The Best Audio Transcription Services

You’ve held a business meeting, webinar, or Zoom conference and you want to make sure everyone retains all of the information. You hope they pay attention and listen, but is this enough?

Unfortunately, no. The average person only remembers 25% of the content two months later. So how do you make sure that attendees can remember and reference the valuable content from the meeting months later?

The answer? Find the best transcription service and create a digital paper trail of what was discussed in the meeting.

But how do you find a transcription service worth the money? Fear not, follow our guide to finding the best audio transcription service available in 2025.

Accuracy Rate

Many transcription companies make lofty claims about their high level of accuracy. The best way to verify these claims is by asking a colleague or reading reviews about others’ experiences.

Sometimes you can ask the company for a sample. Which other companies have used their services? Seeing an example of an actual transcript can tell you if they spell things correctly or accurately decipher difficult terms.

Look for qualities such as “100% native English speakers” and “100% done by hand.” This means that the transcriber will be a real person who understands the language, not an automated service or a company that uses AI (artificial intelligence) or voice-to-text software.

Turnaround Time

While super-fast turnaround times are desirable, you don’t want a company that sacrifices quality for speed. Look for a company that can scale its services to accommodate the size of your project.

Ask the company if they have a RUSH specialty service. You won’t use this all the time, but it is great for that one time when something pops up last minute

What Is the Content?

Some companies will specialize in certain types of audio recordings. The best transcription companies will offer services for all kinds of audio. Here are just a few:

• podcasts
• academic research
• business meetings
• church sermons
• webinars
• interviews
• conference calls

Old Audio Formats

Find out what type of media the transcription service can work with. There are two elements to this: old tape formats, and new digital formats. If you used an old tape recorder, be sure to use a company that can convert the audio to digital first. It’s like two services in one! Here are a few older tape formats:

• reel-to-reel tape
• cassette tape
• VHS tape
• microcassette tape

Once your old tape has been converted, your file will be in one of the formats below.

New Audio Formats

Most new devices record in the MP3 or M4U format. However, there are many other formats of digital audio. Any transcription service worth its salt will be able to handle all kinds of audio formats. Here are a few:

• MP3
• M4a
• WMA
• WAV
• VOX
• WMA
• DSS

And, they should be able to extract audio from different types of media and devices.

• DVD
• Audio-CD / CD-ROM
• flash media
• DVR
• WMV
• MP4

What Will You Get Back?

Don’t forget about the format in which you will get your transcription back. All that work is useless if you can’t use the transcription once it’s returned to you.

Look for a service that offers the transcription in a variety of formats. This ensures that at least one of them will work for your needs.

• MS Word or WordPerfect
• RTF
• HTML
• TXT
• PDF

And how do they deliver the transcript?

• FTP
• password protected download
• email
• on a thumb drive or disk

Pricing

Pricing is best when you are charged per audio minute. This will tell you the total cost before you start the job. Alternatively, some transcription companies charge by the page. This means you won’t know the final cost until after the job is done. I suggest you choose a company that charges by the audio minute.

Here’s the thing though, cheaper isn’t always better. The cheaper services will use AI, automation, or non-native English speakers to save money. This means that their quality is certainly on the low end. Avoid these companies.

The trick to finding the best audio transcription company is to balance price and accuracy.

Hidden Fees

There can be a difference between the advertised price and the actual price. Ask about additional fees that get tacked on after you agree to the service.

Most transcription companies have two standard pricing levels: verbatim and non-verbatim. In addition, there are normally up-charges for multiple speakers, technical content, faster delivery, or heavy accents. If you aren’t careful, these added fees can take that super-low advertised price and multiply it by 100 or 200%. This makes what started out as an affordable service, into one that is now very expensive.

Insist on detailed pricing in advance. Everything should be included before work is started. There should be no surprises.

Confidentiality

If you have a business meeting, confidential Zoom recording, or other audio with sensitive information transcribed, you will want a company that has the best security. Ask the company what precautions they take to prevent hacks.

Remember, you’ll have to upload your audio to their website, so how are they going to protect your audio during this process? Also, ask about how they ensure their transcribers maintain confidentiality.

