Where to begin? Like so many people, I had somehow ended up in a brick and mortar job which really did not thrill me particularly. The only good thing about it were the people that I worked for and with. That’s a sad thing when that’s the best thing you have to say about your job. It was the daily grind. The getting up and leaving your home no matter the weather, no matter how you felt, no matter anything. I found myself relating very strongly to the song by The Cure, Friday I’m In Love. I was wishing my life away, waiting and pining for Friday, the day of extreme happiness. That’s a sad way to live, I felt.

Started out looking for legitimate online jobs

So I thought to myself, surely there must be some legitimate online jobs that one could find. I knew others were doing it. It was just a matter of coming up with something, finding that legitimate opportunity. So I started researching. I came across lots of sites that were devoted to “work-at-home moms,” and I started pouring through those. At first I thought maybe phone work, because there did seem to be legitimate phone jobs that one could do, although the pay did not seem to be a lot. But they were at least an opportunity to earn some money at home. I spent countless hours surfing online (admittedly sometimes at my actual job) trying to find that perfect online job.

Soon morphed into searching for legitimate online transcription jobs

Somehow I came across a transcription site devoted to all things transcription. I have always read a lot and I believed that my grammar was pretty good, as was my spelling. So now I turned my attention and efforts to legitimate online transcription jobs. I had now changed my focus entirely from legitimate work-at-home, to legitimate work-at-home transcription. There seemed to be a lot of companies out there, but the competition also seemed to be really, really fierce. There were a few companies that I came across who had actual online tests where you could just challenge and hopefully pass. The first one I did, I failed miserably. There is really a lot to learn about providing transcription services. It’s not just typing, it’s listening and getting the context right as well.

So I stumbled across a UK site which had an online test. So I took that test and redid it multiple, multiple times—and I passed it! I was over the moon thrilled. I remember the first £25 that was paid into my Paypal account, it was a very exciting moment. I realized that it was possible to obtain a legitimate online transcription job if one put the effort into it. So I worked for that UK company for a number of years, still keeping my brick and mortar job, as I needed to earn a living.

Get a good resume made

At this point, I paid a fair bit of money to have a proper resume created, which was one of the best things I ever did. It really gets results if you have a good resume. I then got on with a local company doing quarterly earnings transcription, again, having to get up really, really early and still going to my brick and mortar job. But at this point, I was able to ask both of my employers if I could go to part-time, meaning just working half days. My bosses agreed, and my final goal was in sight.

So I was still sending out resumes to transcription companies, as my goal was to be full-time working at home. Actually, one of my main goals was to one day be working in my living room in front of a fire—at least once. Eventually I got hired on with another transcription company in my area, and after that, I was able to quit my day-job.

Finding a reputable online transcription job

At some point soon after, my search led me to AudioFile Solutions, a company based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The owners of this company pay a very fair wage and are very nice to work for. I have been working for them for the past three years, and it has been going very well. Another bonus is that quite often their work is interesting. They are proof that there are legitimate work-at-home transcription jobs out there. You just have to persevere and keep at it.

One thing about becoming a transcriptionist, it was not an easy road. I spent countless hours researching online for legitimate transcription companies. There are a lot of transcription companies out there who really are out just to make a buck and treat their transcribers very unfairly. The wage they pay works out to far less than minimum wage, and transcribing is really not an easy job so it should be paid accordingly. It is not just typing. It is researching, listening, being able to differentiate voices, making sure it makes sense, when sometimes the people speaking don’t make sense. Not to mention the physical toil of sitting and typing for hours. The ergonomics have to be just absolutely spot on, or else you’ll be in pain within minutes. Many people I know have tried to become transcriptionists working from home after they saw how much I loved it. Not a one ever made it because they weren’t willing to put in the time and the effort.

The end result was worth it

Working as an at-home transcriptionist—although I probably work more hours than I did working away from home—is the closest thing that I’ve ever known to not working at all. I’m in my own home! I take a break, go for a walk or do some work around the house. My time is essentially my own. I have what I’ve always considered the perfect work hours. I get up generally at five o’clock and most of the afternoons are mine to do with what I wish. And sometimes, when it’s really, really cold out or pouring rain, I make a fire in the fireplace and work sitting on the couch. It is THE perfect job!

The post My Search for Legitimate Online Transcription Jobs appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Ryan Dube from MakeUseOf.com recently wrote a great tutorial on how to use voice-to-text functionality within Express Scribe transcribing software.  This is a great solution for recording yourself (dictation) and getting a very quick and accurate result; however, be aware that this is not a solution for transcribing voice audio files.   Why?  Voice recognition software must first learn your voice.   Other voices will tend to confuse it and produce what Ryan calls “garbage”.   Interviews, group discussions, or any recording that is in a less-than-ideal environment will also not transcribe well.  The noise and/or lack of clarity in these environments will create more “garbage” from your voice-to-text software.  Want to see an example?  I recently wrote a blog post that links to a radio station’s use of automated transcription software.

