Interested to Become a Transcriptionist?

WHAT IS A TRANSCRIPTION SERVICE?

A transcription service is a process which converts speech (either live or recorded audio/video) into a written or electronic text document. Transcription services are often provided for business, legal, or medical purposes. And let me remind you it's not just about how fast you can type.

According to Janet Shaughnessy:

"While fast typing is absolutely a requirement to be a great transcriptionist, how you type and what you type actually matter so much more.

Formatting and correct punctuation and spelling are what make an excellent transcript. Who cares how fast you can type if you don't know the difference between a hyphen and an em dash or if you mix up word pairs such as principal and principle. Clients sure don't. You'll be hard pressed to keep any transcription job or client you come across unless you truly master these items. How do you master them? Practice.  That's why our transcription courses include multiple levels of practice with real audio and video. By the time you're done with our practice modules, you'll have the confidence you need to take on real-world clients.

As a transcriptionist, you listen to speech, and using special software, you convert it into text.

Once that’s done, you’ve got a permanent written record of that speech. That’s invaluable. Why? Because it makes all kinds of meetings and events searchable. No one has time to fast-forward and rewind through hours of a seminar, but they do have time to hit Ctrl+F and search for what they’re looking for. And what if the audio’s bad? Reading is a breeze in comparison. Transcripts make things easier."

Yes, take it from her. Janet has been a transcriptionist for over 30 years.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF TRANSCRIPTION SERVICE?

GENERAL TRANSCRIPTION deals with those audio notes which do not require knowledge of a specialized vocabulary. There is no end to general transcription and it can be practically related to anything. It includes Phone answering machines messages, interviews, conferences, and dictations.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION. In order to get a job as a medical transcriptionist, you will need to be an excellent typist with experience in the medical field. You will need to understand complex medical terminology and follow voice dictation and written transcription.

 LEGAL TRANSCRIPTION is converting audio dictation by legal professionals and other recordings from legal cases into the printed word. Like medical transcription, which transcribes a physician's dictated notes, this type of transcription requires specialized knowledge of terms used in the field.

WHO USES TRANSCRIPTION SERVICE? IS THERE A DEMAND FOR IT?

Doctors, legal professionals, radio programs, seminar speakers, podcasters — the list goes on — all use transcriptionists.

With the popularity of video throughout the internet, bloggers and entrepreneurs around the world are turning to transcription to ensure their video content can easily be found by search engines.

Did you know that best-selling authors use transcription service? They speak their entire book while having it recorded, then simply have it transcribed and edited into a book. Legal professionals know that an accurate, well-written transcript can make or break their case. Even religious leaders can use copies of their sermons for future reference or for publishing on the web.

WHAT ARE THE EQUIPMENT USED IN TRANSCRIBING?

 
•  Computer. It doesn't have to be an expensive one. You can get started with a basic computer that can run Windows and some word processing software.
•  Internet Connection. If you will be transcribing digital audio files that you must download over the Internet then a high-speed connection is a must
•  Word Processing Software. Many computers come with Microsoft Office. You need to have and be able to use this.
•  Audio Playback Software. Express Scribe is the software of choice for most transcriptionists. But of course, there are other choices. Some are totally free and some require a small fee.
•  Foot Pedal. It is used to stop and start a sound file so it allows the transcriptionist to navigate
  
  through audio files with their feet. It gives your fingers freedom to type away as you control the recorded file with your feet. However, this is optional because you can control the playback of an audio or video file with the keyboard's function keys. But it is still better to have one.
•  Headphone. Invest in a good headphone.
  
  Sometimes audio files may have a lot of external noise. The stethoscope type transcriber headset is highly recommended.

The content of this post is just a tip of an iceberg. As I mentioned above, transcription job isn't just about how fast you can type. If you are really serious to about this job, you might wanna learn more here . 

I'll give you the list of the companies that offer work from home transcription jobs for newbies on my next post. See ya!

UPDATE!
List of Transcription Companies Hiring Newbies Worldwide can now be viewed here.