Online Transcription Services Using Audio Files

By Susan Ross


When it comes to Dictaphones and dictation, while not completely irrelevant, fewer and fewer people are using this process. In fact, most now use online transcription services and audio files. As such, there are a number of different areas in which being able to transcribe information can often be necessary. Whether professor, lawyer, doctor or other professional, most are going to need to transcribe information at some point and time.

In fact, transcriptionists are in high demand. For, there are a number of different disciplines as well as individuals which need to have information transcribed either from written pages or audio files. In addition, there are also those needing to have an individual take dictation then transcribe the information into a word processing document.

Currently, most transcriptionists and services type information from an audio file into a word processing document. After which, it can often be easier to make revisions as requested. In the past, when revisions were necessary individuals often had to retype an entire document. Currently, most administrative assistants and secretaries use Google Drive so as to connect writer with one another.

When it comes to using a service, most prefer that the information to be processed be submitted on a cassette, VHS or CD. Whereas, the most preferable is often a sound file transmitted to the service as at attachment to an email. While this is the case, different companies have different guidelines. As such, it is best to check with the company before preparing a recorded or electronic file to be transcribed.

Rates for this type service are often billed hourly, weekly, monthly or by page count. In most cases, services have faster turn-around times. Whereas, individuals being paid an hourly wage are often tempted to take things a bit slower so as to make more money over the course of a project.

When it comes to hiring an individual or service, it is important to know rates in advance. For, there are a number of different ways in which individuals working in this area have been known to charge clients. While this is the case, services working with nonprofits, trade associations courts, meeting planners and governmental agencies often charge more than others.

Before the time of the internet, secretaries often had to take dictation, most often using the Gregg style of shorthand in the past. Then, in the 1970s, the job became easier through the use of cassettes. After which, individuals started typing from audio files rather than written pages in order to transcribe more quickly. For, most individuals working as transcriptionists are fast typists. As such, it can often take far less time to listen and type than it can when attempting to read a number of pages with different handwriting styles while typing.

The jobs of transcriptionists became even easier once the first Xerox 860 electronic word processor with a disc drive was born. For, individuals could then create, format, type and edit documents without having to retype the material on a typewriter. Then, with the establishment of email and the internet, individuals could begin sending attachments back and forth through email. Whereas, the newest trend is to share and edit documents through Google Drive, the Cloud, Dropbox and other similar platforms.




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