We all have that one actor or content creator we love to follow but have difficulty understanding because they speak a different language or have a strong accent. Thanks to transcription, we’re able to follow what they say effortlessly. A talented content creator will be able to transcribe meaning in their writing to communicate accurately.
Information is king. So, you can’t ignore the importance of accurate transcription. Especially if you’re a content creator. From preserving critical business meetings to making digital content accessible, it is the unsung hero behind the scenes. This article delves into the intricate world of transcription, exploring its definition, diverse types, professional services, and the multiple advantages it brings to different industries.
What does transcribe mean?
Transcription is the meticulous process of transforming spoken language into written words. This involves capturing not only the words spoken, but also the pauses, tone, and nuances to transcribe meaning into a transcript. A skilled transcriber becomes a linguistic detective, deciphering the intricacies of human communication to create a coherent and accurate written record. Much more than a scribe, they need to turn a recording into a compelling transcript.
Types of transcription
There are two general types of transcriptions. You can use the one that fits the most your expectations. It comes down to what goal you want to achieve and the style you prefer.
Verbatim
As the name suggests, a verbatim transcription is a word-for-word transcribed text. But it’s actually even more precise than that, as all other sounds or absences of sound are also transcribed. Filler sounds, music errors or mistakes, stumbles, pauses, and hesitations are all penned down. Even other sounds that appear in the video are noted down, like reactions or external noises. It’s the most detailed written account of what happened in the auditory format.
There are advantages and inconveniences of using verbatim transcriptions. The subtle nuances of a verbatim text can help to transcribe meaning in the form of emotion. Or it can help create comic effects with fun external noise and cues like the sounds of an audience laughing for example. But it can also be distracting in some cases. Let’s say you’re shooting an advertising recording for a product. Then, you may want a more serious copy with no distractions. That’s where non-verbatim transcription comes into play.
Non-verbatim
A non-verbatim transcribed copy is edited writing to fit what the editor wants to convey in their video. It’s a way of perfecting it and avoiding all mistakes that may appear in the audio. Long pauses, external noises, unneeded words, mistakes, music, or errors are all edited and removed from the transcribed words to make them appear as professional and flawless as possible. Sometimes, sentences and speech are also changed to make the words more easy to understand and simple.
These types of transcripts are perfect for more professional settings. In an advertisement, a product presentation, taking an important meeting’s notes, or for a serious announcement like a product or feature launch video. These are examples of how a non-verbatim transcript can help enhance and improve content.
Benefits of transcribing audio and video to text
There are many advantages of transcribing audio or visual content to noted words. It may seem like transcriptions aren’t always needed, but they provide so much added value that they’ve become a great way for businesses to stand out and excel. There are many benefits to having your content transcribed. From legal ramifications to accessibility, become one of the leading online businesses by transcribing your content.
Here are some examples of benefits you can get from transcribing your content:
- Accessibility: Having transcriptions for your visual and auditory content can allow more people to access and understand it. People who have hearing difficulties can benefit from subtitles and noted copy. People who also have a different first language from English can find it helpful to access subtitles to more easily understand what is being said.
- SEO: Search engine optimization is a great way to help more people see your content. Search engines rely on written words more than anything else. After all, they can’t hear what you say. By providing written words for your content you’re telling search engines what it’s about and making sure people who search for it can find it.
- More accurate content: Having transcripts can help businesses and companies be more accurate. Meeting notes, for instance, are a great way to go back on what was said during a meeting to ensure everyone is on the same page.
- Legal compliance: Ensure you aren’t at risk of any lawsuits because your content is not accessible to all. Discrimination lawsuits can be filed by someone who cannot access your content when they really need it.
- Translate content: If you want more people to see your content, you can translate it into multiple languages. While you’ll need voice-over actors to create the auditory content in a different language than English, you can always add a transcript in different languages. It’s an easy way to enable more people to find you.
- Repurpose your content effortlessly: If you want to maximize your content’s efficiency, you can repurpose it in many places. From social media to email marketing and blogging. There are countless ways in which content can be reused.
What is a transcription service?
While it can seem like you can transcribe your own resources, it’s often better to call on a professional to convert your content into notes. They have experience and plenty of knowledge on the topic. Professionals can convert audio into notes from movies, courtrooms, business meetings, medical settings, and other settings. They have varied experiences and understand that the content they transcribe has a purpose whether it is learning a language, legal reasons, educational resources, or business needs. They will know how to present their notes to make them more efficient and impactful.
These services are often priced by the minute of audio. Professional freelancers will either sell their service in a specific field in which they are an expert or a more general one.
