Transcription Blog - The Story So Far

I started this transcription blog to learn more about transcription and to share what I learn with you - the reader. Transcription is my job.  It's also a passion of mine.  It's given me all that I have and I appreciate it.

And, this blog is a way for me to give back, and a huge experiment.

Top 10 Keyboard Shortcuts Every Transcriber Should Know

Using keyboard shortcuts reduces the time taken to transcribe an audio transcription.  It generally assists speed typing and hence, improve the productivity of a transcriber or transcriptionist. 

In the world of transcriptions, turnaround time (TAT) is the most important criterion of a transcriber's efficiency, apart from accuracy or quality.

Turnaround time simply means the time taken, from the time a dictation is received by the transcription company from a client, to return the completed final transcript of a dictation.

An excellent transcriber should maintain a TAT of 1:5.  That is, a dictation of 1 minute audio should be typed up in 5 minutes.  Hence, using keyboard shortcuts is one simple yet effective way to save time and get transcriptions done faster.

Below are my top 10 keyboard shortcuts recommended for every transcriber or proofreader to memorize and use, daily, to improve productivity.

Adapt vs Adopt

This is the third installation of English grammar tips!

Transcription HQ blog updates you with Grammar tips and issues with respect to transcription, transcribers and typists.

Our focus now is the commonly confused words or homonyms.

Today's update is on Adapt vs Adopt.

Adapt vs Adopt
Adapt – To adjust to different conditions.
Eg: This is a species that has adapted well to winter climes.


Adopt – To choose, to accept, to take and follow.

Eg: The teachers of primary school have adopted a new style of teaching math.

Hope this helps clear any confusion.  If not, drop in a comment.
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Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys for Transcribers

Microsoft Word is the most popular word processor used by transcribers.  Therefore, mastering this software is a must for any transcriber doing transcription.

The use of shortcuts in MS Word is one way to complete our work faster and more efficiently.  Learning and habitually using them reduces time spent on transcribing and our overall efficiency is improved.  Keeping that in mind, below is the list of shortcuts key for MS Word for transcribers and proofreaders.

Freelance Transcription: The Potential in Numbers (Make upto $6,600 per month!)

Freelance transcription is a promising career in terms of flexibility of lifestyle, how much money one makes and the prospect of potentially transforming your freelance transcription business to a full-fledged transcription business, employing other transcriptionists.

How to Start a Transcription Business [ebook]

Length: 54 pages

Format: Ebook in PDF format

Your Easy-to-Follow, Step-by-Step Guide Shows You: How to Start Your Own Transcription Business

Transcription services are always in demand and this is the perfect service to provide from home. A transcriptionist can work for various companies and individuals, transcribing voice recordings into text. All it takes is a computer, a bit of other inexpensive equipment and you can set up your own home transcription office.

Guide to Starting a Transcription Biz (Aff. Link) will show you how to become a transcriber/transcriptionist and start a transcription business right from the comforts of your home.

Not only that, it will show you how to find clients and more...

Transcription Tips #2: Access vs Excess

This is the second installation of Transcription Tips.

Transcription Blog updates you with transcription tips, English grammar and issues with respect to transcription, transcribers and typists.

Our focus now is the commonly confused words or homonyms.

Today's update is on access and excess.

Access and excess are two very common words in our daily lives.  However, we often confuse between the two and sometimes incorrectly use them, too.  The simple explanations below should help different between access and excess.  However, if you are still dazed, just drop in a comment!   

Access – A means of approaching, or making use of,
Eg: Tom has the permission to access Tim’s account.

Excess – An amount or quantity beyond what is normal or sufficient; a surplus.
Eg: Profit is the excess of sales over costs.

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Freelance Transcription: How to work from home

Working from home has a lot of appeal with the increase use of internet the world over.  A lot of women, especially married women with kids, can now stay at home and work from home because of the internet.

Working from home or freelancing is an attractive option for any one who doesn't want to spend their lives working for the 'man'.  Starting a freelancing career is really low cost and low-risk, if you plan for it.

10 Tips to Record a crystal clear Audio Dictation for transcription

Outsourcing transcription to a transcription service company may be the best business decision you could have taken. It saves you cost, time, and generally, you gain all the advantages of having a large administrative staff.

That's all true.  However, with little or no effort, you can still improve the results you get from your transcription service provider.

Transcription GW: Accept vs Except

Introducing Grammar Wednesday here at Transcription HQ!
I am very excited to introduce Grammar Wednesday where you'll be updated with the most confusing homonyms in a transcriber's transcript as well as other Grammar issues face daily by a transcriber.

So, without further ado, here's the first installation of Grammar Wednesday - Accept vs Except!

Accept – Agree to take an object, suggestion etc. that is offered; agree that a belief, explanation etc. is valid.
Eg: She accepted his criticism of the project, and decided to change some details.

Except – Prevent from being included or considered or accepted - not including
Eg: He bought a gift for everyone except me.
I know everyone here except the children.
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Transcription: Commonly Confused Homonyms

When transcribing and typing, it's rather difficult to distinguish similar sounding words called homonyms.  Transcribers' ignorance of its individual meaning adds to the confusion.