Customer Service

Look for a company that offers you personalized service and support. You want your transcription service to be more of a partner and less of a vendor.

Ask if the company offers any kind of guarantee. The best companies will have no problem standing behind the quality of their work. This means that they should offer free fixes if you are unhappy with the transcription—for any reason.

Best Audio Transcription Company with the Best Service for Your Needs

When looking for the best audio transcription company with the best service in 2025, you’ll want to find one that can work with your audio format and pricing needs. Try to find one that offers the best service for a price that you can afford.

Don’t sacrifice quality for price or fast turnaround time. You’ll also want to choose a service that can ensure your audio stays confidential between you and the service.

No matter what company you choose, they should provide you with personalized customer service. They should work with you as a partner, and not like a hired vendor churning out work.

Interested in having your files transcribed, contact us today and we can help you get started.

The post How to Choose the Best Audio Transcription Service in 2025 appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Recording a live webinar by GoToMeeting, Zoom, or TEAMS can be a daunting task to someone who doesn’t know the ins and outs of video frame rates, resolutions, and codecs.  We developed our webinar recording service for businesses and podcasters that either don’t have the technical expertise or don’t have the time to learn.

Why Hire a Professional to Record a Webinar?

We’ve done extensive testing to find the best method to record webinars.  Here are the highlights.

1. We capture the entire screen with the best video codec.
2. We record PowerPoint animations, cursor movements and desktop sharing.
3. All elements are in high definition.
4. Audio editing and video editing are available.
5. Output is typically .mp4, .wmv, or almost any audio/video format available.

We produce the best, highest-quality, highest-resolution webinar recordings possible.

If you don’t already have a web conferencing service, we can help with that too.

Give us a try today.

The post Recording Webinars by GoToMeeting, Zoom, TEAMS and More appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Centrance MicPort Pro Review:

Listen to the best quality podcast recordings today and you will find that they are usually programs produced by established radio personalities—Glenn Beck, Imus, etc.  One reason that their audio quality is so good is that they are using the microphone that is best for their voice.  Producers spend hours testing multiple microphones with their talent/host and their equipment (mic pres, compressors, limiters, EQ, etc.).  The final microphone choice is determined by sound quality, not cost or connectivity.

All to often, amateur podcasters resort to using the mics that are designed for easy connectivity, such as a USB connection to their PC or MAC.  It makes sense, why spend the time, effort and expense in creating a more professional set-up when the equipment manufacturers have made it so easy.  Ultimately, it comes down to sound quality.  There are so many more choices when you open yourself up to the world of XLR connectivity, not just USB.  The solution, a XLR to USB converter.

There are several XLR to USB converters on the market today; Use Google to search “XLR to USB Microphone Converter” for the most up-to-date list.  The CEntrance MicPort Pro is one of them and a review from The Gamer Access is below.  Also see RecordingHacks.com review of four XLR to USB converters here.

Begin Review
—————

Whether you are recording a podcast, conducting an interview, or recording vocals for an upcoming audio track, a quality microphone is the most essential tool in order to produce a quality experience for the listener. With that said, most professional and studio microphones do not use your standard 3.5mm or USB connector, but instead utilize XLR making it somewhat of a challenge for those who record to a computer. That’s at least what I thought until I had the opportunity to check out CEntrance’s MicPort Pro. Read more to discover how to utilize your professional or studio microphone on any device supporting audio through a USB input!

As the only portable microphone preamp supporting 24bit/96kHz, the MicPort Pro delivers true studio sound from your XLR microphone to any device with a USB input in lossless quality. Simply connect your microphone’s XLR connector to the female XLR input on the MicPort Pro and connect the included USB cable from the MicPort Pro to your USB device, and you are all ready to go! Not to be confused for a simple XLR to USB converter, the MicPort Pro contains its very own preamp for high quality audio recordings using not only basic dynamic microphones, but those who require phantom power. If you are unaware, what phantom power is, it is the method in which DC electric power is transmitted through microphones that require active electronic circuitry. Phantom power is required for a majority of the professional and studio microphones used today.  … continue reading the full article here: A Must-Have Professional Audio Device: CEntrance MicPort Pro (Review) . (Editors note: this legacy link is no longer active)

The post Podcasting Equipment Review: Podcast Recording with the CEntrance MicPort Pro appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

1. All podcast participants should be dialed-in on a landline phone.
2. Non-speaking participants should be muted.
3. A phone handset or headset should be used, not a speakerphone.
4. Call waiting should be disabled.

