Important: this is practical documentation guidance, not legal advice. Admissibility, chain of custody, and court requirements depend on jurisdiction and the case itself.
The fields that matter most
- Timestamps: help the reader verify text against the recording.
- Reference date/time: gives the transcript a clear document context.
- Duration: shows the scale of the source file.
- File size: another simple anchor back to the original source.
- SHA-256: a file fingerprint tying the transcript to a specific binary file.
- Language and model used: useful context for how the transcript was produced.
Why SHA-256 is useful
A SHA-256 hash is not magic legal proof, but it is a reliable fingerprint. If the source recording changes, the hash changes. Including it in the export gives you a stronger link between transcript and original file.
Why app choice matters
Many transcription tools are built for convenience first. If you are handling disputes, complaints, evidence prep, or formal documentation, you want an app that treats metadata as part of the output rather than an afterthought.
Need documentation-friendly transcript exports?
SaidVault includes reference time, file size, duration, word count, and SHA-256 in PDF exports so the document carries more of its own story.