|
|
|
|
|
To
ensure we can provide you with the best possible transcript, we would
request you follow the following seven tips when recording an interview:
1.
Do
a test run - most of the following
can be avoided if you do a test before
recording.
2.
Have the microphone close to the
main speaker(s).
3. Ensure you are in a quiet area.
4. Keep the microphone away from noisy
machinery.
5. Do not talk over other speakers.
6. Try not to have papers near the
microphone, shuffling pages or
writing can drown out what is said.
7. If possible do not have tea/coffee or
other drinks. Crockery can make a lot
of noise if near the microphone. Cups
being placed on saucers or teaspoons
being knocked etc., can momentarily
deafen the typist! |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Audio transcription |
|
|
apa provides a professional word-for-word transcription service to
businesses, researchers and educational establishments, throughout the
UK and abroad (a company in Western Australia regularly hires us to
complete their dictation).
We accept both digital and tape recordings, as follows:
Audio
recordings
standard
size cassette
mini and micro dictation
tapes
VHS video
audio recorded CDs and
DVDs
Please note: Some older machines (mainly Grundig) use tapes specially made
for their own equipment. So if using tapes for recording work for later
transcription, please ensure they are as mentioned above.
Digital
recordings
Olympus .dss
Sony .dvf and .msv
.wav
.mp3
.wma
If you have not already recorded the work then may we request that you
note our "Tips for recording" on the left.
Confidentiality
We understand that often
what is said in an interview is confidential and names should not be
used. Therefore, we would normally use "identifier letters", for example:
I = Interviewer
R = Respondent/interviewee
If there is more than one interviewee then we add sequential numbers for each one: R1, R2, R3, etc.
"How long will the transcript
take?"
This is probably the question we are asked most often, and it is very
difficult to give a definitive all-encompassing answer because every
recording is different. However, as a guideline, and
assuming the recording is of a high quality and all speakers can be heard
clearly then we would estimate the following:
- Dictation/Lectures/Seminars
- if you have one or more people speaking for a
significant
length of time (say 15 minutes each), without being interrupted, etc.,
then these take three to four times the length of the recording (i.e. a
1 hour lecture will take 3 to 4 hours). If there is a question and
answer session then this will usually take between four and five
times the length of the recording to complete.
- One-to-one
interviews - these will usually take four to five times
the length of the recording.
- Focus/Discussion
groups - these can easily be more than five or six times
the length of the recording. Despite the researcher's best efforts
people will interrupt and speak over the top of each other. Obviously, the higher the
number of people in the focus group the longer the transcription will take. For
high numbers of speakers (say six or more)
we would request to hear a sample of the recording before giving an
accurate quotation.
Remember:
the
times quoted above are only rough guides and are highly dependent on
the quality of the recording. We cannot give an accurate quotation
until hearing a sample of the recordings.
As mentioned above, our standard practice is to provide a word-for-word
transcript. This means all words spoken (not including hesitation sounds such as "erm", "er",
etc.) are transcribed. However,
if required we will be more than happy to provide a transcript that
includes all the hesitation sounds.
|
|
|
|
