How to Plan the Perfect Interview for Transcription

When having an interview transcribed, for the highest level of accuracy, the initial audio needs to be of a suitable quality. Here are some tips on how to ensure the highest quality raw material for you transcription company to work with.
The Right Time
Arrange to conduct your interview at a time that is both quiet and convenient. The last thing you need in the middle of your audio file is an interruption consisting of irrelevant or unnecessary conversation. Plan a time when you can have full attention on the task at hand.
The Right Place
Be sure to conduct your video or audio interview in a quiet place where there will be little or no distractions and/or background noise. Poor quality audio is harder to transcribe and will often cost you more money. Although we can clean up audio to a certain extent, it is never as good as making a clear recording in the first place.
The Right Questions
Plan your questions beforehand so when conducting your interview, you don’t waste time with unnecessary silence and you don’t forget any key points that need to be covered. This is especially useful when conducting interviews with numerous respondents as it will make it easier for you to search through your data later on. Time coded transcripts can also be a useful tool when looking for specific data in your transcript.
The Right Respondent
The appropriate respondent for your interview is key, for obvious reasons. Where possible, when choosing respondents for market research, try to choose a speaker who does not have a strong accent, and talks at an easily audible volume. You should give pointers if you are struggling to hear or understand what is said. You may feel rude asking your respondent to speak up or speak more clearly but if you cannot hear what is being said, it will only be harder to pick up in your audio or video. It can also be worth repeating any important points that may have been inaudible to the listener.
The Right Attitude
Remember, the purpose of your interview is to hear your respondent’s ideas, experiences, thoughts or feelings. Do not over-speak as it will make it hard for a transcriptionist to pick up what your respondent has said, and after all, that is what matters most. The key is to let your respondent convey their thoughts ideas and feedback without irrelevant digression.
If you would like any more tips on planning your interview to attain the best audio possible, or are interested in our interview transcription services and are looking to have your audio or video interviews transcribed, feel free to contact us, we are always happy to hear from you!