Sue Gross has provided transcript services for me for work I’ve done for national magazines and newspapers. I’ve relied upon her to be speedy and accurate – and she is both. She is professional, extraordinarily capable and easy to deal with, having a strong work ethic and a diligence that then makes my work as a journalist much easier. I highly recommend her services.
RU
Journalist
Butterflies Secretarial Solutions takes pride in producing high quality transcripts. However a high quality transcript not only depends on the skill of the typist, the quality of the audio plays a great part in the final product. Some tips on producing an excellent quality audio are listed below.
We do prefer digital audio but also accept mini and micro cassettes. Digital files can be emailed or uploaded securely via our dropbox on this site (you will need a password from us to use it). This facility will ensure the safety and confidentiality of your files. We can return transcripts the same way if requested, you simply download the Word document from a secure link which is emailed to you.
Transcription Time
Did you know that transcribing an hour of audio can take between 2 and 6 hours? The reasons for this include:
- Background noise
- Multiple voices (e.g. a meeting environment or focus group)
- Heavy accents
- Use of industry specific terminology/jargon
- Names of places, people etc, which need to be checked for spelling.
Help Minimise Transcription Time
- Speak slower than usual (if a single speaker)
- Speak clearly
- Minimise background noise (e.g. don’t interview in a café, outdoors or a lunch room; don’t shuffle papers or clang crockery; keep recorder away from air conditioners or fans.)
- Identify different speakers
- Minimise jargon
- Spell unusual words and/or names
Fees
For information on fees for transcription, please contact us. We prefer to charge by the audio minute but can discuss other methods (e.g. per typing hour) if you prefer.
We believe that a per audio minute charge is beneficial for both us and the client. It ensures that the client is fully aware of the total cost before work begins and there are no nasty surprises if the job takes longer than anticipated. The audio may need to be heard before the price is confirmed.
Converted to digital yet?
Digital voice recorders are becoming hugely popular in the business world. Digital offers far greater clarity than analogue (cassettes) and also easy storage options. Files are easily sorted, electronically filed and can be backed-up.
Digital voice recorders can be used for:
- Meetings
- Focus groups
- Interviews
- Single speaker dictation
Additional benefits include:
- No lost or chewed cassettes
- No accidental erasure of cassettes
- It’s very simple to make copies and send to a transcriptionist
- No postage/courier costs for transfer of cassettes
- Less hardware maintenance
Your local office equipment supplier would be able to advise you on a digital recorder suitable for your needs.
