6 best tips for transcriptionists

If you are a transcriptionist and want to know how you can produce more lines per day and improve quality, below are some tips that may be useful.

1. Get some good headphones

Headphones are unquestionably the most important piece of equipment you’ll need. Some client recordings will be of good quality but others may not. Having a good set of headphones to break through the background noise, accents, or slurred speech can help immensely in producing an accurate transcript. Getting a set with noise cancelling function will also help keep other distractions from getting in your way.

If you are in the market for some new headphones, here are the pros and cons of popular headsets.

2. Use automated transcription software

Automated transcription services like Sonix can get your client’s audio file in draft text format in minutes. It won’t be 100% perfect, but it can get you most of the way. By using an automated service you can speed up your turnaround time. You also save yourself time so you can take on more work and make more money. Sonix has a special offer for transcriptionists.

3. Learn to touch type

“Touch typing” is typing without look at your fingers. It’s a good idea to practice and discipline yourself to not look down. A good way to do this is to place a cardboard box table over your keyboard and hands so that you physically can’t see the keyboard. Touch typing takes practice especially when you get to function keys, but with practice it can increase exponentially over time and speed up the transcription process immensely.

4. Control your accuracy

Typing or editing only as fast as you can do it accurately will save you time proofreading time later on. If you don’t have to go back through the transcript again, your time is greatly reduced.

5. Know your client needs

You should ask your client ahead of time how they want their transcript returned to them and formatted. It is much easier to type in a standard format than it is to format a large document after the fact.

Here are a few things to hash out with the client before starting a new transcription project:

• Formatting
• Font and style of text
• Margins
• Time code requirements and formats
• Headers and file names

6. Transcribe in comfort

Find a chair or exercise ball that keeps you in a upright, active position. You don’t want anything impeding your elbows or arms so you can type for long periods.

And most importantly enjoy yourself. Transcribing can be fun. It’s all what you make of it. Good luck!