Also, keep in mind that the best transcripts not only include the correct spelling of words, but also the correct punctuation, formatting and so much more.  A relatively simple thing like the correct handling of homonyms may never be a realistic goal of voice-to-text programs.  Also, professional transcriptionists will hear discrepancies because their ears have been trained to hear and comprehend the details.  If something said later in the transcript does not jibe with what was said earlier, your professional transcriptionist will bring this to your attention.  Voice-to-text software will never be able to do this.

Lastly, terminology research is key to a great transcript.  Here at AudioFile Solutions, it is not uncommon for us to verify 40 or 50 terms in a typical interview.

For these reasons, the automatic transcription of audio files is clearly not ready for prime time and, in my opinion, should be left to a professional.

Read Ryan’s complete article below.

Begin Article
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When you do a lot of phone interviews that get published in text format on the web, transcribing audio files becomes a big part of one’s life. There are a lot of people that have the need to transcribe voice to text, such as doctor’s that record a log of office visits, journalists that conduct audio interviews, or even students that record class lectures.

For years, I’ve been looking for a high-quality free voice to text software solution that will automatically take an audio recording and transcribe it to text. Such an application will put a lot of transcription companies out of work, but it’s a dream that I believe will come true some day. Recently, I conducted another hour-long interview… (continue reading the full article here: How to Use Voice-to-Text Dictation on Express Scribe.)

The post How to Use Voice-To-Text Dictation in Express Scribe appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

General Transcription Job Requirements:

1. Expert in MS Word and transcription software.
2. Accurate grammar and spelling.
3. Above average typing speed.
4. Top notch listening skills.
5. Proofreading with 100% accuracy.
6. Proficient with Internet investigation.
7. Attention to detail.

Job duties will include general transcription, legal transcription, interview transcription and more.  This may include transcribing focus groups, meetings, conference calls, videos, and the like.

This job can be performed at home with a turnaround time (cycle) of 1-3 business days.  Workload varies and can range from 0-4 hours of recordings per cycle.  Candidates can limit their workload based on their availability.

If interested, please read our blog articles that explain in more detail what we are looking for:

3 Keys to Providing the Best Transcription Services
The Best Transcription Companies — How to Find One

Testing is required.  Please inquire HERE (tick “Job Openings”), or call 719-477-9600 and tell us you want to apply.

AudioFile Solutions, LLC is a professional transcription company since 2002.  We are based in Colorado Springs, one hour south of Denver. We provide nationwide service to our customers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the UK.

The post General Transcription Job Opening: Work-at-Home Transcriptionist 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.

• Title
• Date of audio / video recording
• Speakers’ names
• Any frequently used technical terms/names (if possible)

The “technical terms” above will help to make your transcript as accurate as possible.  We investigate unknown terms and names stringently, but your help in this area is greatly appreciated.

Then, think about whether you want us to transcribe your recording verbatim, or a variation thereof.  We typically omit verbal stuttering, incomplete words, ahs, and ums.  But there are two additional areas that, if we omit them, it makes the transcript much easier to read.

1.  Someone—like an interviewer—saying, “ok”, “right”, “yes”, and other terms to express the fact that he/she is listening to the other person.  I like to call this a “rhetorical” use of these words, but suffice it to say, they serve no other function than to make the other person feel comfortable that he/she is understanding what the other person is saying—they have no direct relationship with the content of the recording.  Obviously, in cases where, “ok”, “right”, and “yes” are used in a “non-rhetorical” context, we would not omit them.  Here is an example.

As spoken:

John:  …and I was thinking to myself that the chocolate was the best I had ever had.

Interviewer:  Okay.

John:  The flavor was unlike any other.

Interviewer:  Right.  Uh-huh.

John:  But then I remembered that it was made with cocoa from an illegal supplier…

Interviewer:  Yes.

John:  …and I had to take it back to the store.

Transcription Rewrite:

John:  …and I was thinking to myself that the chocolate was the best I had ever had.  The flavor was unlike any other.  But then I remembered that it was made with cocoa from an illegal supplier, and I had to take it back to the store.

You can see that the rewrite above is much more succinct and easy to read.  In most cases, we recommend that you direct us to make these omissions, but it is entirely up to you.