Excellent transcriptionist with excellent English grammar may not face such problems.  But, if that's not you, check the list below and learn their meanings.

The trick is simply to know what each word means and, to always keep in mind the context or subject matter you are transcribing about. 

Podcast transcription for bloggers and online content producers

This is a short post to let you know that I also maintain another blog specifically on podcast transcription.

This is : TranscriptionistForBloggers.com

Podcast transcription is a new transcription services niche that focuses on providing transcripts to bloggers and online content producers - news sites, blogs, video bloggers, podcasters, online courses and programs, membership sites.

Podcast transcription can help produce more content for your online business and therefore, make more money online, sell more products and skyrocket your conversion rate!

Check out the blog and profit from it!
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5 Characteristics of Highly Successful Transcriptionists

Today I am intrigued, as I look around me, to see what sets highly successful transcriptionists apart from other transcriptionists.  Are they different from you and me?  What characteristics do they have that we don't?

I can see a lot of common attributes in them.  In order to be more successful in the transcription industry as a transcriber one has to practice and cultivate these, what I call, 5 characteristics of highly successful transcriptionists.

30+ US Transcription Service Companies

List of US transcription companies

1. http://www.tscripts.com/
2. http://www.gmrtranscription.com/busines ... ption.aspx
3. http://www.professionalsupportservice.com
4. http://www.sten-tel.com/other.asp
5. http://www.scriptacom.com/
6. http://www.escriptionist.com/escriptionist/
7. http://www.samedaytranscriptions.com/
8. http://www.chromolumeinc.com/
9. http://www.ubiqus.com/
10. http://www.productiontranscripts.com/
11. http://www.ctran.com/e
12. http://www.avazgroupllc.com/
13. http://www.cyberdictate.com/
14. http://www.fdch.com
15. http://www.tigerfish.com
16. http://www.accentance.com/trans.htm
17. http://usetask.com/description.html
18. http://www.nealrgross.com/employment.htm
19. http://www.wordzxpressed.com/
20. http://www.moderndayscribe.com/
21. http://www.mountainwestprocessing.com/employment.htm
22. http://athometypingservice.com/
23. http://www.vosstranscription.com
24. http://www.leeperfect.com
25. http://www.tech-synergy.com/ (requires major exp. But pays for it) 
26. http://www.prolegalservices.com/
27. http://www.wordprocessingandmore.com/
28. http://www.capitaltranscripts.com/
29. http://www.speak-write.com/
30. podwriters.wordpress.com 
31. http://www.worldwidedictation.com/dicta ... vices.html (possibly hires in Canada)
32. http://www.evoluz.com/workforevoluz.html
33. http://theadminsource.com/
34. http://www.transcriptionsservice.com/about.html
35. http://www.managedoutsource.com/ (medical, legal, general, data entry, coding. You name it, they probably do it)

This list will be updated regularly.  It's not exhaustive by any stretch. 


If you know of other transcription companies within US, please feel free to add in the comments below4X6BQZW9U5A5
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25+ Canadian Transcription Service Companies

Transcription companies that hire Canadian transcriptionists: 

** located in Canada

1. http://www.transcriptdivas.ca **
2. Http://www.securescribe.ca **
3. http://typists.quicktate.com/transcribers/signup
4. http://www.gmrtranscription.com/
5. http://www.varietyworkathome.com/transc ... t-home-job
6. (http://typists.quicktate.com/transcribers/signup)
7. http://www.idictate.com/
8. http://www.northpacificmedtrans.com **
9. http://www.nettranscripts.com
10. http://www.onlineandontime.com/ ** 
11. http://www.digitscribe.ca/ ** 
12. http://www.accutranglobal.com/transcription.html ** 
13. http://www.scribetrans.com/ ** 
14. http://berkeleytranscripts.com/employment/
15. http://www.fdch.com
16. http://www.tigerfish.com
17. http://www.productiontranscripts.com/
18. http://typist.youdictate.com/
19. http://www.stenotran.com/
20. http://www.ubiqus.com/
21. http://www.outsec.co.uk/
22. http://theadminsource.com/
23. http://www.speak-write.com/
24. podwriters.wordpress.com 
25. http://www.evoluz.com/workforevoluz.html
26. http://www.creativepages.ca/index.htm**

This list will be updated regularly.  It's not exhaustive by any stretch. 

If you know of other transcription companies within Canada, please feel free to add in the comments below

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10+ Australian Transcription Service Companies

Below is a list of Australian Transcription Service Companies.

1. http://www.pacificsolutions.com.au/
2. http://www.ozescribe.com.au/
3. http://www.atranscription.com.au/
4. http://www.pacifictranscription.com.au/
5. http://www.thetranscriptionpeople.com.au/
6. http://www.transcriptionaustralia.com/ (WayWithWords)
7. http://www.syberscribe.com/
8. http://www.sydneytranscriptionservices.com.au/index.php
9. http://www.auscript.com.au/
10. http://www.smartdocs.com.au/

This list will be updated regularly.  If you know of other transcription companies within Australia, please feel free to add in the comments below.

