What are the benefits of using transcription services?

Accurate transcription services offer several benefits. One of the main ones is extending the reach of your content by targeting people who prefer to consume content in different formats. Transcribing audio and video content makes it easy to repurpose it in blog posts, ebooks, and articles. And having transcribed content in podcast and video show notes is good for SEO. That means people will be able to find your content in search results more easily.

What is a standard transcription process?

Both audio transcription and video transcription start by supplying the source file or URL to the transcriber. Then the transcriber listens to the file and types out what they hear. After that, the transcript is double-checked to make sure nothing is missed. If there is content that’s hard to hear or understand, this is marked as inaudible in the transcript. Transcripts can include recording timings, which is useful for show notes. Some transcription services also include proofreading and editing.

What type of audio data can be transcribed?

Any kind of audio data can be transcribed, whether it’s from a digital audio file (MP3, WAV, AAC and so on) or from a video. The most important thing for transcription is to have a good quality recording. If the sound is muffled or inaudible, it is impossible for the transcriber to provide a complete transcript. When hiring a transcriber, check that they are happy to work with regional or international accents.This can also affect the quality of the transcript.

How can I save time when hiring a transcriber?

To save time when hiring a transcriber, follow the steps you would take to hire any professional. For example, within Fiverr, use the search functions to find transcribers who offer the specific service you want. Check their gigs to make sure they are skilled in dealing with the topic your recording covers. It’s also a good idea to ask for their price for audio minute in case it is not specified, as well as to look at reviews and star ratings so you immediately start with the top professionals. In case of doubts do not hesitate to contact Fiverr's customer service for advices or recommendations.

What is clean verbatim transcription?

Two of the types of transcription available are verbatim (or exact verbatim) transcription and clean verbatim transcription. As the name suggest, verbatim transcription includes everything that’s on the recording. So verbal tics such as “like”, “um”, “you know” and so on are included in the final transcript. Clean verbatim transcription removes the verbal tics so you get a clean transcript. Clean verbatim transcription is a good choice if you are planning to publish the transcript on a blog or website.

How long does it take to transcribe one hour of audio?

According to transcription professionals, the turnaround time to transcribe one hour of audio can be up to four hours. The transcriber has to pause the recording in order to write down what’s being said, and will listen to the recording more than once. The transcription process can take even longer if the transcriber receives a poor quality audio file, or if there are multiple speakers, or speakers who don’t speak clearly. Check that your chosen transcriber can work with international accents if this is an issue.