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Ultimate Guide on Audio and Video Transcription!

Audio Video Transcription

Table of Contents

What is transcription? Let’s take a small example to understand why you should know it. For instance, it could be hard to note down everything the professor says during a lecture. In such circumstances, the fallback plan is to have a video or an audio recording as they are more convenient. However, these information storage mediums are not ideal when carrying out official communication or reporting on happenings during meetings or events. That creates a need to transform them into a document with every speaker’s words written down. The process through which the audio and video content is converted into text is known as transcription. Transcription is done in any written format, such as on a word document. Businesses, organizations, universities and government departments sometimes hold meetings in venues or conditions not conducive to capturing all the words spoken during the conference.

What is an audio and video transcription?

Transcription goes just by listening to audio or video recording and typing down words. It requires concentration and understanding of the content contained therein. The process of audio transcription and video transcriptions can be easy or complex based on the material to be transcribed and the experience of the transcriber (professionals who do the transcriptions). 

When people often hear the term transcription, audio to text transcription crosses their minds. However, you can also transcribe video recordings. Transcription is a subject because it has several guidelines and forms. These must be carefully applied based on the requirements to ensure a suitable resultant transcript. 

Sensitive documents such as financial statements, press releases, confidential insider documents need expert transcribe service who can ensure security of data while achieving high quality of audio transcription services. 

What are the types of transcription?

Mainly there are three types of transcribing. The choice of either is dependent on the reason for carrying out the transcription. 

Verbatim Transcription

Verbatim is the most tedious, complicated, and time-consuming form of transcription service. It involves recording every word mentioned in the audio or video. It captures every word, emotion, shouting, or any expression of sound in the audio or video, thereby creating a text replica. That includes interjections, interrupting words, colloquial language, repetition, and stutters. Verbatim transcription is often used when every word is necessary to cement the context. It transcribes films, movies, legal recordings, and video commercials.

Non-verbatim Transcription or Edited Transcription

Non-verbatim transcription is the opposite of verbatim transcription. It works by cleaning the transcribed text to eliminate words that do not add to the context of the text. It allows audio transcriber to omit parts of words in the video or audio file. Unlike verbatim transcription, this type of transcription calls for the transcriber to be aware of the file’s context and decide what is essential. Therefore, it can be more time-consuming as decisions concerning the purpose and context of words can take time. 

Non-verbatim transcription ensures that the text reproduced is clear of any slang, colloquial language, interjections, interrupting words, and any comments, expression of emotion, or sound that does not serve to maintain the context of the whole text. It is often used in transcribing interviews that would be used to write articles, meetings that need to be published, seminars, and editorial classes.

Intelligent Transcription

Intelligent transcription aims at reproducing the transcribed file most intelligently. It focuses on removing all emotions, mumblings, or garbled speech. This kind of transcription seeks to produce straightforward and exquisite text. Highly skilled transcribers with vast experience often carry out such expert transcription services. More time is spent editing as the transcriber must fully understand what the speaker meant to convey to the audience and ensure that such is captured appropriately in the text.

Types of Transcription
Verbatim vs. Edited vs. Intelligent Transcription Services

What are the types of transcription services?

When thinking of different types of transcription work, the context and industry of the audio or video data recording are paramount to understand. Some transcription work is particular and intricate such as law and medicine transcription. However, some transcription works are not specific to any field, often called general transcription.

Specialized transcription is often complex and is not suitable for people starting transcription. On the other hand, general transcription allows people to gain experience in the field and is less complicated. General transcription work includes recording such as college lecturers, business meetings, and other personal conversations. 

Regarding availability and continuity of transcription assignments and projects, large businesses and organizations require expert transcription services throughout the year and even more in the coming years as cross-border enterprises increase. 

Smaller organizations often settle with transcription services online, but to achieve high quality, professional video transcription services and audio translation services is a paramount. 

Transcribe audio and video like a professional?

Becoming a transcriber is easy, especially if you decide to focus on general transcription. However, the process can be a little complicated if you become a specialized transcriber, requiring more skills and experience. However, transcription is among the few works that do not require complex and extensive training. It is straightforward when you understand the transcribed files’ language and accent. Some institutions of higher learning in some countries offer short courses in transcription.

