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.

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Adobe Announces Adobe Connect 9

Product Delivers Innovations for Comprehensive Webinars, Mobile Collaboration and Mobile Learning

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® Connect™ 9, the latest version of the company’s Web conferencing software for enterprises and government agencies worldwide. Adobe Connect 9 delivers an all-in-one solution for producing webinars, as well as innovations in mobile-to-mobile collaboration and mobile learning.

Adobe Connect 9 for webinars helps marketers reduce costs and dependency on IT when creating richly formatted, branded registration landing pages, and optimize event promotion through analytics capabilities. Powered by Adobe CQ Web content management and Adobe SiteCatalyst® online analytics, Adobe Connect 9 enables the development of customized event microsites and emails, the delivery of interactive events for up to 1,500 participants, and the measurement of campaign and speaker effectiveness.

Along with the new Adobe Connect Mobile 2.0, Adobe Connect 9 also enables organizations to take their enterprise mobility strategy to the next level with mobile-to-mobile collaboration for tablets and smartphones. Users on Apple iOS, Android and BlackBerry PlayBook devices now have the flexibility and power to host and collaborate in online meetings just as they would on a desktop computer.

Additionally, Adobe Connect 9 for eLearning delivers greater mobile learning capabilities, enabling instructors to deliver virtual classes directly from devices and learners to participate from a tablet or smartphone. The latest version supports HTML5 content, such as that generated with Adobe Creative Suite® software, as well as SCORM 1.2 and 2004 content, widely used for Web-based learning.

Top new capabilities include:

• Customizable Event Landing Pages and Catalogs – Templates enable quick creation of landing pages, speaker information, registration pages and login pages. Templates can be customized using rich components, including images, tables, charts and carousels.
• Template-based Email Content and Triggers – Either standard or custom, email templates can be developed quickly and easily using new drag-and-drop capabilities. Email triggers can be created for specified registration groups at predefined times.
• Engagement Dashboard – Monitor event engagement in real time. A color-coded meter helps event hosts track message effectiveness. Critical information can be tracked to improve future events.
• Online Analytics – Event organizers can analyze participant engagement and identify the most effective meeting elements and topics. Dynamic analytics capabilities provide real-time insight into the performance of individual marketing promotions and programs as a whole.
• Advanced Mobile Support for Meetings and Training – Meeting hosts enjoy greater flexibility presenting from mobile devices, leveraging whiteboard and annotation tools and the ability to share documents from tablets, as well as the cloud. Instructors can manage virtual classrooms from devices with the same presenter and sharing options, as well as breakout room controls.

Quotes

Arun Anantharaman, vice president and general manager, Adobe

• “Web conferencing is now mainstream and mission-critical across enterprises and government agencies, with organizations counting on it for training, employee collaboration and citizen engagement. In parallel, the ability to collaborate from mobile devices is becoming an imperative. Adobe Connect 9 supports forward-looking organizations by offering a unified solution for rich webinars, eLearning, and Web meetings anytime, anywhere and on any device.”

Melissa Webster, program vice president, Content & Digital Media Technologies, IDC

• “With the rise of mobile and expectation to go beyond simple screen sharing, Web conferencing requirements have evolved notably for enterprises today. Adobe Connect has been used by organizations to improve communication and collaboration among employees, customers and constituents for several years. It is good to see Adobe respond to this ongoing evolution with the latest version, including through updates to its webinar solution.”

Jana Kodel, development project manager, Mrs. Fields Famous Brands

• “Adobe Connect 9 will save money and time when creating customized webinar landing pages with its rich, built-in microsite creation tools. In addition, the new templates in Adobe Connect will enable my in-house team to create engaging, branded content for each event. This is a big benefit because it improves recruitment and the overall experience for our attendees.”

Brian McFadden, general manager, Technology Services, MedPoint Communications

• “The advanced analytics in Adobe Connect 9 enable us to get actionable information in real-time. It is so important to customize reporting, especially when measuring webinar effectiveness. With Adobe Connect we can track from invitation to registration through attendance. With this information, we can easily improve participation, quality of sessions and lead management.”

