

In some cases, clients want a verbatim transcript that captures all details. Client’s PreferencesĬlients have different preferences based on the aim of ordering the transcription. This purpose determines whether you will have a verbatim transcription or have to edit the transcripts.Īt the end of the day, the transcripts should help the client to achieve his goals. Why are you preparing the transcripts? Are they to be used for a research paper? Will they help the client to add captions to a video? Are you creating a document for attachment to official files? Is it an article to be uploaded online as part of a digital marketing campaign?Įach of these and many other scenarios demand a different type of transcript.Ĭlient instructions should indicate the purpose of transcription. The reader will easily follow the content of your transcript. The bottom line is a format that remains consistent and predictable to the end of the project. Therefore, indicate the changes in your transcript such that the reader knows what to expect. For instance, an interview may form a part of research narration or presentation. Some audio files feature varying content. Another element is timestamping, whereby the duration is maintained. For instance, a name used for one speaker during an interview should remain at the end. Format changes will be confusing to readers and could lead to loss of information placed at another spot. The transcripts should adopt a consistent format from the beginning to the end.

Thus, consider the following basic requirements for a transcription format to boost the quality of your transcripts. As such, the information on the transcript should be easy to follow and extract. The format is important because the reader who ends up with your transcripts does not enjoy the benefit of listening to the audio file. What Makes the Best Transcription Format? To answer the question, see what makes a format best for a transcription project. Then why are we even talking about a format? The basic understanding of transcription is converting audio into text or convert video to written text. The expectation is that from the format you choose, a reader can tell the kind of audio file you were transcribing. For instance, an interview transcript looks different from a transcript for a podcast or conference. What will be expected at the end of your project? What is the best transcription format for the public?Īs you will notice, each transcript is different. So you have a transcription project but have no idea where to start? Maybe the best point to begin is knowing the basics of transcription.
