We hear a lot about transcribing from the educational, governmental, or audiovisual production fields.
Simply put, it is converting spoken language to text, that is, putting a conversation, a speech, a recording, or any audio with human speech on paper.
That said, there are many types of transcription, many ways to do it, and hundreds of elements to consider.
In this article, I will explain transcription and its advantages.
What is transcribing? Definition
Transcription is the graphic representation of spoken language in written signs.
Simply put, we refer to converting speech into text when discussing transcribing.
In short, transcription is the process of writing in words content that is in audio or recording format.
With the development of technology, you can make recordings and transcriptions anytime. There are even tools dedicated to transcribing live audio.
However, their quality is not always the best, and that is why we also resort to manual transcription done by a professional or to powerful automatic transcription software with an online editor, such as ScriptMe.
This audio transcribed into written content can be used in many ways. The most common ones are study, research, video production, analysis, and support in the judicial and legal world, among many other utilities.
The main uses of transcribing
Transcription is used in many contexts, including the legal and judicial framework, because it facilitates access to stories and evidence to carry out processes.
It is also widely used in organizations, transcribing team meetings in which ideas are proposed and discussed. Most importantly, agreements are reached on responsibilities and commitments: transcription allows for monitoring and evaluation.
Another use is in marketing, in product presentation studies, where reactions and impressions are transcribed to evaluate consumer behavior.
On the other hand, transcription is instrumental in qualitative research because it allows one to find meanings that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Advantages of Transcribing
You may be wondering what are the advantages and reasons why everyone is transcribing and subtitling their content on Social Networks, YouTube, and other environments, apart from the big entertainment productions that have been doing it forever.
Here are the main reasons why everyone is transcribing audio.
1. Accessibility
Making content accessible to everyone is undoubtedly one of the significant advantages of transcription.
People with different types of hearing disabilities can read the transcription of an audio or even attend a conference live to fully understand what is being discussed.
In fact, some regulations require audiovisual content to include transcriptions and subtitles, which we will discuss later.
However, access to content benefits not only the hearing impaired but also people who do not speak the language of the video by using subtitles and transcriptions in multiple languages.
Finally, native speakers who are perfect listeners also benefit from transcriptions because they can understand content even in the most noisy place and do not require sound.
2. Information source and reference
Having the transcripts printed, downloaded to your computer, or stored in transcription software will allow you to consult and return to them whenever you need a reliable source of information.
There is nothing more faithful than the exact reproduction of what an eminent person said in a lecture or what the professor said in his lecture. Having the transcripts will allow you to have reliable sources at your disposal.
Automatic transcription software such as ScriptMe allows you to add notes along the transcript for big productions and not-so-big. Thanks to the notes, you can find the exact moment when something was said, either by searching for a word or by looking at the transcript.
3. Improve the user experience
When a user sees the transcript or subtitles in your content on social media, they are significantly more likely to interact with your video through likes, comments, shares, or simply staying longer watching it.
This enriches the user's experience by helping them better understand the content and attracting their attention.
It's all profit for you since interactions and watching time can translate into higher earnings.
4. Better rankings in organic channels
Unlike video content, search engine algorithms can crawl and understand video content thanks to transcripts.
That is, they help the algorithms of YouTube, Google, and Instagram, among others, better understand what the video is about, thus achieving a privileged position in the organic results.
This will allow you to receive more visits, and those who enter will spend more time watching your content, generating more income for your coffers.
Types of transcriptions
There are two types of transcriptions, and the one that is right for you depends on the objective you are looking for.
1. Verbatim transcription
It consists of transcribing all the contents present in the recording. This type of transcription requires high attention and detail orientation.
However, it is considered easier because it does not require editing.
2. Non Verbatim transcription (cleaned up)
Eliminating irrelevant material results in a more understandable and fluid text when reading.
No words or phrases are changed, but the content is edited to make the text easier to understand.
Main transcript file formats
There are several formats for transcript files, each with specific uses and benefits:
- Word document (.doc) or text (.txt): this is a plain text version of your transcript. This way, you can edit it to fit your style or keep it the same.
- HTML is used if the transcription is to be on a web page. This format is compatible with screen readers, which people with disabilities widely use. Its outstanding benefit is that it allows a screen reader to convert digital text into synthesized speech.
- PDF: this is also a plain file. The difference is that the end user cannot edit the content. These files are also easy to upload to the web.
How to transcribe an audio or video
There are three basic ways to transcribe an audio or video file. Each has advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss below.
1. In house Manually transcribing
This is the classic manual transcription within a company or manually for your projects.
