Audio transcription encompasses a large number of services. Transcription basically involves accurately converting the audio from a video or audio file to a text format. Accurate and error-free transcription needs a good and attentive listener. Previously, transcription was only done manually, but the production of speech recognition software has helped automate this task. However, pending further improvements, audio writing services mostly rely on expert transcribers to perform the task manually.
Transcripts can be of two types:
1. Clean
2. Verbatim
The client provides certain instructions for the transcriptionist to follow. The rules set by the client may differ depending on the purpose of the transcript. Typing services provide your output i.e. the transcribed audio and a specially hired group of experts then checks the quality and edits the transcription. Sometimes the final QA step is not required and transcriptionists handle their work individually; this, however, may depend on how good the quality of the supplied audio files is.
If a client requests verbatim transcription, the transcriptionist must include all of the various expressions that are part of the narrator’s dialogue in their audio typing. Alternatively, clean transcription will have a transcriptionist prepare an error-free transcript, as the organization would require all grammatical errors to be corrected.
Types of transcription services
The transcription service a client chooses largely depends on the nature of the audio material given. The legal audio files will be handled by a legal transcription service so that the transcribing task is done properly. A transcriptionist dealing with management and entrepreneurship will not be able to transcribe a fashion audio/video like a fashion expert would and vice versa. The transcriptionist is required to simply type the legal audio file into text; preferably with the transcriptionist having adequate knowledge of legal jargon and terminology. Clients need to send audio files with clear voice quality so that the transcription can be done easily and smoothly without any problem. Organizations dealing with legal transcription have a panel of legal experts who assess the quality of the text before sending it to clients.
The medical industry has a special branch of what is known as medical transcription. Transcriptionists are chosen on the basis of having some level of medical knowledge, which is a prerequisite. Also, seminar speeches and professors’ lectures are examples of audio files being transcribed for a medical record. Previous medical transcriptionist experience is necessary to ensure that quality service is provided to clients.