Transcribing - write it down or not?

Catthan

Whilst I can sight read, it's not my strongest skill. So transcribe for me is work it out by ear and practice it until fingers and inner ear sync up at the whatever the right speed is. 
If the op can write it down and that helps, great. If not, just do whatever gets the music under the fingers and in the brain. 

What imho builds a longer lasting ability/ memory/ understanding of a transcribed music passage is working on it more creatively, eg.  transposing it, practicing how to get in and out of a lick, sub'ing chords etc etc. I've certainly overlooked this part and left chops on the table, metaphorically. 

GuyBoden

I have difficulty notating Jazz transcriptions, rhythmically Jazz is very difficult to notate, so I have to try to remember them.

I try to transcribe something everyday, it's the best way to learn, IMHO.