How to Transcribe Faster
I can type 53 wpm (words per minute) according to http://www.typingtest.com/ but it seems that I can only transcribe a difficult ten minute audio in approximately three hours. By 'difficult', I mean, there's mumbling or the speaker's volume is too low. I guess I try too hard to figure out what's being said before I go on and continue listening and encoding the rest of the recording.
What I found out about transcription is that the perspective's not on a per minute basis. It's because when you encode speech... it's on a per second basis! I guess that's why some clients prefer time stamps rather than speaker names on their transcripts.
I use Express Scribe where you can adjust the audio by volume, speed, background noise, etc. It's a great software plus it's free! It's just that I have to pause and hit 'f9' to play or 'f7' to rewind the recording and that takes away from the comfy position I had before while I was typing. (You can use MS word and ExpressScribe at the same time without changing browsers/windows.)
So that's why a foot pedal is a necessary equipment for transcribers. When you have one while you're working, it's just like driving a car where every limb is employed. And that undoubtedly helps one to transcribe faster.
My brother-in-law said he has cousins who work at home as medical transcribers and they've got the whole shebang -- software, footpedals, etc. Cool.
Obviously, I don't have a foot pedal. I'm still testing the waters on my freelance transcription gig to actually invest money on it.
Watching TV helps... lol! That's how I got used to understanding some of the different American accents, by the way. And there's quite a few of it - Southern, those from New York... etc. I can credit the proofreader's compliment of how well I did on my last paid transcription to that. Oh, they said I did a good job... for a beginner. Yey. And considering that it was on oral history, you can tell the speakers were...what's the word? Elderly, with their drawls and intonations.
I turned down a transcription project that was due in two days. It was an hour of audio and I knew I couldn't do it. I'm just too slow for that!!! I couldn't really put my client in an awkward position where I turnover a transcript on its due date and it's neither complete nor readable. They said it was okay... thank goodness. I hope the next one's deadline's a little longer/later than that.
Well, I'm still a slow (but good, hardly any editing needed!) transcriber as of now. But I can only get better from there. Here's to honing my transcription skills!!!
What I found out about transcription is that the perspective's not on a per minute basis. It's because when you encode speech... it's on a per second basis! I guess that's why some clients prefer time stamps rather than speaker names on their transcripts.
I use Express Scribe where you can adjust the audio by volume, speed, background noise, etc. It's a great software plus it's free! It's just that I have to pause and hit 'f9' to play or 'f7' to rewind the recording and that takes away from the comfy position I had before while I was typing. (You can use MS word and ExpressScribe at the same time without changing browsers/windows.)
So that's why a foot pedal is a necessary equipment for transcribers. When you have one while you're working, it's just like driving a car where every limb is employed. And that undoubtedly helps one to transcribe faster.
My brother-in-law said he has cousins who work at home as medical transcribers and they've got the whole shebang -- software, footpedals, etc. Cool.
Obviously, I don't have a foot pedal. I'm still testing the waters on my freelance transcription gig to actually invest money on it.
Watching TV helps... lol! That's how I got used to understanding some of the different American accents, by the way. And there's quite a few of it - Southern, those from New York... etc. I can credit the proofreader's compliment of how well I did on my last paid transcription to that. Oh, they said I did a good job... for a beginner. Yey. And considering that it was on oral history, you can tell the speakers were...what's the word? Elderly, with their drawls and intonations.
I turned down a transcription project that was due in two days. It was an hour of audio and I knew I couldn't do it. I'm just too slow for that!!! I couldn't really put my client in an awkward position where I turnover a transcript on its due date and it's neither complete nor readable. They said it was okay... thank goodness. I hope the next one's deadline's a little longer/later than that.
Well, I'm still a slow (but good, hardly any editing needed!) transcriber as of now. But I can only get better from there. Here's to honing my transcription skills!!!
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Found your blog while looking for transcribing jobs on Craig's list. Just wanted to offer to you a foot pedal (wav player), which is compatible with expess scribe, for $50.00 plus shipping and then I have a StartStop software CD, which is for keeping track of your transcriptions and billing purposes, which I can also sell to you for $50.00. If you find that you are interested, you can reach me at my Email address: 4bettyanderson@sbcglobal.net or by calling 817-238-6112 or cell 817-564-1784. I am in Fort Worth, Texas. I would accept a money order or you could pay via PayPal.com if you should find that you would like it asap. Anyway, your friend was right, a foot pedal would make your job much easier and your production time would be much faster!
Good luck! I will wait to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Betty Anderson
Good luck to you too!
Anyway, you must, MUST MUST get a foot pedal..! It is near impossible to do this work without one. Trust me. I took some transcription work from a friend and he let me borrow a pedal, then when I quit, I gave it back. After a couple years, I wanted to try again and found some sites online, where I did tests with no pedal.. oh. my. god. I was completely frustrated after about 3 minutes (audio, that is!) So, I bought one new ($54 or something) and went back to work for my friend.. Lord, i don't know what I was thinking trying to use jsut the keyboard. Go get one.. now! NOW! lol.. I can do about 15 audio minutes per hour.. it gets easier.. I will peruse your blog more, but I wonder how you got started with your independent gig? Let me know if you want to share some work..!! :)
Hopefully, I can borrow a foot pedal first and see how that works. AND hopefully, my affiliate will keep my spot on the transcription team when I get back from my holiday - or hiatus! lol!