by some users, others have criticized the inconsistency of this feature. This disparity in user experience points to a lack of consistency in tl;dv’s performance, further highlighting the need for refinement.
A Question of Respect: The Unsettling Experience with the tl;dv Ambassador Program
The tl;dv Ambassador Program, detailed on their website (https://tldv.io/ambassador-program/), initially seems like an appealing opportunity. However, it’s important to share a recent experience that raises serious questions about the company’s respect and fairness towards its ambassadors.
The program was initially advertised as a simple process: make a post on Twitter or TikTok, gather the required number of impressions, and then contact tl;dv to request payment. The simplicity and straightforwardness of the process seemed promising and attracted a lot of influencers willing to do sponsored posts for the company.
The experience, however, was far from the enticing promise for us. After fulfilling the requirements with a well-received Twitter thread gathering over 300k impressions, an attempt was made to contact Carlo, the manager, to process the deserved payment. The ensuing communication was, to put it mildly, less than satisfactory. Despite sending two emails and even reaching out directly via Twitter, the responses were non-existent.
When Carlo finally responded, the excuse offered was questionable at best. He claimed that it was now necessary to register for the ambassador program in advance, before putting content out. This seemed arbitrary and inconsistent, especially considering that other Twitter accounts we know collaborating with tl;dv hadn’t signed any contract beforehand and yet, they were being compensated for their efforts.
This experience highlights a disappointing reality about the tl;dv Ambassador Program:
The lack of clear communication from their manager, the arbitrary changes in rules, and the reluctance to honour commitments.
It seems as though tl;dv is happy to benefit from the free press provided by potential ambassadors without offering the deserved respect and compensation in return. Such practices raise concerns about the program’s integrity and the company’s treatment of its ambassadors.
One can only hope that tl;dv will address these issues and establish a more respectful and transparent relationship with its ambassadors in the future.
The Competition: A Look at Otter.ai
Otter.ai, another AI transcription service, has introduced features that streamline the meeting transcription process. For instance, the “Automatic Outline” feature uses proprietary AI to generate meeting summaries, eliminating the need to listen to an entire recording or read a full transcript.
Moreover, the “Meeting Gems” panel captures action items and key moments from meetings, fostering a more interactive and collaborative experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while tl;dv presents a promising concept with its AI-powered meeting transcription service, its execution leaves room for improvement.
Transcription inaccuracies, technical issues, feature fuzziness, and inconsistency in performance are key areas that need attention. tl;dv would benefit from further development and testing to truly revolutionize virtual meeting transcriptions.
We DO NOT recommend our readers to use this tool at the moment!
