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How to Migrate from tl;dv to Otter.ai (Step-by-Step)

Last updated: April 2026

Teams migrate from tl;dv to Otter.ai for superior real-time transcription accuracy, more robust collaboration features, and deeper integration with productivity ecosystems like Microsoft Teams and Slack. While tl;dv excels at video clip creation, Otter.ai offers stronger automated note-taking, action item extraction, and live meeting assistance. This guide covers a complete migration strategy including data export/import, user training, and feature adaptation to ensure a smooth transition without losing historical meeting context or disrupting workflows.

Estimated Timeline

solo user

3-5 hours

small team

2-3 days

enterprise

2-3 weeks

Migration Steps

Audit Your tl;dv Data and Usage

easy

Set Up Otter.ai and Configure Integrations

easy

Export Essential Data from tl;dv

medium

Import Historical Transcripts to Otter.ai

medium

Train Your Team on Otter.ai Features

easy

Run Parallel Recording During Transition

medium

Update Meeting Processes and Documentation

easy

Decommission tl;dv and Verify Completion

easy

Feature Mapping

tl;dv	Otter.ai Equivalent	Notes
Automated meeting transcripts	Real-time transcription	Otter transcribes live during meetings; tl;dv processes after
AI-generated summaries	Automated summaries	Both provide summaries, but Otter includes action item extraction
Shareable video clips	Highlight clips (OTP clips)	Otter creates audio/text clips vs. tl;dv's video clips
Zoom/Google Meet integration	Zoom/Google Meet/Microsoft Teams integration	Otter adds Microsoft Teams support
Free plan recording	Free plan recording	Both offer free tiers; Otter's has monthly minute limits
Meeting search	Keyword search in transcripts	Comparable functionality
Speaker identification	Speaker identification	Both have it; Otter's is more accurate in real-time
Team collaboration	Shared Spaces & comments	Otter offers more robust collaborative editing features

Data Transfer Guide

Export from tl;dv: Manually download transcripts (TXT/DOC) and video recordings (MP4) for each meeting through the web interface. There's no bulk export, so prioritize recent/important meetings. For clips, download individual MP4 files. Import to Otter.ai: Upload transcript files directly—Otter will convert them to searchable notes. Upload video files—Otter will generate new transcripts (may differ slightly from original). Organize imports into Otter Spaces. Note: Timestamps and clip metadata won't transfer automatically; you'll need to recreate highlights manually. Speaker identification may require manual adjustment in Otter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my data from tl;dv to Otter.ai?+

Yes, but manually. Export transcripts and videos from tl;dv, then upload to Otter. Transcripts become searchable notes; videos get new Otter transcripts. Bulk transfer isn't available.

How long does migration take?+

For a small team: 2-3 days including data transfer and training. Enterprise migrations take 2-3 weeks due to larger data volumes, user training, and process updates.

Will I lose any features switching to Otter.ai?+

You'll gain real-time transcription but lose tl;dv's video clip creation. Otter creates audio/text highlights instead. Integration with Microsoft Teams is added.

Can I use both tools during migration?+

Yes, run both simultaneously for 1-2 weeks. This lets you compare outputs and recreate clips in Otter without losing existing workflows.

Is Otter.ai cheaper than tl;dv?+

Pricing is similar (both freemium). Otter Business is $20/user/month; tl;dv Pro is ~$18/user/month. Compare feature needs as Otter includes more collaboration tools.