FAQ

It depends on a few circumstances.

1. The recording quality. Background disturbances, speakers talking too softly, coughing and/or sneezing, banging and clanging of objects, several attendees speaking at once or aside conversations, speakers are not talking into the microphone, not enough audio visual equipment for the venue, and other peripherals such as a computer for a PowerPoint presentation overpowering the speaker’s voice.
2. The more people, the more time. Focus groups, conferences, and meetings where you typically have multiple participants will increase the transcription time significantly. One-on-one interviews do not fit into this category because usually it is two people speaking, one asking questions and another answering questions.
3. Heavy or strong accents take more time. It may be necessary to listen a few times to understand what the speaker is saying.
4. Non-verbatim transcripts take good listening skills and are more challenging than verbatim transcripts. Following closely and deciphering what the speaker is trying to convey, punctuating the document properly, editing empty words such as uh-huh, you knows, etc., takes time. With verbatim transcripts, you are typing exactly what the speaker is saying so there is nothing to really think about, other than punctuation.
5. Fast-talking Speakers. Speakers talking extremely fast so their words run together can also contribute to the complexity of transcription, requiring careful listening and additional time to accurately capture the spoken content.

Note: Please note that the length of the audio is different than the amount of transcription time, since individuals speak faster than they type.

Make sure the speakers identify themselves each and every time they speak. This may seem like a nuisance, but it is impossible for the transcriptionist to always identify a speaker each and every time when other speakers are commenting in between and there is no distinct difference such as an accent that stands out. Typically, we put “Male” or “Female” if we are unable to identify the speaker.

Digital formats such as .MP3, .wav, or .dss are great and convienient for audio files.

Our rates are industry standard and competitive. They reflect the professional and reliable service we provide. We save you time and money because of low error rates. Highly skilled personnel and tight quality control procedures are the reason for these low rates. All recordings are run twice and proofread at no extra cost. We go the extra mile for our clients. You can see what our customers are saying. Take a look at our testimonials.

Turnaround times vary depending on the project and the amount of audio. Whenever possible, we aim to maintain continuity in the project to ensure cohesiveness. Of course, we are flexible depending on your specific deadline.

Yes, we can. We just request that you reach out to us in advance to discuss your project, so we can adequately plan and assign the appropriate staff members to complete your project in the specified time-frame.

Yes, we do. The rate is substantially higher because it becomes necessary to work holidays, weekends, and literally around the clock to meet your deadline.

It is extremely important. All transcriptionists and staff members must sign a disclosure and confidentiality agreement, which explicitly states that legal action will be taken if necessary. Additionally, a 24/7 computer technician is in place to ensure confidentiality.