…more.

The post Web Conferencing News: Adobe Announces Adobe Connect 9 Web Conferencing Solution appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

June 22, 2011 03:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time

iMeet® Wins People’s Choice Stevie Award

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The people have spoken. Earlier this week, PGi (NYSE: PGI) was awarded a People’s Choice Stevie Award for its latest innovation, iMeet, at the 2011 American Business Awards (ABA) reception. iMeet took home the trophy in the Favorite New Computer Service category and earned a finalist nod in the New Product or Service of the Year – Computer Services category.

“We’re thrilled and humbled by the number of iMeet users who took time out of their day to vote for us,” said Boland T. Jones, PGi founder, chairman and CEO. “With iMeet, PGi set out to reinvent video meetings by making them more personal and accessible to all people in an organization, regardless of their role, location or devices. This award is further proof that we’ve hit a nerve. We’re encouraged by the positive reception of iMeet as we continue to make better meetings a reality.”

iMeet takes video conferencing to the next level by giving users their own personal video meeting room online. The iMeet experience is simple, social and enjoyable – without the hassle of software downloads, hardware investments or IT support. Since launching in January, the iMeet community has grown to more than 35,000 people who engage in better video meeting experiences every day.

More than 2,800 nominations from organizations of all sizes, in virtually every industry, were submitted for Stevie Award consideration in more than 40 categories. Finalists were chosen by more than 150 business professionals nationwide during preliminary judging in April and May.

In addition to peer judging, every new product or service nominated in The American Business Awards was automatically included in the vote for the People’s Choice Stevie Awards for Favorite New Products. More than 140,000 votes were cast by the general public from May 12 through June 3, and the winners were honored at the ABA Awards Banquet in New York on June 20.

For more information about iMeet and to sign up for a 30-day free trial, visit www.iMeet.com.

About Premiere Global Services, Inc. │ PGi

PGi is a global leader in virtual meetings. For nearly 20 years, we have innovated technologies that help people meet and collaborate in more enjoyable and productive ways. Every month, we bring together over 15 million people in nearly 4 million virtual meetings. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia USA, PGi has a presence in 24 countries worldwide. For more information, visit us at www.pgi.com.

About The Stevie Awards

The Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.

Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are made based on management’s current expectations or beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. A variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in Premiere Global Services, Inc.’s forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following factors: competitive pressures, including pricing pressures; technological changes and the development of alternatives to our services; market acceptance of new services, including our iMeet^® and GlobalMeet^® services; our ability to attract new customers and to retain and further penetrate our existing customer base; risks associated with challenging global economic conditions; costs or difficulties related to the integration of any new technologies; service interruptions and network downtime; price increases from our telecommunications service providers; technological obsolescence and our ability to upgrade our equipment or increase our network capacity; concerns regarding the security of transactions; our level of indebtedness; future write-downs of goodwill or other intangible assets; assessment of income, state sales and other taxes; restructuring and cost reduction initiatives and the market reaction thereto; risks associated with acquisitions and market expansion; the impact of the recent sale of our PGiSend business; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights, including possible adverse results of litigation or infringement claims; regulatory or legislative changes, including further government regulations applicable to traditional telecommunications service providers; risks associated with international operations, including political instability and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and other factors described from time to time in our press releases, reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or a person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

The post iMeet News: iMeet Wins People’s Choice Stevie Award appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Looking for a way to use your iPod to cheaply record a podcast, record your company conference call, or transcribe an interview or lecture?  Recording with an iPod is easier than you might think.  In all cases, these audio files can be used for podcasting, archiving or uploading to a transcribing company.

Here are the top 4 articles we’ve found that will help you use your iPod for recording.

