To transcribe an interview is to get yourself in a complicated scenario. Transcribing interviews can prove to be a tedious job with the proper formatting rules and meeting of guidelines.
A proper interview transcription offers work in accordance with proper standards & maintains both accuracy and clarity. Hence, make sure you design the correct format before transcribing an interview.
Keeping the above-mentioned point in mind, here is a set of guidelines to be followed to reflect the best outcomes in your work.
Consider the factors which affect your transcription process
Having proper knowledge & preparing about the various factors which impact your transcribed document could potentially help you to look for errors and avoid them in advance.
What kind of transcription is it going to be?
So right before you start you must get a check on what kind of transcribing you need to perform. If you have to jot down word to word exactly, process it in a brief manner or note down the info in some bullet points.
Check if verbatim accuracy is needed and that if you will have the access to the recording later.
Also, consider if you are the only person or will be their other people as well as referring to your work. This will save you from all the extra toil and real confusion during and afterwards the process.
Matching the right typing speed
Your typing speed will affect the duration of your transcription process. Instead of trying to match someone else’s capability of typing speed, one should consider as to how much time would it take for her/him to complete the work efficiently.
Working on the audio quality
You may end up writing ‘home’ when it really is ‘whole’. Audio quality can create confusions and extend your work duration. Better get the quality issues sorted beforehand to avoid unnecessary barriers.
Choosing the right tools
Arrange for yourself a peaceful and convenient space with the availability of a ‘good to work’ computer with a decent keyboard and a noise-cancelling headphone to avoid any extra noises. Also, include in your tool list a transcription software to act handy in managing the typing with switching programs.
Write with ease
Get comfortable and start writing the conversation you hear in simple drafts. Keep an eye on the short cuts, select shortcut keys, use auto-complete and auto-correction to manage words and spell errors. You may miss out on certain words or phrases. Do mention time or leave some space blank to let the reader understand the gaps.
The final processes cover the proofreading and formatting of your transcript. Play the interview to correct the errors and fill in the gaps. Make proper changes in the font, font size, headers, titles, subtitles, page numbers etc. are performed accordingly. Following a process will make things pretty clear and simpler!
