Offering the Highest Level of Expertise
TimeLine has 14 years experience in the field of transcribing. We offer the following transcription services in the following areas:
Disciplinary Hearings / Arbitration / Litigation / Court Proceedings / Focus Groups / Interviews / TV & Radio Interviews / Conference / Dictations / Board Meetings / Journalists / Student Thesis / Authors / Manuscripts / Proof Reading.
Equipment
We use Express Scribe which supports a number of formats, including DSS / WMA / MP3 / WAV
DSS (Digital Speech Standard) This is a highly compressed file format which enables files to be recorded, downloaded and emailed. This format is currently the standard for digital dictation.
WAV (Uncompressed Audio File Format) This type of format was originally developed for Windows 95, and are large due to the fact that they are uncompressed.
WMA (Windows Media Audio) This file type is similar to MP3 and is supported by fewer devices and DVD's and MP3, however the sound quality is noticeably improved.
MP3 - These file types are compressed and filter out a lot of sounds that the human ear cannot pick up, thus reducing the size of the file. This file type can be played on most audio players and DVD players. This file thus reduces the size of the standard WAV format by about 1/12th.
Why Outsource?
This is becoming increasingly popular across the world, and this provides a number of long and short term solutions, such as:
No holiday or sick leave costs.
No medical aid costs.
No costs of having to employ temporary staff.
You only pay for the time used whereas in the office environment there are costs incurred for idle time spent on your employees.
Times are flexible to meet your needs, so while you are sleeping we are working. Time zones that are similar to South Africa also ensures that we are in the office when you are.
All material is transferred via email in digital format and returned via email in a Word Document.
Utilising Sendspace, IBackup, You Send It, or FTP Commander directly to your FTP server, is the preferred method to send us files, as this enables you to send files that are deemed to large to send via email direct, and it saves on your telephone bill as well. Sendspace and Pando is a free service to you, all you need do is register with them. When you send us a file to our designated email address we will be notified via email that there is a file that needs to be downloaded.
Transcription Format
The client must provide clear and exact instructions on the format required for the transcription. IE: emotive expressions.
Guidelines on providing us with the best quality recordings
Recording can pick up all kinds of background noises which will always be louder than the interviewer/interviewee.
Record in a quiet environment, not in open areas or restaurants where the background noises of people talking or clattering of plates etc will always tend to come out loud in a recording.
Switch off all cell phones completely as this interferes with the recording device and leaves static noises in the audio and completely drowns out the voices. Leaving the cell phone on quiet mode, or vibrate still interferes with the recording device.
Avoid recording next to fans or air-conditioning units as these create a hum in the background, which reduces the sound of the speakers voices.
Avoid over talking - speaking when another person is already speaking, wait for them to finish.
Ask each speaker to announce themselves at the beginning of the recording, and if possible that each speaker has their own clip on microphones, and ensure that each of the subjects are speaking clearly enough, and if necessary request that they speak up if they are speaking too softly.15 minutes of a clear recording can take a professional transcriber one hour to type, and take up to 4 hours to type a one hour recording. Focus groups can take longer as they involve multiple speakers, and can take up to 6 to 8 hours for a one hour of recorded interview.
(SEE ALSO RECORDING TIPS AND TRICKS)
Copyright 2008 TimeLine Transcription Service