All podcast participants should use standard landline phones.

But, don’t fall into the trap of pressing the speakerphone button—that is the quickest way to ruin your high-quality phone call recording.  Also, do not use a cell phone, a VOIP service, or even a wireless phone connected to a landline.  All of these technologies degrade the telephone audio in some way and should be avoided.  VOIP is getting better every day, but you should be very careful if you are going to break this rule as some VOIP phones sound just as bad as cell phones.

Non-speaking participants should be muted.

Any participant who is not speaking should press their own mute button well before the podcast recording begins.  Some conference call services allow for muting by pressing *6 or some other combination of keys.  Do yourself a favor and use this functionality.

A phone handset or headset should be the tool of choice.

A bit earlier we talked about not using a speakerphone on a podcast recording.  Instead, use a wired headset.  Most headsets these days have very good audio quality and will allow you to talk with your hands free.  Although, once in awhile, even a good quality headset can act-up.  At those times, pick up your old reliable handset; you’ll be amazed how good it sounds.

Disable the Call Waiting feature on your phone.

Most phone companies allow you to disable this feature temporarily.  Before
connecting to your call recording service, press your phone company’s magic combination of buttons to disable this function—usually restored when you hang up.  *70 seems to be the ticket with CenturyLink, but be sure to check with your local telephone company in case they have a different method.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Ask the person to move to a quiet location.
2. Ask them if they are really dialed-in on a landline phone.
3. Ask them if they are on a headset; if so, pick up the handset.
4. If the noisy/poor quality audio persists, ask them to dial-in again to re-establish the connection.

Tip: Poor quality audio can most often be tracked to a non-landline phone.  So, whatever you do, do not break this one rule.  Ignore all the others before you omit this one.

1. Make every effort to keep the phone still while recording.  Phone handsets are notorious for popping and clicking when played with or squeezed too tightly.
2. Keep the handset mouthpiece at the same distance from the mouth as when the audio quality tests were underway.  Moving the mouthpiece around will cause a fluctuation in volume that will drive your podcast editor crazy and increase your editing bill exponentially.
3. Refrain from breathing directly into the handset when you are not speaking.  Not only is this distracting to the listeners, it’s a little creepy.
4. Try your best not to talk over another participant.  Phone calls are not a wide frequency bandwidth medium.  This means that it is more difficult for the ear to distinguish between voices.  When two or more voices are talking at the same time, the ear loses track of who is speaking and the brain becomes confused.  Confusion leads to anger, and anger always tells the listener’s finger to click the “off” button—always!

Record phone calls for podcast interviews.

Follow these rules and recording phone calls for podcast interviews will become easy-cheesy. Be sure to use our services to ensure the best quality podcast recordings; your listeners will thank you and your audience will grow.

We’ve been recording podcasts via phone calls for over 20 years—before they were even called podcasts! We’d love to help you too. Contact us for more details.

The post How to Record Phone Calls for Podcast Interviews appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Transcribing takes focus and a special skill set. Quality work, with value, will help create repeat customers for years to come.

Here are 3 key principles to providing the best transcription services to your clients.

As a transcriptionist, help your clients put their content into context and it will keep them coming back.

1. Do you offer top-notch transcription skills? You need to be a fast and accurate typist with a tremendous grasp of grammar.  You must maneuver in transcription software like you were born doing it, follow client-provided style guidelines, and never waver from the deadline-being-the-deadline. When you provide digital audio transcription services, you’re ultimately evaluated on keeping your word and delivering the words on time. Don’t dabble. Make sure you have what it takes to succeed.

