Dictaphone Transcription Services

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Dictaphone Transcription Services

Guide to Quality Recording

A QUICK GUIDE TO QUALITY VOICE RECORDING OPTIONS

Transcription Services Dictaphone

Yes, they are still very much around!

‘Dictaphone’ is actually a trademark. It was the name of a company founded by Alexander Graham Bell himself. His products became so popular that the word ‘Dictaphone’ has come to apply to any portable device for recording sound for which voice recording may be used. If you care about these things (and Way With Words always does), the correct form of the word ‘Dictaphone’ is a proper noun, always taking a capital letter. The original digital voice recorder recorded sound with a vibrating stylus on wax cylinders.

The clunky old machines of yesteryear have now been replaced with sleek, handheld digital devices, weighing and costing mere fractions of the original.

DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER? HERE ARE KEY OPTIONS

Here are some popular tips that should help you with planning your recording using a voice recorder.

Going Professional?

CHOOSE A DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER WITH A QUALITY BRAND

If you would prefer to use a Dictaphone for your digital recording and have not yet purchased one, popular voice recorder options include Olympus, Sony, and Yamaha. All should come with a removable micro USB for data storage and to transfer files to other devices.

However, there are a lot of other brands in the market for professional voice recording.

Two useful resources to look at that compare the best-rated voice recorders are:

Need it for everyday use?

USE YOUR SMARTPHONE AND CHECK OUT TOP-RATED VOICE RECORDING APPS

A handheld recording device designed specifically for recording is now no longer your only option. Almost everyone now has a smartphone – so perhaps consider this option for your next digital recording.

A growing number of apps for iPhones and Android phones allow you to use your smartphone for quality voice recording. Some even compare well with more modestly-priced professional Dictaphones and are not restricted by specific recording time. In addition, some apps offer features such as automatic voice activation with speech or longer recording times using cloud services.

However, the range of apps is enormous and the risk that some apps don’t do the job of providing truly quality sound recording (despite claims to this effect) is there.

You need to do your research but we suggest you start by looking at the most recent top-rated listings for smartphone quality voice recording apps.

To help get you going, here are two such articles:

    Want to use your own digital device, but want perfection?

    GET A QUALITY MICROPHONE

    As good as it gets out there, nothing beats capturing every nuance or sound using a dedicated microphone. There’s the option of attaching a microphone to your laptop, tablet or even smartphone, which also renders high-quality audio. Consider this option if want to use your own voice recording equipment. Here are some microphone reviews to audio record correctly: And here’s one on how to attach your microphone to your voice recording device: How To Connect a Microphone To Your PC Computer, Laptop, Mac or iPad.

    Best Tip – Choose You Voice Recorder Carefully!

    Whatever option you take when it comes to selecting the voice recording device you will use, please remember, that sound quality itself (while often good) will not match that of a device designed specifically for sound recording – read our hints and tips for recording and playback quality sound.

    The bottom line for recording and playback is always to choose quality recording equipment that offers the highest guarantee of service. You don’t want to be disappointed after all your effort and time to discover your key interview turned out fuzzy or unrecorded!

    Dictaphone Transcription

    Dictaphone transcription services are popular the world over. Dictaphones have been used everywhere from battlefields to boardrooms for recording and playback. They are used everywhere and every day to play an ever-larger role in our lives. For this reason Way With Words provides a high standard of audio transcription for these requirements. We employ some of the best transcription contractors on the planet to ensure your audio transcript is absolutely accurate.

    Recording on iPhone

    Get your interviews transcribed 

    Clients who request transcription often use Dictaphones or their smartphones for either dictation or interviews.

    Anyone who records interviews or dictates using a Dictaphone knows the feeling. You’ve recorded your audio, now it’s time to type it out. It’s only an hour of audio, after all, so how long can it take following recording and playback? For a trained and experienced transcriber, one minute of audio recording takes four minutes to type. For someone who doesn’t transcribe it could take anywhere from six or more minutes to type one minute of audio. Subjects mumble, drop keywords and names that you’ve never heard before. In addition, there are maddening vocal habits that make the average person want to scream. Consequently, a half-hour interview can take the layperson an entire day to transcribe.

