Tag: earful edits

Transcribing Podcasts with NO AI

Posted on by earfuledits

Although I personally have not had any experience with transcribing podcasts, I do hope to transcribe one someday. I did a little research on how to transcribe podcasts and, surprisingly, nothing came up except for AI tools. AI is not always the best way to transcribe. It’s almost never accurate. At my small business, Earful Edits, I do all of my transcribing manually with no AI assistance. So, if I ever have the privilege of transcribing a podcast, here is how I would go about doing it with no AI:

 

1. Download the audio to Express Scribe

I use a transcription software called Express Scribe for all my transcripts. It’s an easy way to transcribe by using a foot pedal to play and pause the audio hands-free. To see more about this transcription software, click on the following link: Express Scribe

2. Transcribe the audio in my client’s preferred way.

There are a few different ways a transcript can be written:

 

  • Standard verbatim: Cleaned up — omitting all uh’s, um’s, and stutters
  • Strict verbatim: Everything is typed up as is, including the stutters
  • Time stamps: Add the time of the audio every 15 seconds in addition the verbatim that the client wants

After the preferred format is communicated, get started on your transcript!

 

3. Proofread.

Once I have finished a transcript and am at the proofreading stage, I usually proofread to double speed audio. This makes the process a little faster. After that, I proofread with no audio. Sometimes just reading over a transcript with no audio can make mistakes a little clearer because you don’t have any distractions.

Although AI can be good for a faster turnaround time, I prefer to transcribe with no AI assistance. AI just can’t replace the quality human touch.

 

One thing to remember: If you are like me and manually transcribe your audio and dictation files, remember to take breaks! I am guilty of going into hyper focus mode and working for several hours straight on some transcripts. It’s good to take breaks every 30 minutes to an hour to avoid burnout. Take care of yourself!

Beyond Transcription: Editing and Proofreading

Posted on by earfuledits

Editing and proofreading are some great services that a transcriptionist could add to their business. But what is the difference between proofreading and editing? I used to think that these services were one and the same.

 

Proofreading is the final step in the writing process. You look for grammatical errors, punctuation errors, and incorrect spelling and you correct them.

Editing is what happens before proofreading. This is a task that involves improving the quality of the written work.

So, proofreading and editing are definitely different and very valuable services that you could add to your transcription services. To learn more about proofreading and editing, check out this article: Proofreading and Editing

From Audio to Text: The Transcription Process

Posted on by earfuledits

When I started learning to transcribe, I thought it would be very easy. In some ways, it is. But there were also some very challenging aspects of transcription. My biggest struggle while learning was mastering grammar and punctuation. Grammar has never been my strong suit, but I had to master it to become a transcriptionist! So, I studied hard and worked through it. Besides having to have a strong grasp of the English language and all of its intricate grammar rules, the transcribing process is actually quite simple.

When I get an audio file, I download it into my “dictation files” folder then upload it to Express Scribe. Express Scribe is a transcription software that you can download to your laptop or computer to make transcribing easier. Through this software, you can plug a pedal into your laptop and use it to easily pause, play, fast forward, or rewind the audio. To learn more about Express Scribe, click here: Express Scribe Transcription Software

After I upload it to the Express Scribe software, I open up a Word Document and start typing what I hear. There are a few different formats in which you can go about typing your transcript:

 

  1. Simple
The simple format is primarily used for when there is only one speaker. When typing in any format, it’s important to break up the typing into paragraphs. I generally make sure there’s at least five sentences to a paragraph.
      2. Hanging Indent
 
This format is used for two or more speakers. This helps organize the names of the speakers. In this format, the name of the speaker is all the way to the left with a colon in front of the name, then you hit tab and begin typing.
     3. Time Code Master
In this format, you put the amount of time that has gone by in the audio all the way to the left, the name of the speaker, and then what is being said. Generally, I put a time stamp in every 20 seconds or as close to 20 seconds as I can get.
Once I have chosen the appropriate format for that particular dictation file, I type in whatever verbatim my client prefers. There are two types: strict verbatim and standard verbatim. Strict verbatim is when you type everything you hear. This is including all uh’s, um’s, and stutters. Basically, every non-essential utterance. This type of verbatim can be particularly painful to type if the speaker stutters a lot. Standard verbatim is when you omit all stutters or non-essential words. You clean it up a bit for the client.
I would say that the other thing I find challenging about transcription is the fact that you have to type everything exactly as you hear it. Sometimes, if the person has an accent or the quality of the audio is poor, it can be particularly difficult to type accurately. I have had to rewind audio a dozen times to listen again and again to one word and it ends up sounding like gibberish and I can’t tell at all what is being said. In this case, I will put in a [indiscernible] and move on. I have heard that being able to discern what is being said may just take practice.
After I finish typing the audio, I go back to the beginning and proofread my typing while re-listening to the audio again on double speed to make the process a little faster. After I proofread to audio, I go back and proofread again without audio. Then the transcript is done!
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About

Earful Edits offers fast, accurate, and affordable transcription of interviews, seminars, meetings, videos, lectures, sermons, focus groups, medical, legal, or any other recorded event.

Contact

Jamie Hendricks

Email: earfuledits@gmail.com

QUOTE

"In the transcribing and the editing, you want some retention of how the person speaks - you don't want to edit out all of the hesitations and idiosyncrasies. And to get people to say something they've never said before. That's big." ~ Sheila Heti