A transcription service is a business which converts speech (either live or recorded) into a written or electronic text document. Transcription services are often provided for business, legal, or medical purposes. The most common type of transcription is from a spoken-language source into text such as a computer file suitable for printing as a document such as a report. Common examples are the proceedings of a court hearing such as a criminal trial (by a court reporter) or a physician's recorded voice notes (medical transcription). Some transcription businesses can send staff to events, speeches, or seminars, who then convert the spoken content into text. Some companies also accept recorded speech, either on cassette, CD, VHS, or as sound files. For a transcription service, various individuals and organisations have different rates and methods of pricing. That can be per line, per word, per minute, or per hour, which differs from individual to individual and industry to industry.
Transcription is one of the fastest growing legitimate jobs in the US. In the year 2006, around 14 million transcribers were working in the United States and this number is expected to grow by another 3 million before 2015. Transcription work can be a good choice for people who are retired or who want to earn extra income by utilizing their free time.
Before 1970, transcription was a difficult job, as secretaries had to write down the speech as they heard it using advanced skills, like shorthand. They also had to be at the location where the service was required. But with the introduction of tape cassettes and portable recorders in the late 1970s, the work became much easier and new possibilities emerged. Cassettes can travel through internal mail or external mail which meant for the first time, the transcriptionists could have the work brought to them in their own office which could be in a different location or business. For the first time, transcriptionist could work from home for many different businesses at their own convenience, provided they met the deadlines required by their clients.
With the advanced technology of today, people can have almost anything transcribed very rapidly. An mp3 based Dictaphone, for example, can be used to record the sound. The recording can then be uploaded to a pc and emailed within minutes to someone who could be anywhere in the world. The transcriptionist can then replay the audio many times. The sound can also be filtered, equalised or have the tempo adjusted when the clarity is poor. The completed document can then be emailed back and printed out or incorporated into other documents - all within just a few hours of the original recording being made.
The industry standard for transcribing an audio file takes one hour for every 15 minutes of audio. For live usage, real-time text transcription services are available for captioning purposes, including Remote CART, Captioned Telephone, and live closed captioning during live broadcasts. Live transcripts are less accurate than offline transcripts, as there is no time for corrections and refinements.
There are two methods of transcription: dictation typing of correspondence and reports, and interview transcription.
Dictation typing is one person dictating and interview transcription is of two people or more.
Most companies that would require a transcription service would normally be handling sensitive or official information. From business meetings, [research] interviews, job interviews, and professional recordings, all these contain sensitive data that should be transferred or transcribed to a medium that can be easily processed, in a document format, hence the transcription service industry was built.
Security is something that a company should not overlook when providing this service and it is important that companies abide by certain rules, restrictions, and legalities when engaging a transcription business.[1]
Transcription security must abide under a the following Culture Confidentiality:
Process
Technology
Legal Measures