Audio Recordings for Transcription - How To Get The Best Results

Whether you are recording dictation, interviews, conferences, focus groups or meetings, it is important to know how to get the best quality recording, how to find a competent transcriptionist, and what sort of costs you are looking at. Click here for full article

Conference Transcription - What the conference organiser needs to know

This article aims to provide advice to conference organisers in obtaining transcription that is accurate, timely and complete. It suggests ways in which the conference organiser can help the transcriptionist to ensure that the transcription is good quality and free of errors. Click here for full article

Conference Transcription Outsourcing - Why Do It and How to Get the Best Results

In-house transcription of a conference can be a massive drain on resources, as it takes a long time, especially for those who are not transcription experts. But how do you find an outsourced service that's right for you? This article aims to provide advice on finding a transcription service that provides accurate, timely and complete transcripts. It suggests ways in which the conference organiser can help the transcriptionist to ensure that the transcription is good quality and free of errors. Click here for full article

Digital File Types for Audio Transcription

There are a variety of recording systems available, suitable for dictation to conference recording. If you already have a digital recording mechanism, you can probably record a variety of different file types for different purposes. This article aims to discuss the different types and suggest the right one for you, depending on your circumstances. If you are still considering which digital recording device to purchase then you should consider the file types it will produce before you buy. Click here for full article

Digital Recording For Transcription of Focus Groups - Top Ten Tips

This article provides ten tips for getting the best quality recording for audio transcription of focus groups. Focus groups present their own special challenges for both the moderators and the transcriptionist, and these tips aim to ensure that you get the best quality results, which will lead to a good quality transcript, and potentially a more affordable transcription service: the better the recording quality, the less time it will take to transcribe. Click here for full article

Digital Recording For Transcription of Interviews - Top Seven Tips

This article provides seven tips for getting the best quality recording for audio transcription of interviews. Interviews present their own special challenges for both the interviewer and the transcriptionist, and these tips aim to ensure that you get the best quality results, which will lead to a good quality transcript, and potentially a more affordable transcription service: the better the recording quality, the less time it will take to transcribe. Click here for full article

Finding Affordable Transcription for Interviews, Focus Groups, Conferences and More

You may have been conducting research interviews, focus groups, market research, but whatever your reason for recording conversations you'll be looking for an affordable transcription service. There are many transcription services available but sometimes an affordable transcription service can seem hard to find. Transcription is not cheap, because it is a lot more involved than copy typing, but that doesn't mean you can't find an affordable transcription service, and by providing good quality recordings you can make the transcription more affordable, as it will take less time to complete. Click here for full article

Affordable Transcription for Research Interviews

If you've conducted some research including one-to-one interviews, and then realised how much work is involved in transcribing them, you'll probably be looking for an affordable transcription service. There are many transcription services available but sometimes an affordable transcription service can seem hard to find. Transcription is not cheap, because it is a lot more involved than copy typing, but that doesn't mean you can't find affordable transcription, and what's more, by providing good quality recordings you can make the transcription more affordable, as it will take less time to complete. Click here for full article

Outsourcing Audio Transcription - A Retainer Contract May Be The Way Forward

If you're planning to outsource a significant amount of transcription or other administrative work on an ongoing basis then it may well be most cost-effective to use a retainer contract, rather than pay as you go. This article explains what a retainer contract is and how it works. Click here for full article

Outsourcing Audio Transcription - Why It Works

Outsourcing transcription works for many reasons, but the nub of the matter is that although anyone can set themselves up as a transcriptionist, a good transcriptionist is much more than just someone who can type; transcription is a specialised business. That is why if your administrative/secretarial staff are not specially trained in transcription, or if they are simply overloaded, outsourcing can be the answer. Click here for full article

Outsourcing Business Audio Transcription - Do You Really Need Verbatim? It's Cheaper Without It!

People often assume that transcription needs to be 'verbatim' and some definitions of transcription even include the word as part of the definition. However, a verbatim transcription actually includes a good deal of information you may not need, and costs more than some other transcription types. This article explains the different types available, and helps you decide which transcription type you need. Click here for full article

Outsourcing Transcription - How to Get the Best Deal

There are many transcription services available but sometimes an affordable transcription service can seem hard to find. Transcription is a lot more involved than copy typing, but that doesn't mean you can't find a good deal, and what's more, by providing good quality recordings you can make the transcription more affordable, as it will take less time to complete. This article will help you to get the best quality recording, which will lead to a more affordable transcription service. Click here for full article

Recording for Transcription - Digital Versus Analog

What is the best format for making recordings for transcription- analog or digital? This article discusses the differences between the two types and the advantages and disadvantages of both in creating a recording for later transcription. Click here for full article

