Here at Transcription City, we offer a range of professional subtitling services with translation. We are also able to assist in your subtitling projects as much or as little as you require. This can include transcription services of your video from the source language, perfectly timed subtitling services in a range of formats, translation of subtitles in your required formats – to and from almost any languages. We also offer burned in subtitles and open and closed captioning services in a range of languages to ensure that your videos are accessible to everyone, regardless of hearing ability or language spoken. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the day in the life of one of our translators and transcriptionists that specialises in subtitling services.
Diary of a Transcriptionist: And …”Action!”
One of the biggest hurdles of my job is the quality of the files from which I am typing from. So when I get an audio or video file, then it is really down to how well it is recorded that makes all the difference in my job.
So for example, in a business meeting that is being recorded, somebody may just put their mobile phone in the middle of the table and start a recording. That is good, but there are a few things you could consider in making a better recording – and therefore getting a much better transcript of your meeting. The simplest one to consider is to let people finish before the next person starts talking. Now it is of course just normal that people talk over each other in a meeting, but be a bit more mindful when you see that mobile phone recording in the middle of the table. For a business meeting, the other thing to consider is to actually have a video recording instead of an audio one. You may wonder why, as I don’t need to see what you look like. That is correct. But in a business meeting, a lot of people are often of the same gender and of similar ages. That means your voices will be quite similar too. I have never met or have ever seen you and keeping voices apart from simply listening to them in is very, very difficult at times. So do a video recording instead of an audio-recording, that gives me the opportunity to see who is speaking, making it easier for me to identify the speakers and giving you a much more accurate account of what was said by whom.
Are you recording a conversation via a telephone or a conference call? Then please consider putting the recording device very near the phone with the speaker. I will be able to hear you clearly in the room, but the recording of the voice that is already buffered slightly over a speaker is more difficult to catch. If you are planning to take notes or type emails while you are on the call, move the speaker phone and recording device away from your computer, as the typing sound of your fingers can make quite a big impact on me being able to understand the recording.
The key to an excellent transcript from your file is a good audio or video recording. So if you are using transcription services regularly, please help us transcriptionists by following these very few steps. After all, we want to do an excellent job. Like yourself.
If you would like more information about any of our subtitling services with translations (or without), closed captioning services, transcription services or translation services, why not get in touch today? We are always happy to help.