    Recording on iPhone

    Spend time on the things you like doing

    We source transcribers from a variety of backgrounds, with many of them being subject specialists. They use custom transcription software, superior sound equipment and must have excellent language skills. Our transcriber teams have experience with transcribing many different digital voice recordings, no matter how difficult the accent or subject matter. They have been recruited, assessed and vetted by us to ensure many levels of compliance when it comes to transcribing your recordings.

    Try our dictaphone transcription services to get your dictaphone recordings transcribed with accuracy and precision.

    Transcription Price Calculator

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    Your Transcription

    Use our Transcription Calculator to get an instant quote or to place an order now.

    How do I send you my files?

    Audio and video files are uploaded via our secure online workflow system. We do not accept links or physical discs; all work is processed via our workflow system.

    Once files have been processed, you will receive a notification with instructions on how to collect your transcripts.

    How is the cost calculated?

    Costs are calculated per recorded minute and are dependent on turnaround time selected. All seconds are rounded up to the next minute. For budget options, longer turnarounds are available.

    Audio quality and number of speakers do not affect the cost. Default transcript is Standard Template and Intelligent Verbatim (see examples above). Time Coding, Full Verbatim and Special Formatting options incur a surcharge.

    How long are quotes valid?

    Quotes are valid for 30 days from date of quotation. Save your job as a draft should you wish to complete your order at a later stage.

    Do you have an office in my area?

    Our main operational offices are located in the United Kingdom and South Africa while we have points of presence in various territories globally. Please click here to get in touch with us.

    Do you have an office in my area?

    Our main operational offices are located in the United Kingdom and South Africa while we have points of presence in various territories globally. Please click here to get in touch with us.

    How are deadlines calculated?

    The 1-Day to 10-Day turnaround times are calculated in business days only, and do not include weekends. Express orders can be returned over weekends, with prior notification.

    Additional Services

    Video Captioning Services
    Captioning Services

    Perfectly synched 99%+ accurate closed captions for broadcast-quality video.

    Machine Transcription Polishing
    Machine Transcription Polishing

    For users of machine transcription that require polished machine transcripts.

    Speech Collection for AI training
    Speech Collection

    For users that require machine learning language data.

    Academic Transcription

    Clients include universities, teaching schools, academic institutions.

    Commonly used for academic research, field studies, postgraduate research collections, focus group recordings and analysis, institutional lectures and speeches, as well as academic presentations.

    Business Transcription

    Clients include companies and businesses of all sizes and across all industries.

    Commonly used for conference calls, earnings calls, management proceedings, market research strategies, stakeholder presentations, boardroom and corporate meetings, entrance or exit job interviews, AGMs as well as minute reports or memos.

    Conference Transcription

    Clients include event companies, businesses and government institutions that host conferences and workshops.

    Commonly used for conferences, seminars, and workshops that cover topics such as research methodology seminars, business development, entrepreneurship, technology, education, culture and community, finance, business models, corporate strategy, tourism, leadership, energy, environment, as well as medical research.

    Disciplinary Transcription

    Clients include human resource departments, managers, labour lawyers, unions, business and government.

    Commonly used for issues related to disabilities, discrimination, employee development, employee discipline, employee leave management, equal employment opportunity, harassment and special work arrangements.

    Financial Transcription

    Clients include corporations, merchant banks, regulatory bodies, building societies, accountants, compliance companies, business schools, finance advisers, webcast providers, management consultants and finance portals.

    Commonly used for forex consulting, wealth management advice, insurance agreements, finance brokering, banking, investor relations, earnings calls, annual financial and budget meetings, business surveys, interim company results, financial seminars and training sessions, analyst interviews, financial reports and company reports.

