Transcription is the process of taking an audio or video file with spoken words and typing it into a text file. Transcription was originally created and designed to assist Egyptian kings and their governments in 3400 BCE.
Today, general transcription services are provided for businesses, academic institutions, creative or entertainment purposes, and many other fields. The most widespread type of transcription is from spoken word to text, such as an audio file being typed into an editable text document. For example, legal transcription services are sought by lawyers to reduce their burden of paperwork and generally help in case preparation.
In This Article, You’ll Know How:
- Transcription is used today across business, academic, creative, and legal fields, converting spoken words into editable text.
- Pricing models vary by line, word, minute, or hour, with turnaround times ranging from a few hours to a day, depending on factors like audio quality and speaker count.
- Choosing a reputable provider like Ditto Transcripts ensures >99% accuracy, legal admissibility, and secure U.S.-based transcription.
Examples of business transcription include transcribing audio from conferences, events, speeches, and meetings where the audio is typed into text. Some companies also transcribe recordings that are on cassette, CD, VHS, or digital sound files sent via the Internet.
Many individuals and organizations have different rates and pricing models for transcription services. Rates typically vary from per line, per word, per minute, or per hour pricing structure, which varies across different specialties, work types and audio means.
Several turnaround time (TAT) options are available and typically range from 4 hours to 24 hours for standard TAT. Of course, turnaround times and pricing may vary depending upon other factors, including, but not limited to, audio quality, pitch, volume level, English as a second language, background noise, and the number of individuals speaking.
In the United States, transcription is one of the fastest-growing, most suitable jobs for independent individuals. Five years ago, around 14 million transcriptionists were working in the US. By 2015, this number is projected to grow by another 3 million. General transcription work can be a good choice for people wanting to work from home, who want flexible hours, who are retired or someone who wants to earn additional income.
Transcription jobs were originally much more difficult than today because notes were taken by hand in person, as opposed to toda,y where audio files can be sent, shared, and stored all across the world thanks to the Internet. Also, there has been a growing demand in the legal field. For example, legal professionals use trial transcription services to have faster and accurate sources from a trial and use them for case preparation and even as a legal document, if the document comes from a transcription company that can certify transcripts, like Ditto.
In the 1970s, cassette tapes and handheld recorders made access to transcription more convenient. For example, audio could now be sent in the mail directly to the transcriptionists. Instead of being present at the physical location of the client, transcriptionists could now fulfill work for different clients in their own homes and maximize their workload.
Today, with technology like it, people can have almost anything transcribed within hours. Recording sound can be accomplished by several different means and supported by multiple formats such as WMA, DSS, WAV, MP3s.
However, the accuracy rate of transcripts from automated services is only about 61.92%, leaving a massive margin of error, which negatively impacts their purpose. Here’s how AI-based transcription compares with a reputable transcription company like Ditto.
| Feature | Automated Transcription | Ditto Transcripts |
| Accuracy | 61.92% accuracy | Guaranteed 99% accuracy |
| Certification and Compliance | Usually None | CJIS, HIPAA, and FINRA |
| Turnaround Time | Real-time or within minutes | As early as 4 hours |
| Cost | As low as ~$0.10-$0.25/min | $1.50-$5.00/min |
| Usability | Needs human touch to improve accuracy. Contains many errors which makes it not usable for many fields | Output is appropriately labeled and formatted. Requires no editing unless specified by the client |
Ditto Transcripts’ transcription pricing is affordable, especially for the quality it brings to its customers. Below is a comparison of some of the most popular transcription companies around.
Only Ditto stands out with a guaranteed >99.9% accuracy, security compliance, legal admissibility, and U.S.-based transcribers. Other companies do not meet this quality, yet they charge a higher price than we do. At Ditto, we want to help you with your transcription needs, all without breaking the bank.
With our streamlined process, getting started is fast and straightforward. Recordings can be uploaded to a computer and emailed as an attachment anywhere in the world. With today’s technology, transcriptionists can replay and rewind the audio in order to complete the report. Once completed, the transcribed report can be emailed back for printing and distribution or retrieved from a secure web-based platform.
Examples of General Transcription Services
Business & Academic
| Multimedia
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In short, examples of business and academic transcription include verbatim transcripts from recordings of conferences, lectures, meetings, and seminars. Alternatively, examples of multimedia transcription encompass captivating podcasts, YouTube videos, webinars, etc. If you have specific needs, we specialize in other industries like the legal field. Our court transcription service is a great example that uses real human transcribers who understand what happens in a courtroom and know how to make a transcript out of the event.
Ditto Transcripts is a Denver, Colorado-based transcription services company that provides fast, accurate and affordable services for individuals and companies of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote, and ask about our free five-day trial.