Save an IMMENSE time Transcribing

[adamr316]

Here's a little secret I discovered. Obvious but I'm sure it may help some of you.

First of all, please start being environmentally friendly! There's no need to waste DVDs with transcription videos. Output a low res H.264 file (1.5 MBps works). Buy a Vimeo Plus account or Pando Pro account and exchange files with your transcribers that way.

Using DVDs not only wastes materials but it also wastes money on the DVDs and on eletric driving the DVD drive's motor. As a plus with file-based video there isn't a motor whirring, as that can obscure some words you are trying to hear.

Now, here's the time saver part. Use VLC Player and slow down the footage. Viola! Less time spent rewinding and finding timecode. I am whizzing past this footage now, playing back in real-time only to double check words.

 

[rafikiwilliams]

good advice. Ive never had to transcribe anything, but i have a feeling that when i do ill take your advice and save myself some time!

 

[PerroneFord]

My transcription service merely needs the audio. And they have their own upload app on the web. So I just make a 64k mp3 and upload. They don't need the video. They email me back my transcript and subtitle files, and we're good to go.

 

[adamr316]

I just read in another thread that using repeating the words interviewees say to Dragon Naturally Speaking version 10 can also save a lot of time. I don't have the money for the program right now but I will certainly be trying that method in the future and will report back!

 

[DadinWestchester]

I think Premier Pro does this also.

 

[PerroneFord]

I just read in another thread that using repeating the words interviewees say to Dragon Naturally Speaking version 10 can also save a lot of time. I don't have the money for the program right now but I will certainly be trying that method in the future and will report back!

Don't waste the money. Been there, done that.

 

[Bobonli]

My transcription service merely needs the audio. And they have their own upload app on the web. So I just make a 64k mp3 and upload. They don't need the video. They email me back my transcript and subtitle files, and we're good to go.

What service do you use?

I'll be in the market for a transcription service in a few months.

Thanks
Bob

 

[adamr316]

Don't waste the money. Been there, done that.

Why not?

I don't know what transcribing service you use/how much it costs but my budget is shoe string right now. And I have a lot of free time at the moment but the constant rewinding, wrist strain from typing so much drives me nuts. I can stretch the $130 for software.

I demoed it and I think I'm going to buy it. I wish it worked with ASIO hardware for use with my pro mics but I guess I'll just get the version with the headset. Although using my laptop's webcam mic isn't too inaccurate.

 

[PerroneFord]

What service do you use?

I'll be in the market for a transcription service in a few months.

Thanks
Bob

We use this one and are VERY pleased with them:

http://www.automaticsync.com/caption/index.htm

 

[PerroneFord]

Why not?

I don't know what transcribing service you use/how much it costs but my budget is shoe string right now. And I have a lot of free time at the moment but the constant rewinding, wrist strain from typing so much drives me nuts. I can stretch the $130 for software.

I demoed it and I think I'm going to buy it. I wish it worked with ASIO hardware for use with my pro mics but I guess I'll just get the version with the headset. Although using my laptop's webcam mic isn't too inaccurate.

You know, it really depends. In our case, we have multiple speakers, and sometimes audience participation. Trying to get all that into Dragon was a royal PITA. At one time we bought about 4 dozen copies of Dragon Naturally Speaking. In fact, Many years ago, I met the President of the company when he did a conference to demonstrate his "new technology" when the program was just out of beta.

Last year, we bought the lastest copy to see if we could get around the huge price of transcription services (before we found AST). It worked ok for some short projects. But trying to get a standards based, timed text file from that isn't what the program was built for, and that's what I needed for captioning. It also trains to a single voice which is ok, if you're the only person using it. But I have at least a dozen corporate clients who do their own work with it and it was just not feasible.

So maybe it will work ok for you. Didn't for us.

 

[ChrisFigProductions]

Whenever I've hired someone to transcribe, they've always asked me to email them a video file. So I guess that makes me "green".

But Im really interested to hear about people's experiences with the Dragon software. I have Dragon dictation on my iPhone and I've been very impressed.