2. Do you like to learn new information? Offering transcribing services gives you a view into industries and subjects that may be new to you. Don’t deliver a final draft with (inaudible) or (indistinguishable) notations when a quick search on the Internet could verify these terms you’re unsure of. In addition, ask the client if they can provide a list of commonly used terms from the recording. This will help you provide a more accurate transcript.  Offering these value-added services is not lost on the client; they know when you’re going the extra mile.

3. Are you viewing things from the client’s eyes? The transcript is the end-product delivered to the client, but what else does your client receive from you? Do you do an audio proof (not just proofing while typing the raw transcript) to review the quality of the transcription? Do you offer a final read-through to ensure comprehension? Are you alerting the client of items that may be discrepancies in their transcript? A “good enough” transcription is never an option. Deliver with the quality that you’d expect to receive.

If you’re a top-notch transcriptionist or if you’re a company seeking transcription support that meets YOUR mark, contact AudioFile Solutions today. We provide the best transcription services to our clients on a daily basis and would like a chance to prove it to you.

The post 3 Keys to Providing the Best Transcription Services — For Transcribers appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Commitment to Quality
Our company believes in producing the best podcasts; this starts with the highest quality podcast recordings possible.  Whether that be in the studio or over a telephone conference call, our recordings are always going to be top notch.  Ok, you might be asking, “What makes you so special?”  The single largest differentiator between us and our competitors is a commitment to quality. 

Our equipment is designed to produce the best quality audio and video productions, but equipment hardly tells the whole story.  In fact, podcasting equipment is only as good as the person using it.  We’ve been recording and editing digital audio since 1996.  We are first and foremost professionals in this field, and our experience is hard to beat.

One area we pride ourselves in is our telephone recording.  All of the companies mentioned above automate their phone call recording service.  That is, there is no one there to fine tune the settings for each individual podcaster.  Again, while this one-size-fits-all method may have it’s place, we have a different view.

1. Our recording levels are set by hand.  There is no one-size-fits-all approach here.
2. Phone call/line quality is checked and problems are troubleshooted.
3. Pre-processing of the audio file is done by hand, not using any automation. Your recording will be precisely optimized for the internet or for CD.
4. The beginning and ending are trimmed of any irrelevant material such as on-hold music.
5. Professional audio editing is available.
6. Audio file encoding and conversion are done to our exact specifications.

While telephone and conference call recording is only one aspect of our business, the above serves as a key reason why recordings made with DIY services may not be the way to go, especially if you are a business protecting the quality of your brand.  Recordings made my DIY services typically sound inferior in many different ways:

1. Volume levels are low or, alternatively, much too loud.
2. Audio is heavily distorted because of number 1 above.
3. Audio sounds unnatural because of an inferior encoding process.
4. There is dead air at the beginning or end of the file.
5. The end of the audio contains loud pops and clicks when you hung up the phone.
6. Various drop-out and quality issues because of a poor VOIP connection. 

Commitment to Service
The second reason we’re different from DIY services is our commitment to service.  When we begin a project, our producer is with you hand-in-hand helping you decide which podcast production style is right for you.  Once the style is decided upon, he/she will walk you through the entire recording and production process—from beginning to end.  Whether that is to record a telephone interview with a content expert, produce a script for a professional voice-over, or discuss the best music to use for the introduction, we’re with you the entire time.

Commitment to Our Customer
We do not believe in producing expensive, extravagant podcasts when the situation calls for much less.  Our commitment to you is that we will give you our honest advice based on the needs of your company, not ours.  If your company is best served with a podcast production costing $100, we promise not to push you into producing the next version of Titanic—it’s that simple.

If you’d like more information on any of our audio and video production services, please contact us here.  We’d love to help.

