What is Transcription?
Some people mistakenly think that transcription means just putting down the words, but everything is quite different. There are various types of audio to transcribe; however, all of them can be grouped into medical, legal, and general categories. In most cases, people need a general transcription that is also called business. A client may need such text transcriptions for a podcast, teleseminar, conference call, or webinar.
These texts are great because people may use them in different ways: articles, blog posts, eBooks, workbooks, sell as separate products, etc. People incorporate these files into content, share with other employees, add to the website, and take advantage of it in every possible way. If you want to get a top-quality transcription, then you can approach talented international transcriptions. Transcriberry.com is just such a trustworthy service. Still, if you feel like you want to know more about awesome transcription, then consider the following tips that will surely help you achieve your purpose.
7 Tips to Get a Great Transcription
The quality of transcription depends on plenty of factors. For instance, languages can take up various times. Another significant factor is the audio quality, as well as its speed. And, of course, the skills of transcriptions also matter. Still, if you aim to become a good specialist, then you should practice a lot. Here are 7 efficient tips that will help you get a top-quality transcription and still do not waste a lot of time:
1. Practice Typing and Listening
It is the first step that you should start with. Type as much as possible to boost the speed. With slow typing, you will waste a lot of time since there is a necessity to return back again and again and correct the mistakes. Consider available online resources to practice every day. Listening skills are not less important. Before typing, you should clearly hear what they are talking about. Good earphones or headphones are significant to ensure that you hear everything that the speakers are saying. Sometimes, you will have to deal with various accents or suffer from background noise. All this will complicate the process of achieving a top result. Therefore, you are recommended to practice typing and listening all the time.
2. Get a Voice-to-text Software
Online space is full of software versions that are either paid or free. You can try any of them to simplify your transcription process. At least minimal experience will let you use a foot pedal or keyboard shortcuts. This choice depends on a particular person’s preferences. Despite what you choose, ensure that this option is completely suitable for you. Find out how everything works before starting a transcription of a definite project. This way, you will significantly save time and effort.
3. Control Your Accuracy
Type as quickly as you can, but do not forget about accuracy. This will save a lot of proofreading time afterward. In other words, you will not have to correct grammar or spelling errors all the time. Do not hurry, and if it is necessary, stop and check how definite words are written, especially names and other professional terms. If you are not sure of verbatim transcription quality, then ask someone else to check your document. Knowing and following the file’s format is also crucial. Do not be shy to ask several times until you are sure that you understand the requirements well. It will save you from disappointment. Only then can you send a text to a client or use it for other purposes.
4.Arrange a Comfortable Workplace
You will hardly achieve a good result without a well–organized workstation. Make sure that you feel comfortable enough and can type as much as is necessary. In case you quickly get tired or type too slowly, then you should consider changing the work conditions. This will let you boost your productivity, and you will be able to provide a great transcription.
5. Have a Fixed Price
In case you are going to earn money by offering transcription services, then you should set a fixed price in advance. All transcriptionists have different styles and speeds of work. The clients are not eager to pay for hours of your actual work. Instead, you need to charge by the audio minute or hour. This way, you will show that you are focused on the result instead of pretending to work more and getting more money in the long run. Count how much time you need to do an audio hour, and then calculate the rate per hour rate.
6. Check the Audio Quality
Once you get an audio file from your client, listen to it a few times to make sure that the quality is all the same at different intervals. It is not surprising that, actually, the file quality impacts the final outcome. After finding it out, you can report back to the client and let him/her know whether you think it’s good or bad. If it is not good enough, then try to get a better version or revise the price. Sometimes it’s better to refuse the project in case you are not sure that you can achieve a top-quality result.
7.Enjoy the Process
Converting audio to text can be quite a challenging and time-consuming process. Still, if you really enjoy this work, then it would not be so difficult for you. Take regular breaks, walk, and try to remain in a fresh state. This way, you will easily achieve a better outcome and avoid related stress. Also, you will be able to cope with the task quicker.
Summing-up
Getting an awesome transcription is possible despite what your experience is. Now you know seven helpful tips and can start working on the necessary project. Mind that practice makes perfect, and soon you will notice first positive changes. With a proper approach, you can build your speed and achieve a better result quicker and with less effort.
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