That is, it is a person who works in a company dedicated to transcribing the work assigned to him.
Manual transcription also covers areas outside of work, and you can convert to text any audio you want for multiple purposes, such as educational, marketing, entertainment, preparing a conference, or whatever.
Manual transcribing is slow and tedious and requires replaying and rewinding the audio hundreds of times.
Besides, the transcription quality and accuracy will likely be perfect.
2. Hiring a professional transcriptionist
Hiring a professional directly on freelance platforms or specific transcriptionist sites can be a perfect solution when you have time and money and want to outsource the work.
Transcriptionists usually transcribe quickly and with more than superb accuracy. You may even require a transcriber specialized in a particular technical area, who will surely do it much better than a generic transcriber or you.
However, it has the disadvantage that it is usually quite expensive, and depending on the amount of work the professional has, it can take several days or even weeks to deliver your transcripts.
3. Automatic Transcription services
Automatic transcription services also use applications, websites, or software to convert audio to text.
These services have significantly evolved with technology. They can now be transcribed online and uploaded to the cloud.
On the other hand, the manual transcription service is in charge of a transcriptionist who picks it up and transcribes it.
Depending on the type of audio, the type of service, and the purpose of the transcription, you will need a generic or educated professional in the subject of your audio.
Once the audio is transcribed, the professional or the platform will notify you that the document is ready.
Among other services, they can transcribe podcats to turn them into posts, increase SEO traffic, and convert videos and audio to text.
A transcription service should offer you a clear price, quality assurance, fully secure online ordering, an easy-to-use platform, and excellent attention and quality of service.
Why do you need to use a transcription service?
If you lack the knowledge, time, and technological resources, the transcription may not be the quality you want.
If you do it yourself or delegate it to someone else, they may have other occupations, delaying the transcription process.
Not faithfully transcribing content can also have organizational, legal, academic, or judicial consequences.
Legal considerations about transcription
Legislation in force in the United States obliges content uploaded to the Internet to include subtitles and, in some cases, transcripts.
Fines for inflicting these regulations can exceed $75,000.
1. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This regulation establishes that all video uploaded to the Internet must have subtitles, facilitating access for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.
Thanks to the presence of subtitles, they can follow the understanding of the audiovisual content in real-time.
2. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 standards (2008).
WCAG 2.0 establishes that each live or pre-recorded video uploaded to the Internet must contain subtitles, and the audio content uploaded must contain the transcription of the same (given the impossibility of adding subtitles).
FAQS about transcribing
How long does it take to transcribe a one-hour audio file?
Manually, transcribing an hour of audio in a concentrated way and with some experience can take more than 4 hours at a time. Automatically, an hour of audio will be transcribed in a few minutes, and a proper manual review will take no more than 25 minutes.
When and how much does it cost to hire a professional transcriptionist?
Professional transcriptionists charge based on several variables, such as experience, expertise, type of audio, language, and region.
Typically, prices range from $20 to $50 per hour of work. Depending on the job, they can range from $10 to $100 or even more.
Learn more about transcriptionist salaries.
When to transcribe on my own?
Suppose you don't have the money for automatic transcription software, which often has generous free trials like ScriptMe. In that case, we understand you will have even less money to hire a professional.
That's why transcribing on your own is the best option.
Also, when you have to transcribe audio where the speaker uses jargon that only you understand.
At the same time, if the audio you will transcribe is less than 1 to 5 minutes long, it won't be a big problem for you to do it.
When and how much does automatic transcription software cost?
Prices vary depending on the platform.
At ScriptMe, we offer three monthly hours at the convenient price of $45. You can also buy the hour individually for $29.
If you have a company you may require customized plans, please contact us.
What is the best transcription software?
In our opinion, there are many quality software programs, including ScriptMe.
You can register for free and test the tool without any payment method.
In what industries and on what occasions is transcription used?
Today, it is widely used in many fields.
The legal field and the court, in medicine, in academia and research, in the workplace, and, of course, in marketing and content productions for the big screen.
Conclusions
With this content, you have learned a little more about transcribing, which is used in many fields and moments.
Regardless of context, you have surely realized how useful it can be.
Audio transcription can benefit you academically. It allows you to transcribe a lecture and prepare for an exam more accurately and reliably.
It will also help you when starting your YouTube channel since transcribing the video to text will allow you to obtain a higher valuation by the algorithms when it comes to positioning it.
It is also an indispensable and used source in the judicial field, as well as in research and production for television and film.
Have you ever transcribed something? Were you surprised by all the world behind it?
