Frequently Asked Questions
What
is Digital Transcription?
Due to the advances in technology, digital transcription is
taking over from cassette based transcription machines. The
client dictates into a digital voice recorder and uploads
the files to their computer.
How does it Work?
By plugging the digital recorder into their PC the client
will then download and email the file to the transcriptionist,
who will have digital transcription software on her PC, from
where she will be able to transcribe the files and send the
completed documents back to the client. By sending the files
to a Virtual Assistant, the recording can be transcribed,
formatted and sent back to the client via e-mail, hard copy
or on disk.
What are the Advantages?
There are many advantages to this new technology, and a few
are listed here:-
• E-mail is instant - record your files, and email them
to our transcriptionist;
• When outsourcing your transcription work there is
no need to post cassettes and risk loss or damage during transit;
• Receive work back via email - no danger of losing
your transcribed documents in the postal system, or waiting
several days for it to arrive on your desk. Consequently,
there will be no courier costs involved for either sending
or receiving your files if transcription is urgent;
• Audio quality is superior to traditional cassette
dictation/transcription and will not degrade over time;
• You no longer need to erase, rewind, load, unload
or turn over your cassettes;
• No more chewed or breaking of cassettes mid-recording.
How long does 1 hour
of transcription take to transcribe?
The industry standard allows 1 hour to transcribe 15 minutes
of clearly recorded speech. It therefore takes a minimum of
4 hours to transcribe a one hour piece of dictation and can
take as much as 6 or 8 hours depending on the quality of the
recording. Transcribing can take longer for interviews, meetings
etc, as there are multiple participants.
What happens if you
cannot hear certain words in my transcription?
If dialogue cannot be deciphered we will either type ‘inaudible’
or what we think was said, while lighting the text for you
to look at. If the transcription is in digital format, we
can put the time next to the word in order that you can listen
to it.
Will you tackle poor
recordings?
We are more than happy to attempt to transcribe any recording
you may submit. Clients should be aware of the extra time
it will take to transcribe poor quality recordings and the
extra cost it will involve. We will do our best to produce
an accurate transcript. The only limitation is what your budget
allows. If we are advised a recording is of good quality but
on listening to it, it becomes obvious that this is not the
case, we will inform you and give our professional opinion
on how much longer it will take to transcribe.
What happens if I find
errors in my work?
If typos or errors are made by us, they will be amended free
of charge provided the work is returned within 48 hours. If
you wish to make amendments or if errors were made due to
clients incomplete instructions, we will charge at our standard
hourly rate.
What sort of transcription
do you do?
We undertake all kinds of transcription, from general dictation
of letters and reports, to conferences and group meetings.
Some of the areas listed on my website are:-
• General correspondence and reports
• Legal documents
• One-on-one interviews
• Research interviews
How do I get my audio
files to you?
Digital audio files can be emailed to us as email attachments;
we can download them directly from your website via FTP; or
we can utilise a file transfer service. Standard cassettes
and CDs can be mailed to us, and we can return them once your
audio transcription project is complete.
When do you invoice?
Invoices will be sent out with completed work and are payable
within 14 days.
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