Types of Transcription

There are several types of transcription. In this article, we shall discuss 10 of the most common types of transcription.

Before we do that, let us ask ourselves this question – what is transcription?

Transcription is the process of listening to audio or video files, then converting the audio content into written text.

Transcription is carried out by listening to audio recordings such as speeches, seminars, meetings, videos, podcasts among others.

In essence, a transcriptionist usually listens to an audio file and then, types what the audio file contains into a text document.

Transcription is utilized in many spheres including research, legal proceedings, medical documentation, academic purposes, journalism, content creation among others.

Transcription can be done manually or via automated technology – however, technology may fail at times thereby producing undesired results.

There are several guidelines that a transcriber should follow depending on the type of transcription they are undertaking.

There are two main categories of transcription namely:

Verbatim – in this category, the live event or recording captures word by word and exact spoken words such as stutters, pauses, and any other noise.

Non-Verbatim – Non-Verbatim on the other hand excludes all unnecessary speech like stutters therefore producing more readable transcripts without changing the structure or meaning of the audio.

In addition, each of the above has its own requirements and guidelines that a transcriber should follow.

Transcription Processes

There are four processes that should be observed when one is transcribing. These processes help so much in producing high-quality transcripts.

They are :

Listening – a transcriptionist should make sure they listen and hear what the audio recording contains.

It is good practice to always identify difficult-to-hear and unclear sections of the recording.

Transcribing – this is an important process that entails converting spoken words into written text.

A transcriber should be accurate as possible in capturing the content including the sentences, pauses, words, and speaker identification if needed.

Formatting – in this step, a transcriptionist should apply formatting guidelines in order to structure the text as required.

The guidelines may include adding time stamps if required, properly punctuating the text, and adding paragraph breaks.

Editing and Proofreading – this is a very crucial step in the transcription arena. A transcriber must polish their transcript by making sure that the transcript is clear, accurate, and coherent.

It is also advisable to make the necessary revisions in order to produce an error-free and polished transcript by checking on grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Below we discuss the 10 common types of transcription…

There are diverse types of transcription that spread into many fields and spheres. Below we highlight the 10 most common ones.

General Transcription

In general transcription, a transcriptionist will transcribe all types of transcription apart from medical transcription.

Additionally and to some extent, the transcriber may not undertake legal transcription.

This is so because medical and legal transcription requires some level of knowledge mainly in regard to medical and legal terms.

It is worth noting that some forms of legal transcription may fall under general transcription as noted in paragraph two above.

General transcriptionists do not specialize in any specific field and can transcribe assignments from different spheres apart from medical and select legal work.

Below are forms of transcription that a general transcriptionist may transcribe:

• Podcasts
• Videos
• Webcasts
• Lectures
• Conferences
• Radio shows
• Interviews
• Forums
• Meetings
• Speeches among others

Medical Transcription

Medical transcription is the process of transcribing recordings and dictations by health professionals such as doctors, nurses, and general practitioners.

This type of transcription requires the knowledge of medical terminology and often follows a set of guidelines in regard to documentation. Medical transcriptionists must adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which addresses the need to safeguard Protected Health Information (PHI).

In addition, it also requires specific formatting and is mainly done by medical transcriptionists.

Legal Transcription

Legal transcription involves the process of transcribing legal proceedings like depositions, legal dictations, and court proceedings.

To ensure the integrity of the transcripts, accuracy, attention to detail, and a good knowledge of legal terminology is very crucial.

Technical Transcription

Technical transcription involves converting technical–related audio or video files into written text.

Technical fields may include IT, scientific research, engineering, etc.

To be a technical transcriber, one needs to have deep knowledge and understanding of technical concepts and terminology.

Financial Transcription

Financial transcription refers to transcribing of audio or video files in the financial sphere.

These may include investor meetings, financial expert interviews, and financial reports, among others.

Knowledge and understanding of financial terminology coupled with accuracy are important aspects of this type of transcription.

Media Transcription

Media transcription mainly deals with converting audio or video files into text. Media transcription deals with media-related content such as films, documentaries, television shows, or podcasts.

In addition, it may also include video captions, on-screen descriptions, or dialogues.

Business Transcription

In business transcription, a transcriptionist transcribes business-related content such as presentations, conferences, meetings, and market research interviews.

This type of transcription helps in creating business reports, analyzing data, and documenting important business discussions among others.

Academic Transcription

Academic transcription is related to the education sphere and is used to convert educational seminars, lectures, and research interviews among others from audio to text.

Academic transcripts can be very beneficial in note-taking, research, and information accessibility among other benefits.

Time-Stamped Transcription

In time time-stamped transcription, the main aim is to add time codes or time stamps at regular intervals within the transcript.

This helps in referencing specific sections of the audio and is very useful for content analysis and video captioning.

Focus Group Transcription

Focus group transcription is for transcribing group discussions, market research interviews, and consumer research sessions.

This type of transcription aims at capturing multiple speakers and their individual opinions accurately.

To Sum it Up

Overall, transcription is a critical and important aspect of making spoken content accessible and searchable.

Additionally,  it makes the spoken content usable in a written form allowing for easy analysis, reference, and timely dissemination of information.

Transcription can be done by human transcribers in a manual mode or by software via Automated Speech Recognition (ASR)

However, with the software method, there is a chance of errors as discussed above. This may need a human transcriber to re-check and correct errors adding to the overall cost.

Let us Work on Your Transcription Files

With the above types of transcription, all spheres and verticals are covered. With us, you can be guaranteed error-free transcripts.

We do undertake all types of transcription and our turnaround times and the quality of our work are as agreed with our clients.

Kindly engage us so that we plan and execute your transcription work now.