tips for transcribing

We are only transcribing the open ended questions.  You may type the transcript by listening to the recording and typing what you hear.  But I hope you will use speech recognition to produce a rough draft of the transcript.  To do that, just listen to the recording and restate what is said on the recording for the open ended questions.

In the transcript, please use headings; something like this:

Interviewer:

Interviewee:

While you are doing the recording for transcription, I suggest listening to the recordings on earbud or headphone so you don't get noise in the transcription recording.   You might want to get familiar with the fast forward and "play speed" functions of your audio player.  I like to fast forward to the open ended questions, and then turn down the play speed really slow, so I can speak alongside the recording.  I speak exactly what I hear on the recording.  Typically I will listen to it once all the way through at full speed without transcribing anything, then on the next time around I will slow it down really slow and try to speak exactly what is said on the recording.  Usually I cannot keep up enough so I end up stopping the recording several times a minute.  

 

 Microphone placement is important. If you are using the phone make sure to hold the phone as if you are on a regular conversation, and keep it steady in the same spot. 

Most recordings are too low in volume.  If you can use mic boost or speakerphone it probably will improve your transcription quality.

You may want to try a recording by putting the phone on speakerphone, and still holding it up to your head as if in a regular conversation.  This will boost the volume of the recording. 

Here's a few more tips:

• Keep the microphone about a thumb's width away from the corner of your mouth, not directly in front of it. It should not touch your skin, lips, or hair. Experiment with the best distance for your particular situation, and gently bend the headset's "boom" if necessary in order to have the microphone in the right place.
• Noise-canceling microphones only listen on one side. Check that the listening side (often marked by a dot or the word TALK) is parallel to your face and not tilted up or down.
• Position the microphone carefully and consistently every time you use it. If you notice the accuracy decreasing, it might be because the microphone has moved out of position.

Let me know if you have any questions.