Etranscript Transcription and Typing Services - Audio Quality for Interview Transcription

Audio Quality for Speeches and Interviews

In order to ensure a high-quality audio recording and a resultant high-quality transcript, you will need to refer to the user manual you received when purchasing your recording device.

Certain audio file formats (uncompressed formats) render a high resolution sound file e.g. wav. Audio recordings of this nature are generally easier to transcribe as the sound clarity is superior. Also, a high resolution sound file affords us the opportunity to process the file to gain additional clarity where factors such as background conversations or movement in the room may have rendered portions of the audio difficult to discern.

Also take note of the following pointers that may affect quality of the recorded audio.

1. Positioning the recording device
2. Background noise
3. Audio file editing and file conversion
4. Challenging Audio
5. Conversion from tape media to digital audio

1. Positioning of the recording device

Placement of the microphone or recording device is key to ensuring audio quality that can be transcribed as quickly and as accurately as possible. If, for example, you are conducting a research interview, it is a good idea to place the recording device as close as possible to the interviewee; while you, as the interviewer / researcher, ensure that you speak loudly enough in order that your voice input is captured clearly.

Some recording devices provide an external microphone that can be pinned to the interviewee's shirt or dress to ensure optimum recording of the input. Where an external microphone is not available or even a group situation, it is important to position both the delegates and the recording device/s for maximum sound capture.

2. Background noise

The amount of background noise contained in the recording will affect the clarity of the speaker's words. The movement of people in and out of the room; passing traffic; sirens; music; additional background conversations; and even the sound of an air conditioner can muffle the voice of the speaker.

3. Audio File Editing and File Conversion

If, for example, you were conducting an interview which was interrupted - resulting in 10 to 15 minutes of silence - and you then wish to delete this portion of the recording, please bear in mind that unless you are using professional sound editing software, the quality of the entire audio file may be compromised by this action.

It would be best, in a situation such as this one, to leave the recording untouched and we'll listen to the silence. Some of my clients send notes such as "at 47 min 5 sec - Rose takes a telephone call. There is no need to transcribe this. The interview resumes at 50 min15 sec"; or "the meeting was interrupted at 17 min and a conversation ensues regarding the timing of the lunch break. It is not necessary to transcribe this conversation" ; or "there is a conversation in this recording about William's new car, it is not necessary to type this".

4. Challenging Audio

It's impossible to get studio sound quality when recording an interview with a small recording device in a restaurant! For instance, in the case of student researchers working within tight budget constraints, it's not always possible to purchase expensive recording equipment. We then have to work with the equipment available and the resulting audio quality. If possible, save this audio in a high resolution sound format e.g. wav; we can then attempt to process this audio file to gain clarity.

It may be that you have already recorded all your interviews and are now at the stage of looking for transcription services; and you're aware that some or all of the audio constitutes "challenging" audio for the transcriptionist. Don't despair! As transcriptionists, we are accustomed to receiving very challenging audio. We will endeavor to transcribe all audio files received and to produce the best possible transcript given the limiting factors. We will let you know in instances where the quality of the audio deems it "not viable" for transcription.

5. Conversion from tape media to digital audio

It is possible to have your micro and mini cassette recordings converted to digital audio. We have received such audio files and we find that the audio quality is only slightly impacted. These conversion recordings tend to produce a large file size in order to retain audio quality. Audio files of a larger size can be sent to via our internet transfer facility.