MAJOR TYPES OF TRANSCRIPTION
SERVING INDIVIDUALS & CORPORATES WITH VARIED PURPOSES:
TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES
It is a known fact that Transcription process involves conversion of video or audio files into text format. People who perform this function of changing audio or video data into text are called transcriptionists or transcribers while the converted file is known as a transcript. The conversion process is called transcribing.
Although apparently appearing so, transcription in fact is much more than mere changing of format of data. Transcription process may be classified into three major categories, based on the requirement of those who seek this service. Depending on the nature of industry that it serves, transcription process may be additionally grouped into various sub-categories as well.
BASIC TYPES OF TRANSCRIPTION:
- Verbatim Transcription
- Edited Transcription
- Intelligent Transcription
VERBATIM TRANSCRIPTION: WORD FOR WORD, NOISE FOR NOISE
Widely adopted for General Transcription purpose, this type of transcription aims at conveying every word as well as noise that is found in the original audio or video file into text. The objective of this process is ensuring that each word uttered, every noise made, all emotions expressed, and even background noises that appear are exactly being presented in text form. This includes half spoken sentences, exclamations, all gabbles and babbles regardless of whether they carry any significance or not. All this with time stamps that points occurrence of each such event.
Verbatim Transcripts are supposedly exact replica of the input audio or video file in text format with no omission whatsoever. Grammatical accuracy or meaningful data are not the consideration of the transcriptionists in this case. This type of transcription does not require subject matter expertise on the part of the transcribers but rather expects them to shrewdly transcribe whatever they see and listen to in a mechanical and complete manner. They need to pay close and engrossed attention to each and every sound found in the input file, furnish the same without omitting anything, in text. It includes all types of speech sounds that take place in any normal conversation or speech.
Verbatim Transcription is useful in movies, commercials, legal proceedings, and films.
EDITED TRANSCRIPTION: TRIMMING OFF UNNECESSARY NOISES & PRESENTING WORDS THAT CONVEY MEANING
In many cases, not all the sounds and background noises are required by users. Clients seek only the refined information that conveys precisely the vital part of the data without modifying or altering its integrity out of the input file. Edited Transcripts are those which have been logically edited by transcribers and presented to users in a precise and meaningful manner, after deleting the unwanted and unimportant matter found in the data. Speech sounds, exclamations, and gestures may be removed, when not contextually required.
So long as the intended meaning is not changed and the gist of the data remains intact, omitting the trivia does not harm in any way. Only, this type of transcription requires context-based experience and subject expertise to be able to decide what can be omitted and what should not be tampered with. For this, transcriptionists must be able to differentiate and distinguish data, understand the meaning as well as purpose of the process, and retain data integrity. They are allowed to remove the clutter and project the vital information in an effective manner that can be discerned and utilized by the user
Edited Transcription is being used generally for purposes such as seminars, conferences, class room sessions, and speeches.
INTELLIGENT TRANSCRIPTION: ASTUTE AND MANINGFUL CONVERSION OF DATA TO PRODUCE INTELLIGENT INFORMATION
Just like in many processes that involve developing output with quality that aligns with need of the end users, Transcription can be performed to create results exclusively in line with client requirements. Intelligent transcription, as the name suggests, produces an intelligent and entirely meaningful transcript that caters to what logically is expected by clients. Transcribers need to remain completely objective and eliminate irrelevant and redundant Intelligent Transcription involves omission of unnecessary sounds and garbled as well as mumbled words and emotions, apart from background noises. Only that portion of the audio or video input file is transcribed, that forms the crucial part, with the final resultant text producing a completely meaningful and intelligent document. Due to the nature of its type, intelligent Transcription requires highly qualified and trained persons to carry on this process. Experienced and skilled people are vitally important to produce reliable and precise transcripts in this case. Transcribing in such mode is more of discerning the speech and editing, rather than conversion of data.
Research, Scientific, and academic transcriptions are a few examples for Intelligent Transcription.
WHAT CLIENTS SEEK DECIDES THE TYPE OF TRANSCRIPTION
Each of the transcription types bears its own benefits and drawbacks. Finally, it is what the client is looking for that decides the type of transcription to be selected. Depending on client need, transcription type will be determined, and according to that, turnaround time as well as pricing will be fixed. In certain cases, clients have specific demands as to which type they want while in others, transcribers need to understand client requirements and according to that arrive at the type of transcription type that best suits clients’ purposes.
Transcription Service Provider employs a team of transcriptionists having varied skills and experience in handling different transcription projects and provides transcription solutions to clients.
