There are many reasons why it seems a great idea to set up as a transcriptionist – be it for health, personal or financial reasons – but it is not like driving a car. What you get out of this business is directly concomitant with what you can put it.
The two most important considerations are (a) your ability, and (b) your equipment.
The equipment is reasonably simple: a chair, a desk, a PC, good internet connection and a foot pedal (not essential – some manage extremely well using hotkeys).
And off you go...
The catch here is your ability. Dictaphone typing can be likened to transcription only in so far as one types another’s words. Dictaphone typing in an office situation deals with correspondence, reports, file notes – all of which should be familiar to you. If you work for a mining company, for instance, the subject of the above will be mining. If you find a strange name which you can't make out you can ask for assistance; if a typo slips in, somebody will probably pick it up and correct it.
In the world of transcription you're on your own and this is where the specialised skills of transcription come into play.
Spelling, grammar, punctuation
I believe I owe a client good English at the very least. You must be able to distinguish between principal and principle, there and their; to be able to hear the difference between his, he's and hiss. If you are going to attempt to obtain international clients be aware of the difference between UK and USA punctuation and spelling.
Spellcheck!
This is a tool of vast importance – it is a gift – use it.
Reliability
Take rush jobs only when you have gained confidence. A client may be prepared to grant reasonable time for you to turn into an impeccable transcript, but, if you cannot meet the deadline, the client will move on immediately. Reliability is a key marketing tool in this game.
Typing speed
This should not be an overwhelming factor. Fair enough, you need to have a reasonable typing speed but you don't need to be a whizz. There are plenty of other factors which contribute towards a great transcription.
Taking instruction
Fortunately most clients want intelligent verbatim – no err, mmm, or general babbling. Legal proceedings require keener attention to verbatim speech than interviews, for instance. It is up to you to enquire what the requirements are and stick to them. If a client sends a template don’t substitute yours.
General Knowledge and Google
Ah, don't we just love Google? But even Google can't read your mind. You will work in many different fields with a vast variety of subjects and you can't just turn in a helpless well-I-can't-know-everything transcript marred by question marks and the famous inaudible. Say, there is mention of a mine in Finland – your Finnish may be fluent but mine certainly isn't – there are ways of tracking down that name. It takes time and skill but you can usually get there.
There are of course many aspects to be considered – marketing strategy, web design, advertising, your accounting system, tricks of the trade – the list is long - but it is my belief that without the above qualities you are not going to be successful in the transcription field.
Michele Johanson
Good Hope Transcription Services
michelejohanson@yahoo.com
http://goodhopetranscription.weebly.com
Fax: 086 6021 791
Skype: Michelej6
Ph: 084 6944 307
Showing posts with label dictaphone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dictaphone. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The difference between Transcription and Typing
Believe it or not there is a difference between Dictaphone, Transcription and Typing, a lot of VAs and Transcriptionists don’t seem to know this.
Dictaphone and Transcription are similar so we charge at an hourly rate or an audio hourly rate and these are not referred to as typing in any way, if the client refers to them as typing tell that client it is either of the two but not typing and then explain what is involved with doing it, they are both a skill in themselves and not everyone can do them.
Dictaphone is normally one person, could be a doctor or an attorney recording into a digital machine, recording device and then you as a Transcriptionist listen to that tape and transcribe it.
Transcription can be more involved, it can be a recording of a meeting with a few people present, a conference session, court hearings etc. It is usually when more than one person is speaking and the event is being recorded.
These two skills should not be the same as copy typing, they are more involved and can take a few hours to transcribe into a document therefore there is normally an hourly or audio hourly rate involved not a per page rate. Transcribing can take anything from 1 hour to up to 6 hours depending on various factors, like language, amount of speakers, quality of tape etc.
Typing is what it is and is not either of the above and its charged at a per page rate or a per word rate (sometimes students like it per word, but not often). Typing is normally when you type from written notes, pdf documents, author's books, reports, tenders, copy typing etc.
If you let clients charge you at a per page rate for Dictaphone or Transcription then you are losing out big time in time and money as these tasks take much longer to complete and are skill on their own.
It is up to us to price accordingly for these tasks and to educate VAs, Transcriptionists and clients on the differences.
Your comments are welcome.
Dictaphone and Transcription are similar so we charge at an hourly rate or an audio hourly rate and these are not referred to as typing in any way, if the client refers to them as typing tell that client it is either of the two but not typing and then explain what is involved with doing it, they are both a skill in themselves and not everyone can do them.
Dictaphone is normally one person, could be a doctor or an attorney recording into a digital machine, recording device and then you as a Transcriptionist listen to that tape and transcribe it.
Transcription can be more involved, it can be a recording of a meeting with a few people present, a conference session, court hearings etc. It is usually when more than one person is speaking and the event is being recorded.