Skills of a professional transcriber

Patience

As earlier indicated, transcription can be time-consuming, thus needing a lot of patience. At times, the quality of the transcribed file is poor, meaning you have to spend more time than expected to complete it. At times the accent of the person in the file is difficult to understand, which makes it hard to understand, implying that you spend more time trying to listen to make sense of what they are saying. All these circumstances mean that you need to be patient.

Computer Skills

As the work involves using a computer, you must have basic computer skills. These include knowing how to download files and operating different applications such as word processors. 

Human-in-loop services do transcription of audio to text using advanced AI NLP tools, and then transcribers and translators use their expertise and industry knowledge to make more minor changes. This process of transcription is both cost-effective and faster.   

Listening Skills

Transcription involves listening to audio or video files and transforming the words you hear into text. Therefore, having a keen ear is crucial as that determines what you hear and the accuracy of the resulting transcribed text.

Typing Speed

You need to be fast at typing. On average, you should be able to type 50 words per minute accurately. Typing speed can be critical in determining the time you take to complete a transcription task.

Command of Grammar

You must have a command of the language used in the audio or video file to be transcribed. Knowing the language allows you to understand the speaker quickly, the context and nuances involved. In terms of command, you should ensure that you have both formal and colloquial, which influences your diction, spelling, and punctuation. To compliment your strong knowledge of grammar, ensure that you have a robust text editor who constantly checks your text for errors that could occur in spelling and sentence construction.

Alternatively, transcribers have started using AI Grammar tools to proofread and ensure correct usage of semantics.

Skills for Transcribers
Skills required for transcription services

What are the tools required to become a Transcriber?

Let us now look at some necessary tools if you venture into transcription.

Headset

Remember that transcription involves listening. As such, you must have good headphones to hear the audio file. Ensure the headsets are comfortable as often you spend time with them. While earphones can be used, they often become uncomfortable when used for an extended period and may even cause hearing problems. You should purchase the 3.5mm jacked headsets because they are usually comfortable and do not break down often compared to USB headphones. Bluetooth-enabled headsets may have latency issues and are generally not recommended.

When selecting the types of headphones, ensure they are not tight as they get uncomfortable after wearing them for a long time. You should also consider whether you will work in noisy or quiet rooms as that determines whether you should go for noise cancellation or not. Overall, ensure that whatever you buy is comfortable for you as well as durable.

Video and audio file transcription software

Transcription software is essential as it allows you to play different formats of files. Some transcription software is integrated with AI, which performs most of the transcription. With such software, the transcriber only confirms that everything is in order based on the required type of transcription. Some of the transcription software is free, while others charge up to $100. Some significant transcription programs include GoTranscript, Rev.com, Audext, Transcribe by Wreally, and Express Scribe.

Internet

Transcription, like most other work, is based on deadlines. Therefore, you need a stable and reliable internet connection to deliver on time. Further, most people transcribe audio file from home, necessitating having a robust and reliable internet. It is important to note that most transcription is required to be done online, therefore, meaning that you must be connected throughout while transcribing.

How much does a transcriber earn?

The amount of money that you can make per file transaction is based on several factors among them:

Type of transcription work

Specialized transcription often pays higher than general transcription due to its complex nature. The higher pay is meant to compensate for the additional time the transcriber spends looking up medical terms and ensuring they are spelt correctly. Therefore, if you happen to work on specialized tasks, you might end up with more money.

Audio Quality

The quality of the file to be transcribed determines the amount of time spent working on it. When the quality of the file is low, you might spend a lot of time replaying the audio to understand what the speaker is saying. That affects your overall effectiveness influencing how many files you will complete within a set time.

Accents

Some speakers have accents that are hard to understand and deduce what they are saying. Therefore, you could be forced to playback the audio files severally before understanding what they are saying. That makes such files time-consuming and reduces the amount earned.

Style of Transcription

As noted earlier, some styles of annotation are more time-consuming than others. You may spend more on the type, which will affect your earnings.

Closing thoughts on transcription services

Professional transcription services are leaps and bounds ahead regarding the accuracy of transcription services. With its in-house linguistic experts, Annotation Labs provides advanced video transcription and audio transcription services, ensuring faster turnarounds.

Transcription and translation services, as discussed, can become a source of revenue, or for those working, they can make it a source of extra cash. The relatively low skill requirements make it ideal, especially for those with basic computer understanding and at least an educational background. Besides, it is essential to note that transcription is not only a field but can become a fully-fledged career, especially if you delve into specialized transcription. With all the information outlined in this article, you should be prepared to start your transcription journey.

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