The post Podcast Production Should Be a Team Effort, Not a DIY Project appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

KORG SOUND on SOUND Unlimited Track Recorder

• Pocket-sized, portable, and battery powered, the SOUND on SOUND multitrack recorder provides on-board rhythms, effects, and an infinite number of overdubs for truly creative recordings
• With the built-in speaker and an internal high-quality stereo mic, you can capture and review your recordings instantly, without the need for any additional equipment
• Record and save in WAV format (PCM audio format, WAV format (extension: .wav), BWF compliant, 44.1 kHz@16-bit).
• Records up to ten hours on a pair of AA batteries
• Wedge-shaped design is easy to use as a hand-held recorder or on a desktop
• KORG AUDIO UTILITY software provides format conversion and audio CD creation. Downloadable free from Korg.com

Tannoy Reveal 501A Podcast Speakers / Monitors

Tannoy makes great sounding monitors—period.  Not only will this speaker accurately reproduce your voice-over, but it will allow you to “hear” the music you mix behind your voice as well.  Add a subwoofer and the possibilities are endless…

• Integrated 60W total power amp unit
• 5” (130mm) LF/MF driver and 1” (30mm) soft dome tweeter delivering wide frequency response   of 64Hz – 30kHz
• Sculpted and rigid front baffle design to minimise diffraction
• Response has been optimised for quarter space near-field operation, such as on a meter bridge   or on a table either side of your control surface.
• Front firing reflex bass port to negate boundary-coupling
• Bass unit development using to minimise offsets and linearise the suspension components.
• Wideband tweeter design extending the amplitude response beyond 20kHz audibility to 30kHz to improve the phase response from within the audible band.
• LED indicator shows power status
• + 1.5 / 0 / -1.5dB HF trim switch for custom room adjustment
• Rear mounted volume control for convenient Home Studio and PC/MAC laptop/desktop use.
• Balanced XLR and unbalanced jack connectors.

Tascam DR-100 Portable Podcast Recorder w/ XLR

With XLR inputs, this field recorder—while not new—still occupies a tasty position among low-cost solid-state recorders.  Perfect for recording podcast interviews with an external microphone.

• Four microphones – Stereo Cardioid and Omni Condenser Mics
• 44.1k to 96k sampling rates for WAV file recording
• MP3 and WAV file Recording and Playback
• XLR Mic Inputs with Phantom Power
• High-performance microphone preamp with 60dB of gain
• Premium AKM Audio4Pro™ A/D converters with over 100dB signal to noise ratio
• 3.5mm Line Inputs and Outputs
• Low Cut Filter, Analog Limiter and Auto Gain Control
• Built-in Speaker
• Integrated microphone stand mount
• Runs on Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery or AA Batteries
• Optional PS-P520 AC power adapter
• Dimensions: 3.2″ W x 1.4″ H x 6″ D (80.5mm x 35mm x 151mm)

Mogami Quality Studio Cable — Snake

When building a podcast recording studio, the last thing you want to do is use cheap interconnects and cabling.  While I am not a proponent of ultra expensive cables for podcast purposes, I strongly recommend using solid interconnects that won’t wear down and create noise at their joints.  This is a common problem today because many modern mixers have the Mic and Line inputs on the top of the mixer.  This means that when connected to any equipment that is positioned lower than the mixer chassis, the cable will have to bend 180 degrees on it’s way to the other piece of equipment.  This is a challenge for any cable.

• Famous for neutral tone, remarkable detail and noise-free background
• Channels are individually shielded with numbered, Techflex™ protected jackets
• Assembled with top quality gold contact TRS and XLR connectors
• Super-flexible handling ease
• Lifetime warranty

Check back with us often as we will continue to gather our choices for best new podcasting equipment.  Thanks for visiting.

The post Top New Equipment for Your Podcast Recording Studio appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Editor’s Note: We no longer use this transcription tool.

We believe we are one of the best transcription companies out there. But what exactly does that mean? Are we just blowing our own horn?

Our clients count on us to render line, form and movement to their audio and video recordings—the  result being a tangible transcript of the spoken word. We’re contacted daily to deliver professional transcription support for focus group discussions, lectures, academic interviews, podcasts, meetings, webcasts… the list is endless.

As a business professional, you need to feel confident those whom you’re entrusting to transcribe your content have your best interests at heart. We’ve been delivering transcription services to companies for many years and it’s our pleasure to provide the outline below—identifying four key areas and the elements within—for you to consider when evaluating and choosing a transcription company.