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13+ UK Transcription Service Companies

Below is a list of UK transcription companies

1. http://www.fingertipstyping.co.uk/
2. http://www.wjs-typing.co.uk/
3. http://www.amrchoicesolutions.co.uk/
4. http://www.deewp.co.uk/
5. http://www.dtfl.co.uk/
6. http://www.outsec.co.uk/ ** hires worldwide 
7. http://www.typefast2.co.uk/
8. http://www.voicepath.net/ ** legal exp required 
9. http://wjs-typing.co.uk/
10. http://www.word-for-word.co.uk/
11. http://www.voba.co.uk/careers.htm
12. http://www.take1.tv/
13. http://transcriptdivas.co.uk/
14. http://www.accuro.co.uk/
15. Sterling Transcription
16. TypeOut - Transcription Services

This list will be updated regularly.  If you know of other transcription companies within UK please feel free to add in the comments below.
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11 Reasons to provide transcripts of your podcasts (and make more money online)

Do you have transcripts of your podcasts on your blog or website? Do you know why Problogger, one of the biggest blogs, is providing transcript of his video podcast?

Most podcast bloggers fail to take advantage of their podcasts fully.

How to become a Freelance Transcriptionist

In this age of outsourcing and crowdsourcing, there is tremendous prospect for the work at home types. Freelance work is more attractive than even before.

As I myself turn to freelance work from being a fulltime transcriptionist I thought it'd be useful if I jot down some thoughts on becoming a transcriptionist.

How to Choose an Excellent Transcription Services Company

Every law firm, blogger, writer, journalist, real estate firm or company is spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing the right transcription services company.

While there are hundreds of transcription services companies to choose from, not all of them will meet your standards or your needs.  That's the truth.

What is Podcast Transcription?

According to Wikipedia: A podcast (or netcast) is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication.

With the adoption of podcasts by bloggers and webmaster to cater to wider audience and reach, comes the need to have transcripts of these podcasts on their websites or blogs.

What is Media Transcription?

Media transcription involves converting documentaries, films, podcasts, television shows, reality shows, news, talk shows, radio broadcasts, interviews, video taped events, raw footage etc into text.

In a massive industry like the media where time is money, production and media houses cannot afford to spend many hours transcribing film or television content.

7 Reasons Why Law Firms Outsource Legal Transcription Work

Law firms and solicitors have been known to outsource their legal transcription work to legal transcription companies. Law firms have been outsourcing before "outsourcing" becomes part of our business processes.

When I was new to this legal transcription profession, I often wondered why law firms outsource at all.  Can't they simply type these documents up themselves? 

How to Become an Excellent Transcriber

Within six months of joining a transcription company as TC (typist/transcriber) I was promoted to QC (Quality Checker) from a novice transcriber.  In the following short two years, I was made Team Coordinator, and then Assistant Team Leader.

And in doing so, I more than tripled my salary in 3 years as a legal transcriber!

How did I do that?

Well, I have these few secrets that help me to be a better transcriber.  These are what I call my secret sure-fire ways to be a better transcriber.

Not Making enough money online? Read This!

Not making enough money from your blog or website? It's frustrating, isn't it?

You have done what all the probloggers and online marketing ninjas tell you to do - SEO, podcasting, guest blogging, article marketing, you know, the whole shebang?

What is Transcription?

With globalization, outsourcing has become the norm in business.  Organizations and individuals are always looking to maximize their profit and minimize their costs.  Also, to improve their overall efficiency outsourcing is a must.

Although transcription is a very small portion of the global outsourcing volume, this has been increasing steadily.

Transcription career: 7 steps to promotions and glories

Getting promotion is not always about getting a raise and being content in your transcription career. It’s not about that fleeting lift you get from being looked up by other transcribers and being among the inner circle of the heavy-weights in your office.

It’s more about a step towards fulfilling your life’s goals and dreams. It’s all about the fulfillment of your personality and being the best you can be, as a legal transcriber. It’s about reaping more dividends from the talents you were bestowed upon.

Transcription: How to Become a Legal Transcriptionist

Have you been wondering how one becomes a legal transcriptionist? What makes one a legal transcriptionist? Are there courses or books that help you become a legal transcriptionist?

If you are pondering these questions this post is for you, my friend. This is quite a long post as I want you to come out of it with a true understanding of being a transcriptionist. I want to provide as much value as possible in every post I publish. So buckle up and enjoy the read.

What is Legal Transcription?

Legal transcription is the process of converting audio recorded dictations into text relating to law and courts.

Transcription process involves recording dictations and then typing out these recorded dictations using word processors such as MS Word or WordPerfect.

How do transcription companies charge for transcription services

Transcription services provided by transcription companies are utilized by law firm, real estate firms, corporates, writers, bloggers (podcasts), academics and others.

Transcription is the process of converting audio recordings called dictations into text usually using word processors (MS Word), an audio player and a foot pedal.