2.  In the normal course of speech, many of us will use “filler” words/phrases that have no use within the structure of a sentence.  They also have nothing to do with the content of the recording.  These are words/phrases like, “kind of”, “sort of”, “like”, “you know”, and many others.  Some of these words double as valid parts of a sentence, in “non-filler” applications.  Obviously, in these cases, we would not omit them.  But in cases where they serve no useful purpose, we recommend that you direct us to omit them.  Here is an example.

As spoken:

John:  …and I was, like, thinking to myself that the, sort of, chocolate was the best, you know, I had ever had.  The flavor was unlike, you know, any other.  But then I remembered that it was, sort of, made with cocoa from an illegal, kind of, supplier and I had to take it back, like, to the store.

Transcription Rewrite:

John:  …and I was thinking to myself that the chocolate was the best I had ever had.  The flavor was unlike any other.  But then I remembered that it was made with cocoa from an illegal supplier and I had to take it back to the store.

I’m sure you will agree that the above rewrite is much easier to read and does not change the content one bit.  But, of course, the decision to omit these “filler” words/phrases is completely up to you.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you for trusting us with your audio or video transcription project.  We work hard to make sure you are 100% happy with the work that we do for you.

The post Customer Checklist for Audio and Video Transcription Services appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.

Clark Kent Interviews Always Include a Recording with the Transcript

A Transcript Sans Audio Recording?
I had a customer recently ask for a transcript of a conference call interview recording they were doing with a high profile figure.  Since this is one of our core services, I said, “Sure, would you like a copy of the recording as well?”  His initial answer may surprise you: “No, I don’t need the recording; just the transcript is fine.”

When I questioned him about this, it turns out that the transcript was going to be used for a magazine article, not for a podcast production or any other audio medium.  While this answer makes sense on the surface, further examination will show the flaws in this thinking.

Your Personal Interviews
Think about the conversations you have in the normal course of your day—at work, at home, with the taxi driver, etc.  How many times do you find yourself asking the other person to repeat themselves?  You probably do it without even thinking: “what’s that”, “pardon”, “excuse me”.  And that is a conversation you are having in person.  How much more difficult is it for a transcriptionist during a conference call or other phone conversation to accurately comprehend every word being said?

My sister who is an elementary school teacher recounts a conversation with her boyfriend during a marathon phone interview, eh hem, I mean, conversation.  She says:

“He thought I was talking about having a ‘cash can’ behind my driver’s seat, and I was talking about my ‘trash can.’  He didn’t know why I was emptying Kleenexes out of it.”

“On another occasion I said, ‘I talked to the PTA lady today,’ and he thought I said ‘I went to the pizzeria today.'”

And finally, a more serious issue came up that threatened to break up their relationship.  She said:

“I’m putting my hair in a ponytail now.”  And he thought she said, “I’m putting my head in toilet water now.”

Your Business Interviews
All kidding aside, you can see that the last example has implications in the business world too.  For instance, when interviewing a high profile sports figure about his alleged improprieties with a mistress, two people can hear the same response in two different ways:

“I never see her without my agent being in the room.”

This is very different from:

“I endeaver to see her when my agent leaves the room.”

Verifying Accurate Comprehension
This brings us back to the original scenario.  As a magazine editor, printing the later quote can have serious implications.  Do you trust a transcriptionist 100% of the time in 100% of the situations he/she may come across in an interview recording?  Let me ask that a different way: Do you trust YOURSELF 100% of the time in every situation when you are listening to a recording?  The answer is, of course, NO.  No one is perfect.  And even though at AudioFile Solutions we strive to be 100% accurate—and have safeguards against transcribing incorrect information—are you willing to trust your livelihood and your company’s brand to anyone other than yourself and your staff?  And if you’re using another audio transcription service, what safeguards do they have in place to protect against inaccurate comprehension?

A Legal Record
Looking at it a bit differently, when this hypothetical sports figure takes you to court because he now regrets talking about his indecency, how are you going to prove to a judge that your interviewee actually did say, “I endeavor to see her when my agent leaves the room.”?  Will only a transcript suffice?  Of course not.  Wouldn’t you feel better having the actual audio recording in-hand to prove beyond a doubt what was really said?  Afterall, your career is on the line here.

I think the takeaway is obvious: Always, always request an audio recording of your interview along with your transcript.  This is the only way you can review the transcriptionist’s work and protect yourself against being wrongfully accused of mis-quoting someone.

Note:  Have you had someone accuse you of misquoting them?  Or have you had a transcriptionist misunderstand what was said on a recording?  Share it with us as a comment to this post.

photo by Thomas Duchnicki :: Location Scout

The post Ace Reporters Use Both Recording & Transcription Services for Interviews appeared first on AudioFile Solutions.