Human vs. Machine Transcription: Who Comes Out on Top?

admin — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 18:45:44 +0000

Confused over machine versus human transcription? Wondering which is better and why? This short guide might help with your decision.

Speed: If speed is more important to you than accuracy, then automated transcription services are the way to go. There are many software tools that can convert speech into text in record time. A video that is approximately two hours long can take less than 30 minutes to transcribe. But, remember what you lose with this speed is accuracy.
Audio Quality: Machine transcription converts spoken word into written word. It cannot isolate the actual speech which needs transcription from a noisy background. Multiple speakers, all of who may be enthusiastic to make their voice heard, will likely complicate the quality. To even consider using machine transcription for your needs, ensure that your audio has been recorded in a reasonably quiet environment and is free of static, cross-talk and that each speaker is using a microphone or at the very least, speaking very clearly.
Punctuation & Grammar: Most machines do a good job on punctuations, but today’s technology still cannot beat the perfection from a human transcriber. For instance, the machine may interpret a pause to mean the end of a sentence when in essence, the speaker may have simply paused to find the most appropriate words.
Accents: Different dialects have different accents. Software requires a significant amount of training on accents. The more the training, in all likelihood the better the transcript will be. If you have an accented audio, to consider machine-generated transcription, you should be fully aware of the software and the processes used for transcription. This includes how much quality control is used post machine-generated transcripts. Quality control is always done by humans so this added layer will likely add to the cost.

Machine-generated transcription has made progress in leaps and bounds. Yet, it has a long way to go when verbatim transcription is needed, when the audio quality of your project is compromised or when you have a large volume of work with customized requirements. We hope this blog has been helpful with your decision. Should you require transcription services, we hope you will consider us.

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How to Record a Good Audio for Quality Transcription

admin — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 06:45:38 +0000

How to Record a Good Audio for Quality Transcription

Do you require a quality verbatim transcription for your events, meetings or even court proceedings? And did you know that you control the key to a fast and professional transcript? Yes, that’s right! Transcription has a direct bearing on the quality of audio recordings. This means a good quality audio makes certain that you get back an accurate transcript with a quick turnaround.

Here are a few tips to ensure that you record your audio well.

Record in quiet and consistent setting

Choose an enclosed room to keep off any unwanted noise such as creaking tables and chairs, busy roads; and ask your staff not to disturb while a recording is ongoing. Microphones are sensitive to background noises, so soundproofing the room is a good idea.

Presence of a moderator

If there is a meeting or a seminar, ensure that a moderator briefs everyone about the audio recording and request them to avoid any crosstalk and background conversations. The members may also need to be reminded that overlapping conversations makes it difficult for the transcriber to understand what the main speaker is saying. As a result, the quality of transcription will suffer.

Quality of recording devices

When recording, it is always recommended to use good quality microphones, recorders, and professional software. In case you have set up a perfect ambiance, but compromised on recording devise, be prepared to expect screeching sounds and audio distortion, thus giving poor results. Device quality should not be taken lightly, especially for verbatim transcription.

Placement of devices and tone of speaking

Subsequent to the quality of microphone comes its placement. You have to be sure that microphones are positioned properly and at the right distance for clear recording. Also, ensure that speakers speak at a steady pace, pronounce the words right and are loud enough to be audible. Eliminating “inaudibles” will get you quality transcripts with quick turnarounds.

Run a trial recording

A simple way to check if the recording is right is to run a trial. It is advisable that you test your recording device, placement of microphones and checks for disturbances. In case of a panel discussion, speakers must be identified by either asking them to introduce themselves or taking a moderator’s help to address them. By doing this, you lower the chance of creating any confusion for the transcriber.

Keep the breaks in mind

If there is a break in between sessions, the mediator should announce the pause of a meeting and turn off the recorder until meeting resumes. Make sure the stoppage of a recorder is also mentioned before actually turning it off and resuming again.

To sum up, your transcriptions can be cost-effective and completed faster if you take care of little things during a recording session. If you need a quality transcript with quick-turnaround, click here to upload your file.

The post How to Record a Good Audio for Quality Transcription appeared first on Soft Scribe LLC.

Transcription – Soft Scribe LLC

Human vs. Machine Transcription: Who Comes Out on Top?

How to Record a Good Audio for Quality Transcription

How to Record a Good Audio for Quality Transcription