Here at Transcription City, we love transcribing high quality audio and video files. Sending us a high quality files for transcription helps speed up the transcription process, avoids gaps in the dialogue and means that the cost of your transcription is kept as low as possible. However, sending a low quality recording for transcription can mean a slower turnaround, a higher cost and a final transcript that is full of unclears. So we thought we’d come up with a list of 
transcription horrors and how to avoid them.
Inadequate Microphone
The microphone is the device that records the audio, so obviously this is very important to the quality of your audio recording. The most common mistakes with regards to microphones are not technical, but are due to either bad microphone placement or an insufficient number of microphones when recording a multiple speaker interview. As a quick guide, please remember the following: Microphones should be placed close to the speaker you want to record, not in your pocket, in a desk or close to any devices/objects that are likely to interfere/distort/obstruct the sound. iPhones/Smartphones can be used to record one to one interviews if unavoidable, provided there is no background noise and the respondent speaks clearly into the microphone.
Background Noise
One of the most common causes of a poor quality audio recording is background noise. Even with the best recording equipment and a well-structured interview, background noise can ruin an otherwise perfect audio recording by obliterating your dialogue. Please remember to record your interviews in a quiet setting, free from devices/people/objects that are likely to omit sound that you don’t want included in your transcripts.
Interruptions
A couple of interruptions during an interview or video recording is fine. However excessive amounts of interruptions (think phones ringing, work colleagues or even just interview participants too excited to wait their turn to speak) can ruin a good interview. Interruptions can obliterate portions or dialogue, make participants lose their train of thought or even in some cases turn an interview with potential into an interview that is completely irrelevant to the subject at hand. Avoid interruptions by turning off ringers on phones, letting everyone know you don’t want to be disturbed and ensure that everyone can speak without interjections.
Follow these tips and we think you’ll find that your recordings are the best they can be and a pleasure to transcribe, not a horror of a recording set to give your transcriptionist the vapours!
If you would like more information about our transcription services, why not get in touch today? We offer a range of turnarounds, transcription styles and transcription layouts to suit your needs.