1. Recording a Podcast Using an iPod and a Micromemo
Author: academictechnology

In this YouTube video, Jason discusses using a standard iPod to record lectures or interviews with the Micromemo.  He demonstrates how to plug-in the device and how easy it is to record directly to the iPod Nano.

2. Recording Lectures with an iPod Touch
Author: Heather M. Whitney

This post on The Chronicle of Higher Education site is geared towards those wanting to use the second-and third-generation iPod Touch for recording audio.  This method can be used to record lectures, interviews or any other live source via the iPod Touch.

3. Recording Phone Calls with an iPod
Author: Jake Ludington

Conference call recording is typically best left to experts like, well … us.  Jake Ludington says as much in the introduction to this post.  But if you find yourself with no other choice, recording your next phone call using the iPod—while not perfect—is doable.

4. Using Your iPod to Record Audio and Podcasts
Author: Michael Miller

With the right equipment and accessories, you can use your iPod to record conversations and interviews, and even to record and mix podcasts for broadcasting over the Internet.  Read this article to learn more.

photo by Jay Riddle

The post Top 4 Articles on Recording Podcasts, Conference Calls, Interviews & Lectures with an iPod appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Years ago, web conferencing was in it’s infancy, and all audio conference calling was full-service.  To make a reservation, one needed to physically call the company to set up a conference call.  If you were lucky, the reservationist might discuss with you the ins & outs of having a successful event.  The actual conference was handled by one or more support specialists who would answer all incoming lines and connect them to your meeting.  If you felt the need to complement or complain to the company about how your call was handled, you’d once again pick up the phone to talk with a customer service agent.

While full-service continues to be a big part of the market, self-service is growing  increasingly important.  Customers want to learn about products online, sign up for services via a website, and even use their conference call account without ever contacting another human being.

Among CSPs (Conferencing Service Providers), PGi is leading the way in ensuring a quality self-service experience.  This is but one reason why we have chosen to be one of their premier agents.

View PGi’s premier self-service audio conferencing service here.

The post PGi Leads the Way in Full-Service & Self-Service Conferencing appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

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Adobe Unveils Adobe Connect 8

Major New Version of Enterprise Web Conferencing Solution for Delivering Rich Collaboration Experiences

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® Connect™ 8, a significant update to the company’s Web conferencing solution for powering effective and engaging Web meetings, online training and webinars. Based on the virtually ubiquitous Adobe Flash® Player software, the latest version provides enterprises and governments worldwide with broad capabilities for delivering rich experiences across multiple devices, while maintaining easy, reliable meeting entry.

Andy Nilssen, senior analyst, Wainhouse Research:

• We’re seeing the adoption of Web conferencing as a core collaboration technology for everyday use accelerate rapidly.  In addition, we’re also seeing enterprises increase expectations for their Web conferencing solution. These organizations want to go well beyond everyday meetings and seminars to enable myriad and divergent use cases, easily extend solution capabilities with key new functionality, integrate with existing infrastructure such as video conferencing room systems, and support meeting access via a wide choice of mobile devices. All while providing meeting participants with a great user experience.

Key new features of Adobe Connect 8 include a simplified interface for greater usability, expanded and more flexible collaboration capabilities for sharing ideas more freely, and enhanced audio and video integration for richer multimedia experiences. In addition, Adobe Connect 8 offers a software development kit (SDK) for greater extensibility, a new, optional desktop client based on the Adobe AIR® runtime for easier meeting management, and support for a range of mobile devices to extend reach and enhance productivity.

