Transcription is a highly demanded service as it has many applications, from movie subtitles to court notes. Transcription is a highly technical skill that takes a lot of practice, but once you have it mastered, there will be a lot of opportunities that open up for you. Whether you are looking to perfect your transcribing skills for your own video editing or you offer transcription as a paid service, there are some easy steps that you can take which can help you take your transcribing to the next level.
Here are five useful tips that will help you become a lot better at transcribing.
1. Use a Professional Video/Audio Transcription Service
Investing in the right headphones or speakers for your transcription is vital, and so is spending a little money or a professional video/audio transcription service. There are many video transcription services online that can assist you in a job that most people think can only be done manually. These services use video/audio playback software for transcription and come with many functions and additional features that help speed up your transcription process. You can operate them using the desktop and keyboard shortcut keys or foot pedals, but first, get familiar with the interface by trying different demo versions.
2. Practice Speed Typing to Perfection
Transcription is very difficult when your typing skills are rusty, so in order to improve your transcribing, you need to focus on your typing. Top typists can easily type over 100 words per minute, and it is easy to improve your typing skills with practice or by signing up for a specialized typing program. Set a tangible goal or objective that is realistic and achievable so that you can make incremental progress. Start slow, and then work on increasing your typing speed.
3. Focus on Accuracy
In transcription, time is of the essence, but you should never compromise on the quality or accuracy of your transcribing by typing too quickly. Having to go back and correct multiple mistakes will just end up adding more time to the task than if you had slowed down a little in the first place. Most transcription software has to autocorrect, so it will pick up your obvious mistakes, but you still need to go back and check once your work is done.
4. Eliminate Distractions from your Working Environment
Listening to audio, watching the text on-screen, and typing with your fingers all at the same time requires a lot of focus and concentration. In order to keep your head clear and your transcribing fast and accurate, it is therefore vital that you ensure your workplace is free of all distractions. Choose somewhere quiet where you are not going to be distracted by other people or by chores which need doing. If you are working from home, invest in a comfortable ergonomic chair so that you can maintain good posture while you type and won’t develop any back or neck pains. Carpal tunnel is a common problem for transcribers, so it is important that you keep your keyboard at the right level for your arms.
5. Communicate with the Client
When offering a transcription service, you have to be able to do far more than just listen and type. Any kind of service requires good communication between you and your client to ensure that you are providing exactly what they need. Before getting into the minor details with a client, check the audio or video files (if any) that they send for quality, and if they are not up to standard, it is up to you to request more refined versions for better results. From there, you can discuss more details about the format of the final document to ensure everything is adequate – along with cost and payment details so that the client knows what to expect. Try to follow their orders as closely as you can to ensure maximum satisfaction but be upfront and honest if you think they would be better suited to do something differently.
Transcribing is a very technical skill that only experts can do well, but there are various ways to improve your abilities. Focusing on speed and accuracy will enable you to finish transcriptions more quickly and to a higher standard, which will result in the ability to do more tasks per day and so make more money. It is vital to gain the necessary skills before you start offering transcription as a service to clients so that you don’t ruin your reputation with poor quality when you first start out. Follow this guide and level up your skills little by little, and in no time at all, you will be a transcription pro.