Recording for Transcription - Top Ten Tips

This article provides ten tips for getting the best quality recording for audio transcription. These tips aim to ensure that you get the best quality results, which will lead to a good quality transcript, and potentially a more affordable transcription service: the better the recording quality, the less time it will take to transcribe. Click here for full article

Telephone recording for interviews - Top Seven Tips

This is not an article about the technical detail of how to record, because that depends very much on the type of phone you're using etc. This is simply some suggestions as to how to get the most from your telephone interview. Click here for full article

Transcription - Get Digital Recording Equipment That's Right For Your Needs

This article explains the different features available for recorders, what they're for and how they will (or won't) be of use to you, as someone who is recording for transcription. The different features are listed and then explained, and this should allow you to choose a machine that's right for you and your transcriptionist. As any visit to a good website or shop selling these machines will show you, this is not a comprehensive list. It's a list of the most important aspects for transcription. Click here for full article

Transcription - will it be replaced by voice recognition software?

Well maybe as a professional transcriptionist I could be considered biased, but this article indicates a number of reasons why transcription will not be replaced by voice recognition software, at least for the foreseeable future. Click here for full article

Transcription for Oral History Projects - Is It Necessary?

Collecting oral histories has become increasingly popular over the last few years, with the improvements in audio technology allowing good quality digital recordings to be made. Certainly listening to recordings of people reflecting on a specific area of their past is a fascinating experience, and with the improvements in digital technology it is now possible to (relatively) easily edit recordings, but a transcribed written version is still important. This article explains why. Click here for full article

Transcription of Focus Groups - Make Sure Your Recording is Up To Scratch

If you are conducting a focus group and need to produce a transcript of it later on for analysis then you need to consider the transcription aspect right from the start. What could be more frustrating than moderating a really productive and information-rich session, only to find that your recording is unusable or the transcript comes back from your transcriptionist looking like gobbledegook? This article aims to help you prevent that! Click here for full article

Transcription of Vox Pops

Vox pops are not interviews as such but short recordings asking a variety of different people one question, or just a few short questions requiring short answers. Transcription of vox pops may be necessary for a number of reasons. It is very helpful to have a transcript to help you edit it for broadcasting, and if the research that's going to be used in a documentary or similar then it useful to have a written version for analysis. Market research also requires transcription for analysis. Click here for full article

Transcription versus Copy Typing - What are they and how do they differ?

What is audio transcription and how is it different from copy typing? Why does transcription cost more than copy typing? Is transcription expensive? Do you need transcription? Many people are confused as to why transcription (audio typing) apparently costs more than copy typing, as both are typing services. This article aims to explain the differences between the two services and what makes up the costs for a transcription service. Click here for full article

Video Recording for Transcription - It May Not be Worthwhile

If you're planning to make a video recording for transcription the first thing you need to consider is the reason for recording video rather than audio. If you have other reasons for wanting video - for instance to record the body language in a training session or meeting, or because you're recording TV or film footage, then you may want to consider transferring to audio before sending to your transcriptionist. This article explains why. Click here for full article

Outsourcing Transcription of Disciplinary Meetings

Disciplinary hearings are becoming a minefield for companies to negotiate, with the risk of being sued for defamatory remarks or discrimination an ever present threat. This is why many companies are resorting to having disciplinary meetings transcribed by an independent agency, not related to the company or the individual under disciplinary review. If you are planning to outsource transcription of disciplinary hearings, here are some pointers to help you get the best results. Click here for full article

How to Record Digital Audio from VHS Tape for Transcription

This article explains what equipment you need to record audio for transcription from VHS tape and how to go about doing so. It refers to the use of the Goldwave software programme as a sound editor but any sound editor can be used. Click here for full article

Dictation for Transcription - How to Get the Best Results

This article provides a variety of suggestions on how to produce a clear dictation. This will lead to a quality transcript that requires minimal checking. Click here for full article

Recording Podcasts - Top Ten Tips for Getting The Best Results from the Transcription Process

There are a variety of reasons why you might want your podcast transcribed so that you have a written as well as an audio/video version on your website. These include diversity (a hearing-impaired person can read the transcript), searchability (someone looking for a specific point won't be able to search the audio, and the search engines will also 'see' the transcript but not see the keywords in your audio), and speed (it's quicker for someone to read through, skipping to the bits that interest them, than to listen to the entire audio).

This article provides tips on recording a podcast, some of which relate to the general process including the broadcast, and some of which specifically relate to a future transcription. Click here for full article