New Features and Benefits

• More intuitive user interface that provides meeting hosts, presenters, and participants with even easier access to capabilities; allowing presenters, for example, to quickly and flexibly adjust meeting room layouts in real-time, as needed.
• Enhancements to sharing, chat, video, notes, Q&A, whiteboard, and other functionality “pods” to facilitate collaboration.
• Addition of two-way Universal Voice that allows customers to bridge audio from any conferencing provider into an Adobe Connect room and provide two-way communication between participants on both VoIP and telephone audio.
• Integration of Adobe Connect¹ with existing video conferencing systems, enabling meeting hosts to bring live audio and video broadcast streams directly into an Adobe Connect room.
• Enhanced collaboration SDK, with support for Adobe Flex®, Adobe Flash and Adobe ActionScript® 3, which allows developers to create custom pods or integrate Adobe Connect with other systems.
• Adobe Connect Desktop, based on Adobe AIR, which lets users set up and manage meetings right from the desktop. The optional application also allows users to download recorded sessions for offline viewing.
• Adobe Connect Mobile enables participants to view meetings on mobile devices. Adobe Connect Mobile works on Apple iPhone and iPad, as well as Google Android and other mobile devices enabled with Adobe Flash technology.

Quotes

Arun Anantharaman, vice president and general manager, Adobe Connect:

• Adobe Connect 8 is a transformative release. It enables organizations to standardize on a single Web conferencing platform to support a variety of use cases. Presenters can completely tailor their meeting environments prior to and during meetings, thereby dramatically improving collaboration. In addition, the product is highly extensible, enabling organizations to leverage third-party pods, as well as integrate with existing systems. No other solution on the market comes close to offering the ease of meeting entry, richness of interactions, or extensibility.

Al Paz, manager, Global Learning Solutions & Applications, Xerox Corporation:

• Adobe Connect provides a mission-critical, real-time collaboration solution for enterprise environments. The enhanced features and functionality in Adobe Connect 8 eliminate technology barriers for all users, by providing an engaging, intuitive, rich user interface.

Denise Fleming, program assistant, Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Office of Public Health Preparedness, Michigan Department of Community Health:

• We are continually expanding our use of Adobe Connect. The easy-to-use interface lets new users get productive in Adobe Connect faster, while enabling our most experienced users to do even more in their Web conferences.

La Tricia E. Austin-Downer, customer support specialist, ADNET Systems, Inc., in support of Federal Highway Administration:

• Adobe Connect continues to deliver a comprehensive and easy-to-use solution for Web conferencing – offering a set of features that stands apart from other Web conferencing solutions.

…more.

The post Web Conferencing News: Adobe Unveils Adobe Connect 8 Web Conferencing Solution appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

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PGi Sells Fax Business to Become a Pure Play Virtual Meetings Company

Company to Use Portion of Proceeds to Reduce Debt

ATLANTA, October 21, 2010 – Premiere Global Services, Inc. (NYSE: PGI) today announced that it is focusing its strategy on virtual meetings with the completed sale of its PGiSend messaging business through the divestiture of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Xpedite Systems, LLC, and certain other assets to EasyLink Services International Corporation (NASDAQ: ESIC) for $105 million in cash.

PGi intends to use a portion of the proceeds from the transaction to repay certain borrowings under its credit facility, including retiring its $50 million Term A loan, and to pay certain transaction fees and closing costs.  The company currently intends to continue its investment strategy of pursuing strategic acquisitions and opportunistically repurchasing shares of its common stock.

“The global meetings and collaboration market is growing in size and importance, and it’s clear why. Today, meetings fuel both business and our daily lives,” said Boland T. Jones, PGi founder, chairman and CEO.  “Meetings that were initially reserved for corporate executives have become a cultural phenomenon, and virtual collaboration technologies are now paramount in getting business done.”

“By selling our fax business, we can now focus one hundred percent of our time, attention and resources on furthering our lead in the virtual meetings market,” continued Jones. “PGi is pouring all of our creativity into new technologies that enable people to collaborate and come together in more enjoyable and productive ways.  We are thrilled with the positive customer reaction to our next generation collaboration product, iMeet® — the first of many new innovations to come.”

