How to Transcribe an Interview

Meta: Do you know how you can go about transcribing an interview in 2020? Read some of our tips for making this possible here in this article.

When you complete an interview, you typically do so with a voice recorder or a camera with a microphone. So, what happens if you want to turn this audio into text quickly so that you can post it online? Transcription is a common task that some people do manually and others use software to complete.

In this guide, we are going to offer some tips that you can use to properly transcribe an interview. Read on to hear what these are.

Getting a Good Interview

Before you even think about transcribing an interview, you need to make sure that you conduct the interview properly. If your audio is low quality, you might not be able to make out all of the words as they are said. If you are using software to create the transcription, this can be even more difficult. Additionally, you will want to make sure that the interview is completed at a natural speed and not rushed for a good transcription.

Choosing Your Method

In the past, transcription of interviews was all done manually by hand. This is still an option in 2020 but it can be incredibly tedious and time-consuming. There are now some excellent transcription software options that you can utilise to nail your transcription. Some have 99% accuracy and can transcribe a document very quickly. Of course, you will have to pay for this software. So, make your decision before you proceed.

WEBYDO: Build your Dream Website

Full Verbatim or Verbatim?

Another thing that you should consider when you are planning on transcribing an interview is the level of detail that you hope to achieve. There are two main options when it comes to transcription and the choice is down to you. Full verbatim refers to a transcription that includes all of the false starts, laughter and any pauses. However, verbatim simply refers to an edited transcript that omits things like false starts. The decision will likely depend on what you will be using the transcription for so make sure to consider this.

Check It Over

It doesn’t hurt to spend some time reading over your transcription as there could be some errors. While some software will offer 99% accuracy, there could be a small margin for error. If you are performing your transcription by hand, there is even more room for error. Spend some time checking your transcription and make any edits where you see fit. This will help you to get the best out of your transcription.

Use These Tips

Transcribing an interview doesn’t have to be difficult, as long as you know what you are doing. Make sure to take on board all of the tips that we have given you and this should help you to get it right the first time. Don’t forget to consider whether full verbatim or verbatim will be right for you. You can use your transcription for so many purposes and these can be very effective alongside a video or podcast online.

Information Security and Compliance Trends for 2018