Here’s what the best transcription companies provide and what they require from their employees.

Technical Skills

• Keyboarding Skills/Speed – Look for an above-average rate of speed (75+ words per minute) married with a high degree of accuracy (98% or higher). Fast isn’t valuable if precision isn’t the guarantee.
• Know and Understand Technology/Computer Literacy – Work with someone who knows more than just the technology basics. Look for creativity and adaptability, ask what type of technology they use to listen to your audio/video and the software they use to create your transcript.
• Working within Deadlines – This is all about time management and organizational skills. Great transcriptionists know how to “work backwards” in estimating typing time, proofing time and reading-for-comprehension time to beat your deadline and exceed your expectations.

Communication Skills

• Spelling and Grammar – You have a right to expect the best transcription companies to excel in these areas. Inquire how they ensure the accurate handling of homonyms. If they’re uncertain or confused about their homonym policy, don’t go there.
• Superior Listening – Typing what is said can be a science at times. Does the transcription company have the capability to provide verbatim (word-for-word) transcripts? Can they remove the superfluous (I know, you mean, like, uh, um, ah) interjections to create a cleaner transcript for you? Be specific with what you’d like to see as an end result and learn if the transcription company offers these skills.
• Superior Comprehension/Ear for Detail –This is where experience is vital. Great transcriptionists will hear discrepancies because their ears have been trained to hear and comprehend the detail. If something said later in the transcript does not jibe with what was said earlier, the best transcription companies will bring this to your attention. It’s not too much to expect.

Experience

• Specialties – Some transcription companies specialize in delivering transcripts of accented speakers, those that contain two or more speakers or transcripts requiring time code stamps. Be sure you understand areas of specialty and any price increases associated with higher-value services.
• Terminology Research – Is it important to you that your transcription company go the extra mile in researching and verifying terminology on your transcript? A transcription services provider who is on the ball will maintain a terminology list specifically for your work to ensure consistency on your future transcripts.
• Proofing Process – Ask questions about the proofing process. If your transcript is not proofed a minimum of two times, you may want to consider speaking with another potential provider. And… a response of “proofing as the transcript is typed” is not an acceptable guarantee of accuracy or consistency on your deliverable.
• Years in Business – Ask the provider how long they’ve been in business providing transcription services. Any transcription company worth its salt will be pleased to share this information with you. Longevity is significant.

Work Ethic

• Professionalism – This does not become any less important as we move from the brick-and-mortar environment to the virtual workplace. Ask for references and examples of work if this will provide you with a better feel for the provider’s professionalism. Those who are serious about your business will gladly respond to your requests.
• Confidentiality – Work with a transcription company that provides a confidentiality clause in their service agreement. (Yes, be sure to sign an agreement.) Feel confident that the subject matter shared with your transcription company stays with your transcription company.
• Business/Industry Knowledge – This is extremely important when it comes to creating your content. A transcription company should be familiar with standard business acronyms, business leaders and business trends.
• Vested Interest in Your Success – Work with a transcription provider who wants to understand what’s important to you. Find someone who isn’t afraid to have a voice-to-voice conversation and clarify your needs. You want to work with someone who requests that level of detail because it indicates they’re interested in your success.

And finally… transcribing is more than just typing. If you have ever received transcription services support, you quickly discovered upon review of your final deliverable whether you hired a skilled service provider. Transcription is a combination of art, skill and business savvy; it’s the transformation of your raw material into a meaningful deliverable to support the success of your business. Be sure to partner with a transcription company that has experience, is pleased to answer your questions and is committed to your success.

All the best.

Lori J. Clark is the Founder and Lead Administrator of Clark VA Solutions, a virtual administrative consulting practice delivering services based on a strong, 30-year professional foundation of education, skills and experience. Clark VA Solutions serves C- and executive-level professionals and entrepreneurs with writing services, corporate/business transcription, administrative planning and brainstorming/structuring service offerings for success. See http://clarkvasolutions.com for more information.

photo by Nathan LeClair

The post The Best Transcription Companies — How to Find One appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Abbey Road–One of the Best Recording Studios Ever

I’ve been asked by prospective customers, “What makes your conference call recording service better than the less expensive Brand X?”  After eight years in business, this question still bothers me; like someone is attacking my baby.  But it’s a legitimate question.  After all, none of us want to pay more for the same product or service.

