Biggest Transcription Myths Exposed
Busting Transcription Myths for an Enjoyable Experience
Transcription is one of the most in-demand jobs out there, yet transcription myths still abound. With more and more companies working with audio files, there are tons of opportunities to make money as a transcriber. But do you know the truth behind all those myths? Here’s what we’ve learned about each myth so that you can be sure that you’re getting paid fairly and have an enjoyable transcription experience. This applies equally to those wanting to make use of transcription services, to help you make a more informed decision.
Myth #1: Transcription is Easy
Transcription is not easy. It’s one of the most difficult skills to learn and do well. Transcribers have to be fast typists with a keen ear for audio, but they also have to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of grammar rules and punctuation conventions.
In addition to being able to type quickly and accurately, transcriptionists require excellent listening skills to accurately decipher what was said on a recording. This can be difficult if there are multiple speakers present during an interview or lecture recording session.
The ability to copy down what’s said on a recording quickly is essential for transcriptionists. This is important because if the transcriptionist takes too long, the employer may simply hire someone else who can do it faster!
Myth #2: You Can Do Your Own Transcription
You can do your own transcription. You don’t have to be a good typist or have any experience or special skills. In fact, you don’t even require a degree in anything! If this sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
It’s true that you don’t have to be a great typist, but you do require decent typing skills. You also require experience with the software and a sufficient level of computer literacy to follow instructions.
There are a lot of online jobs that pay well, but they often require some experience, skills or special training. If you don’t have any of these things, you may be better off outsourcing the work.
Myth #3: You Can Automate Everything About Transcription
Many people think that it’s possible to automate everything about transcription. Automation is not a good idea, however, because it can lead to errors. While you may be able to use some software programs or apps for basic text editing and spell checking, this does not mean that you can completely replace human transcription with automation tools.
Human eyes are still an essential component in this industry. The best way to ensure that your transcription is accurate is to hire a human transcriptionist. The best ones can do the work quickly and accurately, while also providing you with a number of other benefits. These benefits can save you time and money in the long term.
Myth #4: Formatting Is Standard for All the Files You Receive
The formatting of your work can vary greatly depending on the client and project. You may be asked to use a specific style guide, but if not, it’s up to you to decide how best to format your transcriptions. Some transcriptionists prefer using tabs or spaces between words while others opt for single returns. There are also many other types of formatting options available depending on what kind of software and equipment you use.
One of the main reasons why transcriptionists use tabs is because it makes it easier to quickly find a specific word. For example, let’s say you want to find the word “blue” in a document. If you’re using single returns, this can be difficult because there may be other words that begin with “b” or “bl.” However, if you’re using tabs instead of spaces, it will be much easier for someone to find what they are looking for.
Myth #5: Captioning and Transcription Are the Same Thing
Captioning is used to describe the audio-visual information in a video or audio file. It’s a text version of the audio track and it helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing understand what they’re watching.
Transcription is used to convert speech into text. It’s done manually, so it can be time consuming and expensive. If you have a lot of audio files that require transcribing, it might be worth paying someone else to do it for you. This means that you will have to pay for the service and it will be much slower than captioning.
Captions don’t replace subtitles. Captions are for people who can hear, but require help understanding speech, whereas the creation of subtitles could do with the help of a transcriptionist. Captions also differ from closed captions because they include not only dialogue, but also sound effects and music.
Debunking Transcription Myths
As you may have deduced, transcription is still a great way to make money, but it’s not as easy as you may have first thought. It takes time and effort to become good at transcribing, so be sure that this is something you are willing to do before pursuing it as a career option.
In terms of getting your projects done on time and as accurately as possible, it does take a certain degree of skill, experience and time. If these areas of your life are better invested elsewhere, consider outsourcing the work. Now that the biggest transcription myths have been debunked, how will you choose to tackle your next transcription project?