    Focus Group Transcription

    Clients include business services, marketing groups, PR companies, brand houses, research groups, academic institutions and government departments.

    Commonly used for roundtable discussions, surveys, market research, business discussions, brainstorming workshops, strategic planning sessions, academic research, meetings and group discussions.

    Government Transcription

    Clients include local, regional, federal, provincial, state and national governments.

    Commonly used for meetings, parliamentary discussions, public policy debates, public reports, cabinet or other government minutes and government research into its many programmes.

    Insurance Transcription

    Clients include insurance, medical and legal professionals and any other relevant or related claims experts.

    Commonly used for insurance recorded statements, insurance testimonials, insurance and damage reports, agent summaries, file interviews, notes on investigations and probes, summary reports, theft/property damage reports and insurance reports for property, casualty, holdings and assets.

    Interview Transcription

    Clients include professionals from various disciplines, including business people, lawyers, authors, journalists, students, researchers, recruiters, multimedia professionals, and police.

    Commonly used for research interviews, one-on-one interviews, job interviews, news/journalist interviews, radio interviews, focus group interviews, group discussions, legal interviews, market research, police interviews, teleconferences and telephone interviews.

    Investigation Transcription

    Clients include attorneys, police departments, detectives, private investigators, law firms and private individuals.

    Commonly used for police investigations, property investigations, insurance investigations, disciplinary hearings, crime scene investigation, forensic reports, taped confessions, surveillance recordings, wiretaps, fire and motor accidents, legal proceedings, hearings and private meetings, medical investigation and even scientific investigations.

    Legal Transcription

    Clients include law firms, law enforcement organisations, attorneys, police departments, detectives, private investigators and private individuals.

    Commonly used for general correspondence and memos, attorney dictation, deposition transcripts and recorded witness statements, medical-legal reports, debt collection, legal agreements, contracts, wills and trust documents, commercial and domestic conveyancing, medical negligence and personal injury, immigration, videotaped depositions or interviews, surveillance and investigative reports and telephone hearings.

    Market Research Transcription

    Clients include market researchers, marketing specialists, brand houses, businesses and government.

    Commonly used for collecting data from potential customers, focus groups, producers and service or product providers for evaluation or to capture insights from a wide variety of sources: focus groups, consumer forums, interviews, opinion polls on possible outcomes for a market strategy.

    Media Transcription

    Clients include broadcast companies, television studios, production houses, news journalists, newspapers, social media distribution agents, video creatives and podcasters.

    Commonly used for films, television shows, documentaries, adverts, promotional videos, training materials, news pieces, podcasts, radio broadcasts and talk shows.

    Medical Transcription

    Clients include doctors, nurses, administrators, medical researchers, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare providers.

    Commonly used for keeping patient records, doctor dictated reports, procedures and notes, treatment history of patients, medical research interviews, healthcare research and medical findings.

    Podcast Transcription

    Clients include podcasters, media houses, radio stations, social media thought leaders and participants.

    Commonly used for webcast lectures, interviews, legal proceedings, sports events, audio library hosting, webcasts and television studio conferences.

    Police Transcription

    Clients include police departments, government security agencies, private security firms and other law enforcement agencies.

    Commonly used for suspect interviews, patrol reports, disciplinary hearings, tribunal hearings, victim interviews, witness statements, fire reports, emergency service phone calls, 911 or other emergency dispatch calls, memorandums and internal communications, surveillance footage and wiretaps, inmate or prisoner phone calls, and staff and departmental meetings.

    Sermon Transcription

    Clients include churches, prayer groups, bible study groups and other religious bodies.

    Commonly used for church lectures, religious coaching, church notes, church correspondence, prayer/study groups, ministry, gospel seminars and bible reading.

    Telecommunications Transcription

    Clients include individuals, business, and government.

    Commonly used for teleconferences, videoconferences, Skype, VOIP, WhatsApp or other software chat services.