Monday, August 23, 2010

Transcription Services - Tips And Advice

There are a plethora of transcription services available on the Internet. Google the term and you will get an idea of just how many services are out there. It can be difficult to choose the best transcription service when there are so many choices available. Even if you have a specialized service to purchase, like 'conference transcription' or 'interview transcription', there are still a vast number of sites to comb through. There are a few dynamics that go into selecting the best company for your needs - do not make a decision based solely on price. Rather, ask the business a few questions; their answers will dictate whether or not they are a professional company.
Who does the transcribing? - Many times companies hire people with audio typing experience, but fail to recognize that audio typing is not as detailed as transcribing. Highly experienced transcribers have a wide range of proficiencies that include superior language and grammar skills, accuracy, excellent proofreading skills which include spotting contextual errors, distinguish inconsistencies within the text, ability to identify and transcribe from different accents and dialects, recognize voice inflections, and be able to maintain the style and meaning of the speaker.
How much time will the transcriber spend on research? - Researching in some transcription companies can be considered as a different service altogether. But, it should be part of the standard service. Fact checking is vital to an accurate transcript and it can easily be done. Getting the names, dates, places and terms all correct speaks volumes for the transcriber. This means that they go the extra mile for the client. For instance, imagine the problems if a transcriber did no research at all and used misspelled terms or used inaccurate terminology on an important job? What use would that document be then?
Are the transcripts proofread? - After completion, every company should provide a proofreading service. Without this service, there is bound to be some form of error that passes through to the final product - from typos to areas that are confusing within the complete context of the transcript. If the company does proofread, make sure to follow up with the question of who does the proofreading. If the transcriber also does the proofreading, there are bound to be mistakes that are not caught. A fresh pair of eyes is essential to the task.
Do they have enough transcribers? - This is important because if they are too small there may not be enough transcribers to produce timely or high quality work. Sometimes, transcription providers may take on too many projects and not have the workers to fill these orders on time. The consequence of this is clients receiving rushed transcripts which were completed by various outsourced transcribers, meaning that quality and consistency will be lacking.

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