DIFFICULT AUDIO
What is difficult audio? Difficult audio is any source media not properly recorded or complex in nature, thus requiring a significantly more time-consuming transcription.
Below are some basic criteria you can use to estimate your audio quality prior to submission. If your audio involves one or more of the semi-difficult or difficult characteristics, there is a good chance your audio will prove more time consuming to transcribe. Keep in mind that every recording is unique just like its resulting transcript is, so you should consider the criteria below as guidelines only.
HIGH-QUALITY MICROPHONE
NEARBY MICROPHONE
NO ACCENTS
NO BACKGROUND NOISE OR MUSIC
NO FOREGROUND NOISE
HIGH-VOLUME RECORDINGS
NO CROSSTALK
SCRIPTED SPEECH
NO SPECIALIZED TERMINOLOGY
ONE TO TWO SPEAKERS
PRIVATE SETTINGS
HIGH-QUALITY MICROPHONE
NEARBY MICROPHONE
NO ACCENTS
NO BACKGROUND NOISE OR MUSIC
NO FOREGROUND NOISE
MODERATE-VOLUME RECORDINGS
LIGHT CROSSTALK
SOME UNSCRIPTED SPEECH
NO SPECIALIZED TERMINOLOGY
ONE TO THREE SPEAKERS
PRIVATE SETTINGS
LOW-QUALITY OR DISTANT MICROPHONE
LIGHT ACCENTS
LIGHT BACKGROUND NOISE OR MUSIC
LIGHT FOREGROUND NOISE
SOME LOW VOLUME SECTIONS
LIGHT CROSSTALK
UNSCRIPTED SPEECH
SOME SPECIALIZED TERMINOLOGY
ONE TO FOUR SPEAKERS
PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SETTINGS
LOW-QUALITY OR DISTANT MICROPHONE
ACCENTS
BACKGROUND NOISE OR MUSIC
FOREGROUND NOISE
MUFFLED/QUIET RECORDINGS
HEAVY CROSSTALK
UNSCRIPTED SPEECH
RAPID SPEECH
SPECIALIZED TERMINOLOGY
MULTIPLE SPEAKERS
FOCUS GROUPS
PHONE CALLS
PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SETTINGS
At 1-888-TYPE-IT-UP our draft transcripts (comparable to other transcription companies' services) are best only for recordings with good- or average-quality audio, whereas our premium and ultra transcripts best handle the more time-consuming nature of semi-difficult and difficult audio. One recorded hour of semi-difficult audio requires about an extra half-workday to transcribe (four hours). Difficult audio requires at least double the amount of time to transcribe or an additional full workday to transcribe (eight hours).
Why choose premium or ultra transcripts for difficult audio?
Unlike our competitors, we believe in paying our transcriptionists a living wage. Difficult audio is the number-one factor that increases the time it takes to transcribe. When you pay the higher cost for our premium and ultra transcripts, the extra money you spend goes toward paying the transcriptionists and transcript editors a significant bonus that ensures they not only spend extra time immersing themselves in your files but that they also receive fair compensation for their extra time. Through living wages and fair compensation, we are able to attract the highest talent in the transcription industry, provide word-for-word auditing of your source material, and deliver on timely, reliable terms.
I've been quoted a lower price by another transcription service. Why choose 1-888-TYPE-IT-UP?
Always be sure to read the fine print. Nearly every transcription company does not guarantee turnaround times on difficult audio. In today's economy, we completely understand the budget constraints everyone is facing, but we know how important timely delivery is too. At 1-888-TYPE-IT-UP the higher cost of premium and ultra transcripts ensures multiple people can transcribe and audio-audit your difficult-audio files even in the shortest of time constraints.
In short, the difference in paying extra for premium- and ultra-premium-quality transcription can mean the difference of receiving your transcript tomorrow or next month. Unlike other transcription services, we guarantee turnaround times even in cases of difficult audio, making us the reliable choice for your transcription needs, no matter how complex or challenging they may be.
