New York Transcription Company Finds Digital Audio Recordings Still Problematic

TruTranscripts, Inc. experts since 1982 suggest a few techniques to enhance digital audio recording for transcription purposes.

New York, NY – TruTranscripts, Inc. has been providing transcription services to the media, financial and pharma/medical industries for over 25 years.  Now with internet and digital communications at the forefront of their operation, they affirm that audio has become easier to record, manipulate and transfer from source to destination.  Currently generating transcripts from the latest digital technology, TruTranscripts has some technical advice for those who record their own events and may be seeking transcription services.

“Digital recorders are the most common and convenient tool for capturing a spoken event or interview” says Sandra Arroyo, Technical Support Supervisor.  “Although digital technology has made recording easier, it is still possible to capture bad sound or audio with quality issues,” she says.  “These factors play a role in the interpretation of the dialogue and ultimately the accuracy of the transcript”. 

TruTranscripts suggests a few techniques one should consider if your end product is a transcript.  They strongly encourage the use of lapel or lavaliere microphones and express that you not be apprehensive about asking the participants to wear one; the positive results benefit the transcribers and in the end, produce a cleaner transcript.  Other external microphones can be utilized.  For example, some of their customers obtained good results by using omni directional and table conference microphones that can be purchased where audio equipment and accessories are sold.  Also, set the recording speed to standard or SP for a higher sound quality.  Do not use voice-activated devices.  Pay careful consideration to the surrounding conditions, background noises and ambient sounds.  Test the voice dynamics of the participants.  Some individuals speak loudly in the beginning then trail off; this is very common and almost always problematic, therefore adjustments should be made at this point.  When asked about the concern over voice recognition technology, TruTranscripts says they have had clients try it but were very disappointed with the results, citing garbled phrases and unintelligible words, especially with multiple voices or the presence of ambient sound.  Ultimately, they returned to traditional transcribing methods.

 Along with a host of transcription services, TruTranscripts can often enhance or clean-up their client’s recorded material with the latest sound enhancement and restoration software.  This service is available with or without the preparation of transcripts.  TruTranscripts can work with virtually any digital or analog format.  They produce transcripts from cassettes, VHS tapes, DVDs, Mp3 files, teleconferences as well as MiniDVs, flashcards, scan disks, memory sticks, DSS files and internet capture such as webcasts.  TruTranscripts can produce time-coded transcripts from non-time coded material as well.  All transcripts are prepared by their own transcribers and never internationally or third party outsourced.   Some commonly asked questions can be found on the Technical FAQ page of their website at www.trutranscripts.com.