Transcription formats
There are multiple formats available for transcriptions. They depend on how you intend to use the transcribed notes. From specific cases that require a personalized format to more common cases that can use a broader format.
Plain text format
The most typical and common format for transcribed texts. You can choose how you open your plain text in the following ways:
- Raw text file (.txt)
- Microsoft Word Document (.docx)
- Portable Document Format (.pdf)
Using these methods, there is very little to no formatting and styling.
While .pdf and .docx formats are used when you want the text to either be readable or easily editable, the .txt format is the best way to give easy access to your audience while they listen to your content. It’s also the best option in terms of SEO.
HTML document
This format is more for your embedded video content on your website. Your transcript will be directly embedded into the page that contains your footage. Install add-ins to your page to optimize your transcripted writing and make it more accessible for video viewers.
If you’re going to use your transcript to publish it on YouTube, Vimeo, or other platforms, you may want to use a different format, as the markup coding can be complicated to manage.
Time-stamped file format
Just as the name suggests, this format provides time stamps with the precise time at which content begins. It’s usually time-stamped by paragraph, but can also be time-stamped by sentence of dialog.
These are mostly used for legal purposes but can also be used by video editors or for important business meetings.
As-broadcast Script format
As-Broadcast Script is used for the transcription of already existing edited video footage. It’s an easy way to manage closed captions in videos with multiple people speaking.
Best ways to transcribe your content
There are multiple ways in which you can get your content transcribed. In the end, it all depends on your goals and the resources you want to allocate to achieve them. Consider your project and what you need to transcribe to decide if this is something you can do yourself or need help with. Below are three of the best ways to transcribe your content into written words.
1. Do it manually yourself
The cheapest way to do it is probably to do it yourself. It will take time to do it. But if you have time, it’s a great way to do it. You may need to learn some things before you’ll be ready to transcribe content optimally, but once you get the hang of it, you will be more efficient.
You may want to consider doing it manually yourself if this is a one-time project. But if you’re going to need to do this often, it may be easier to find an expert to help you.
2. Use Software to transcribe your content
There are so many programs and software out there that can help you get your content in the written form. A program like Descript can automatically transcribe your content. Even with the free plan. Although, it might be a little limited in terms of quantity. If the sound is clear, Descript’s accuracy is around 95% in understanding speech. There are also more than 20 languages supported.
In some cases, Descript may not be able to understand some words. For special and technical language, the software may not know the correct words. If you’re working in a very technical field or industry, you may not be able to use it to transcribe your work.
3. Hire a professional to achieve the best results
It may not be the cheapest option, but it’s not necessarily an expensive one either. It is the solution that will save you the most time while helping you achieve the best results. Professionals have tons of experience and expertise. They will understand what you need and know what to do to generate the end result you are looking for. Have ample knowledge of the English language, can use dictionaries, and can also even translate your copy to other languages like chinese for example. They also know how to write delightfully. Making proper use of grammar or the verb, object and noun that will turn your copy into the best example possible. A freelancer is also a fast learner, so you can expect them to quickly understand your needs.
Freelancers are skilled experts who are specialized in what they do. So you can count on their accuracy and capacity to get the work done. If you want to complete your transcription project easily with great results, hire a freelancer to do the job.
Find the best transcription services on ComeUp.
There are so many advantages to usingComeUp compared to other freelance platforms online. You can find services for all budgets. You also have the ability to choose from multiple freelancers by looking at their profiles and finding the one that matches most closely what you are looking for. If you have any questions, you can contact freelancers and ask them about their services.
Another big advantage is that on ComeUp, you pay for the results you want. You will pay for the service in advance, but it will be placed in an escrow account. Once the freelancer delivers the order, you can review the work and approve it or ask for revisions. So the freelancer is only paid when you are satisfied. That way you’re sure to get what you want.
Now that you know all about the importance of transcribing content, you know how important it is in helping more people access your resources. We hope you will find the solution that works best for you in writing your content into words. Whether it’s preserving the nuances of a conversation, enhancing accessibility, or optimizing digital content, transcription is an important tool. Understanding its intricacies empowers individuals and businesses to leverage this transformative process, unlocking a world of possibilities for effective and impactful communication. Transcribe your content today and reach more people!
Get the word out to more people
Beyond getting the word out to your current audience and making your resources more accessible You can also generate content in more languages. From English to Chinese, the lists of languages and countries you can reach are countless. Since you already have all the material. Adapting it to another language is a low effort and high reward endeavor. Consider reaching new people daily by spreading the word to other languages.