These two skills should not be the same as copy typing, they are more involved and can take a few hours to transcribe into a document therefore there is normally an hourly or audio hourly rate involved not a per page rate. Transcribing can take anything from 1 hour to up to 6 hours depending on various factors, like language, amount of speakers, quality of tape etc.
Typing is what it is and is not either of the above and its charged at a per page rate or a per word rate (sometimes students like it per word, but not often). Typing is normally when you type from written notes, pdf documents, author's books, reports, tenders, copy typing etc.
If you let clients charge you at a per page rate for Dictaphone or Transcription then you are losing out big time in time and money as these tasks take much longer to complete and are skill on their own.
It is up to us to price accordingly for these tasks and to educate VAs, Transcriptionists and clients on the differences.
Your comments are welcome.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Interview Archie de Lara (Transcription Services)
An Interview with Archie de Lara, Archie provides Transcription Services to clients, he is based in the Philippines.
Why did you choose this as a career, do you see this as a career choice?
I choose transcription because I like the nature of the work. I learn different things especially in doing medical transcription. In the Philippines, transcription is a very promising career for higher income opportunity. The fact that it can be done at home also is appealing to me.
Do you work from a home office?
I presently do home base transcription. I also plan to work office based while doing the home based transcription on my extra time.
What do you like about Transcription?
I like to hear voice recordings and be able to come up withe document over that.
What advice would you give to new prospective Transcriptionists out there?
Start transcription career right. Choose the best training and make the most over it. Let your eagerness to learn more about the career lead you to become successful in this field.
What type of transcription do you provide, General, Legal or Medical?
I provide general transcription this time.
What is the most important thing about being a Transcriptionist?
The most important thing about being a transcriptionist is the attitude towards work. Never return an audio file if it is not that discernible. Just notify your client and make the most out of it.
Do you have other plans or are you planning on staying in Transcription?
I plan to stay being a transcriptionist and i would like to become a provider for other transcriptionists.
What are the benefits of doing Transcription in the Philippines?
Transcription services in the Philippines is cheaper and is of high quality.
Do you work for companies overseas outside of the Philippines?
Yes, I work for transcription companies outside the Philippines.
Thank you, regards Ali
My pleasure.
Archie's Blog: http://archiedelara.com/category/about-transcription/
Why did you choose this as a career, do you see this as a career choice?
I choose transcription because I like the nature of the work. I learn different things especially in doing medical transcription. In the Philippines, transcription is a very promising career for higher income opportunity. The fact that it can be done at home also is appealing to me.
Do you work from a home office?
I presently do home base transcription. I also plan to work office based while doing the home based transcription on my extra time.
What do you like about Transcription?
I like to hear voice recordings and be able to come up withe document over that.
What advice would you give to new prospective Transcriptionists out there?
Start transcription career right. Choose the best training and make the most over it. Let your eagerness to learn more about the career lead you to become successful in this field.
What type of transcription do you provide, General, Legal or Medical?
I provide general transcription this time.
What is the most important thing about being a Transcriptionist?
The most important thing about being a transcriptionist is the attitude towards work. Never return an audio file if it is not that discernible. Just notify your client and make the most out of it.
Do you have other plans or are you planning on staying in Transcription?
I plan to stay being a transcriptionist and i would like to become a provider for other transcriptionists.
What are the benefits of doing Transcription in the Philippines?
Transcription services in the Philippines is cheaper and is of high quality.
Do you work for companies overseas outside of the Philippines?
Yes, I work for transcription companies outside the Philippines.
Thank you, regards Ali
My pleasure.
Archie's Blog: http://archiedelara.com/category/about-transcription/
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Dictaphone - Trancription - Typing
Believe it or not there is a difference between Dictaphone, Transcripiton and Typing, a lot of VAs and Transcriptionists dont seem to know this.
Dictaphone and Transcription are similar so we charge at an hourly rate or an audio hourly rate and these are not referred to as typing in any way, if the client refers to them as typing tell that client it is either of the two but not typing and then explain what is involved with doing it, they are both a skill in themselves and not everyone can do them.
Dictaphone is normally one person, could be a doctor or an attorney recording into a digital machine, recording device and then you as a Transcsriptionist listen to that tape and transcribe it.
Transcription can be more involved, it can be a recording of a meeting with a few people present, a conference session, court hearings etc. It is usually when more than one person is speaking and the event is being recorded.
These two skills should not be the same as copy typing, they are more involved and can take a few hours to transcribe into a document therefore there is normally an hourly or audio hourly rate involved not a per page rate.
Typing is what it is and is not either of the above and its charged at a per page rate or a per word rate (sometimes students like it per word, but not often). Typing is normally when you type from written notes, pdf documents, author's books, reports, tenders, copy typing etc.
If you let clients charge you at a per page rate for Dictaphone or Transcription then you are losing out big time in time and money as these tasks take much longer to complete and are skill on their own.
It is up to us to price accordingly for these tasks and to educate VAs, Trancriptionists and clients on the differences.
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