Best way to transcribe?

[suis]

I have never actually took dictation and transcription, but I need to transcribe some audio files.   It is a pain to do using programs like media player!   I keep going back over and over to re listen to the last 5 seconds or so.  It can take me up to 6 or 7 hour to transcribe 30 minutes.  Well, it depends on who is speaking some less some more, always more then I think it should.  

Does transcribing equipment work better?  Can you stop easier so you don't have to actually go back over and over?  I guess does anyone have any transcribing tips to make it less tedious.

[spitfire78]

I did transcribing for years.  However, we used mini cassette tapes and regular transcribers.  The transcribers will automatically rewind the tape, so that when you start back up you are listening to the last few words you heard before you stopped.  

I never used any of the new digital equipment, so I'm afraid I have no information for you on that.

[msmarieh]

It would be WAY easier with transcribing equipment (especially the foot pedals).

Marie

[JessW]

Suis,

If you could give me a clue as to what your set-up is (what windows system you are using, do you have a foot pedal for an analogue machine or digital system, do you have access to the internet and what format the file you need to transcribe is in ie wav etc).

PM me with the info, as I think I might have a couple of solutions which will cut down your transcription time a lot.

The only thing I cannot help you with is if it is transcribing from a video in which case there are companies you can send this stuff to who do this for a living!

Jess

[Jackie G]

The rule of thumb for audio transcription is that it should take no more than (and can take less than) 4 x the record time to transcribe.

So a 30 min piece could take up to 2 hours - but that does depend on the quality and your speed.  No way should it take as long as you're describing, but Windows Media Player is not designed for that use and hasn't got the features the old fashioned tape transcription machines and the modern systems (like Olympus DSS digital for instance) have where you could set the 'tape' to go back a couple of seconds when you take your foot off the pedal.

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[suis]

Thanks for the feedback.  I will look into some equipment, I probably spend more time trying to go back a few seconds (think of this, I stop, open the program which is different then I am typing in, click on the tab and judge, that time adds up).

I appreciate your help.

[Jones]

Ealier transcriptionists used foot medal to play and pause the audio. Nowdays they changed to digital format.If your audio quality is excellent with good accent you can use softwares like audicity to transcribe. If you audio quality is average or verbatim audio with back ground noise better go for manual transcription services.

[countrigal]

Audio transcription equipment also allowed you to set the speed that it "ran" at... so if you have someone who hmm's and hah's a lot, you can speed it up (as you're still getting same number of words per minute ignoring those wasted thought processing sounds) or slow it down for when you have someone who speaks really fast and runs on without pauses.  This allows you to set the playing for your typing speed as well.  If you find yourself waiting for the next word to be spoken, you can speed it up.... and if you're constantly having to back it up or stop it and catch up, then you can slow it down.  I'm sure that any programs that allow for transcription would also offer this option, so you would not have to go the actual equipment way, but that is one of the options that you may want to be looking for.

[Jackie G]

Did you get this all sorted out?  There is a free software avaialble from an Australian company which once downloaded will transcribe almost any format of file and you can slow/speed it up as well as set it to automaticallly rewind a bit.  I use it with a foot pedal and fly through transcriptions.

PM me if you want more details.

[Katie G]

I have an Olympus DSS system and I love it.  Twice a year, I have to transcribe a four to five hour board meeting and I'd be absolutely lost without the system.  My only complaint is the foot pedal can be a little "touchy" but I usually slip off my shoe and use my stocking feet.  I like being able to speed up and slow down and adjust for background noise, and mark where I stopped. 

[Cozwaz]

Just for info a lady I am working with at the moment is quite fast, it only takes her double the time to transcribe something, ie 15 mins of dication takes her 30 mins.

I am doing alot of audio work in the temp job I am doing at the moment, its amazing when you are doing it so much how quickly you can build up your speeds again after not having done it for years.  We just use the normal standard machines with head sets and a pedal.

Like the sound of the Software you mention Jackie.  Not sure whether I am going to be doing any audio in my new job but if I do might just consider this software or something similar.