So instead of taking it personally, I think of the types of products and services that I am willing to pay more for.

I have a Home Theater.  When I first built it, did I buy all the cheapest electronics: the smallest screen, the weakest amplifiers, the least expensive projector?  When I take my wife out to dinner, do I take her to McDonald’s every time?  Of course not.  In both cases, I usually look for a good value; good quality that doesn’t break the bank.  But I also consider what I’m hungry for that day—do I feel like steak, BBQ, or seafood.

I think this is how customers think about our services:

• Am I getting a good value?
• What do I need to accomplish my goals today?
• Will a free conference call recording from Brand X be sufficient, or will it make my brand suffer?

Why is Our Recording Service the Best?
If you are like me and want a good value, let me help.

When I started recording telephone calls digitally in 1996, there was absolutely no competition.  Conference call companies were still recording to cassette, but it was clear to me that MP3, RM and WMA were the future of conference recording.

But these audio file formats are delivery formats.  They are not meant to be recording formats or files you should use for editing.  They are formats you use when you deliver the final product to the customer.  They are what’s called a “compressed” file which will lose much of it’s quality if you don’t handle them properly.  This concept has been lost on some providers, or they never knew it to begin with.  In addition, these formats require great care when encoding.  Soft volume levels here, frequencies being over extended there—the result is a substandard file.

Here is where AudioFile Solutions is different.

1. We record the conference call manually, not using any automation.  We get perfect recording levels every time.
2. We record natively to uncompressed 16 bit wave files.  Conversion to a compressed format is done later in the process.
3. We trim any unwanted noise, on-hold music or blank space from the beginning and ending of the call.
4. We fade the beginning and ending to sound professional.
5. We optimize the audio for volume and frequency content.  This makes the file comparably loud to other audio files you may play on your computer.
6. We encode the final compressed audio file to our exact specifications, to any high quality format you might need.  Just try asking Brand X for an Ogg file and see what answer you get.

We strive to make our recording service flexible and able to meet your specific needs.  We truly believe this is a different model than what is practiced in the industry as a whole.  Give us a shot.  Ask us for something tough; something that no other company would ever give you.  We dare you…

photo by Hyougushi

The post 6 Reasons Our Conference Call Recording Service is the Best appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Sanyo Xacti — Remote Interview Podcast Recording Tool

The Sanyo Xacti could be a great solution to record a podcast interview remotely.

• Linear PCM & MP3 recording function that allows you to select the appropriate recording option
• Easy expansion thanks to the convenience of microSD card!
• Scene select function that allows anyone to make simple and clear recordings
• Various advanced features for beautiful podcast recording

DACport — Headphone Port (DAC) That Could Vastly Improve your PC/MAC Audio Playback During Podcast Recording Sessions

• Audiophile-grade D/A converter plays 24-bit/96 kHz HD music with bit-for-bit accuracy.
• Headphone amp designed for listening without fatigue, offers clarity, soundstage and detail.
• No drivers needed. Plug ‘n play operation with most laptops, nettops and music servers.
• 1/4-inch headphone jack is perfect for the most advanced headphones on the market.

Yeti — A Podcast Recording Microphone on Steroids

• Master Volume
• Mute Button
• USB Mini Jack
• Custom Base with Cable Management
• 4 Polar Patterns

VoxGuard — Acoustic Treatment for Your Podcast Recording Microphone

• Easily mounts on microphone stand for podcast recording
• Lightweight and unobtrusive
• Minimizes room reflections at the microphone
• High-impact ABS plastic/high density open-cell acoustic foam construction

Check back with us often as we will continue to gather our choices for best new podcasting equipment.  Thanks for visiting.

The post Top 4 Equipment Choices to Improve Your Podcast Recordings appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.