About Premiere Global Services, Inc. │ PGi

PGi is a global software and services company that enables real-time, virtual meetings.  For almost 20 years, we have innovated technologies to empower people to connect, collaborate and come together in more enjoyable and productive ways. Every month, we bring together over 15 million people in nearly 4 million virtual meetings. Headquartered in Atlanta, PGi has a presence in 24 countries worldwide and an established base of greater than 30,000 customers, including 75% of the Fortune 100.  For more information, visit us at www.pgi.com.

Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking and subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are made based on management’s current expectations or beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. A variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in Premiere Global Services, Inc.’s forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following factors: competitive pressures, including pricing pressures; technological changes; the development of alternatives to our services; general domestic and international economic, business or political conditions; risks associated with challenging global economic conditions or a prolonged recession, including customer consolidations, restructuring, bankruptcies or payment defaults; market acceptance of our new services and enhancements, including iMeet; our ability to complete acquisitions and successfully integrate acquired operations; concerns regarding the security of sending information over the Internet and public networks; our ability to upgrade our equipment or increase our network capacity; service interruptions; our dependence on telecommunications supply agreements; our ability to service financial leverage; our dependence on our subsidiaries for cash flow; future write-downs of goodwill or other intangible assets; assessments of income, sales and other taxes for which we have not accrued; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; our ability to protect our proprietary technology and intellectual property rights; our ability to successfully manage the impact of the divestiture of our PGiSend business, including any financial impact from the loss of PGiSend revenue or earnings; possible adverse results of pending or future litigation or infringement claims; federal,  state or international legislative or regulatory changes, including further government regulations applicable to traditional telecommunications service providers; risks associated with international operations and fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes in and the successful execution of restructuring and cost reduction initiatives and the market reaction thereto and other factors described from time to time in our press releases, reports and other filings with the SEC, including but not limited to the “Risk Factors” sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or a person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

The post Fax2Mail News: PGi Sells Fax Business to Focus on Audio & Web Conferencing Services 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.

Free Conference Call Services Can be Very Tempting

Our customers sometimes ask if we use one specific conference call service to get the best quality conference call recording.  The answer is both yes and no.

Clearly, the quality varies between conference call services.  PGi (Premiere Global Services) has the best audio quality we’ve heard, so we became an agent and have access to all their audio and web conferencing products.  However, we’ve also used several free conference call companies, because many times our customers already have accounts with a vendor—FreeConference.com and FreeConferenceCall.com seem to be the most popular.

There are several problems with free conference call services, and some can effect the quality of your recording.

What are the problems with free conference call services?

1. Many providers move the dial-in number from city to city—most likely because they are chasing the cheapest rates on their end.  I’ve also heard that they make money by routing callers to specific local exchange carriers.  This means that your “permanent” dial-in number is not so “permanent” after all.
2. Free conference call services use toll numbers, so you and your participants will pay long distance charges for the duration of the call.
3. Many times the call quality is poor.  Conference bridge quality can be good, or not-so-good.  Which do you think the free services are using?
4. Just about all of them charge excessively for anything other than a simple conference call.  That means they are expecting you to upgrade when you figure out that the service is not really free (see #2 above and consider how #3 can effect the definition of your brand).
5. A big limitation is the feature set.  Compare free conference call services to PGi’s GlobalMeet and you will see a huge difference.  For example, did you know that GlobalMeet has a web interface/control feature that gives you the ability to see a noisy phone line and mute it with a click of a button?  This feature alone can be a huge differentiator.

For those who must have the best quality—businesses that are going to re-purpose the call into a podcast, for example—we offer the complete line of PGi audio and web conferencing services, including GlobalMeet.  For those who would like to sample our recording quality, we offer a free conference call recording snippet, with no obligation.  That is, we will record your call and send you a sample of it so you can verify the quality before making a commitment.  Did I mention there is no obligation?

So there you have it, the 5 biggest problems with free conference call services.  Why did I not mention the advantages?  Well, because there is only one, and you already know what that is….  It’s free!

Have you had an experience with a free conference call company—good, bad or indifferent?  Tell us about it in the comments below.

The post 5 Problems with Free Conference Call Services 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

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