The common misconception is that transcriptions are the same as captions, subtitles, or translations. While this might sound similar, translations convert the source language to the target language, whereas transcriptions focus on creating text in the same language. Transcription services have a long and rich history, dating back to ancient civilizations. In this blog, I will briefly explain transcription and its significance in improving efficiency and accessibility along with industry use.
What are Transcriptions?
Transcriptions are texts created by converting the speech heard from video or audio to written text. In layperson terms, transcriptions are the first step to all these processes. ‘Transcription ’ means “script,” which denotes written text. Hence, it involves writing a text by listening to whatever is said. Its commonly used to improve the accessibility and searchability of the content.
Transcription dates back to ancient Egypt around 3400 BCE, where scribes recorded crucial information for the pharaohs on stone and papyrus. Early civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China relied on transcription for preserving knowledge, religious and legal documentation, and administrative record-keeping. As alphabets developed, transcription became more standardized and accessible. The 19th-century invention of the typewriter sped up transcription, and tape recorders in the 1970s expanded its use. In the digital age, the internet and new technology have made transcription services more efficient, accessible, and essential across various industries
Transcriptions consist of mainly two types:
Verbatim Transcription: These transcripts consist of text formed from converting every word of the spoken content of audio or video, including the filler words such as “ehh,” “hmm,” “ohh,” repeated words, grammatical errors, and more. These transcripts are orientated towards disabled people, thus improving accessibility. They are perfect for conferences and the legal and medical fields.
Edited Transcription: The filler words are edited from these transcripts, which consist of only the necessary spoken content of audio or video. This format is ideal for educational videos focused on delivering the content smoothly.
Transcription can be executed using a machine or a human. While machine transcription consists of speech-to-text software, the accuracy of those texts will be extremely low. Thus, they are only appropriate for fields where accurate and detailed text is optional.
However, human transcription is done by trained individuals (known as Transcribers), who transcribe the text manually or through software that ensures the originality of the audio/video.
Transcribing large amounts of data demands a lot more trained transcriber. This is where services such as Textar come into play. It supports your large-scale demands while offering you ideal and accurate transcripts.
What’s the need for transcriptions?
Where do you require the transcription services? Of course, you might need it for the following reasons:
Compliance with WCAG Guidelines: Transcripts are recommended to be included for WCAG Level A.
Improving Accessibility: Transcribing your audio and video content assists in making it accessible to a broader audience, including disabled people. Thus, it improves your brand reputation through your social impact.
Subtitling and Captioning: Subtitles and captions can be formed using audio or video transcripts.
Efficient recording and documentation: Transcripts serve as standard references for business meetings, conferences, and police investigations. Thus, they save time that would have been wasted revisiting long hours of audio.
SEO Benefits: Transcripts consist of exclusive keywords that improve your search rank.
Significance of Transcription
Accurate and thorough transcription is significant for different fields, such as:
Thus, transcriptions are gaining importance in various sectors regarding accessibility, accuracy, and positive outcomes. Since it is a time and energy-consuming process, outsourcing to ideal transcription services is the perfect choice. In that case, Textar will be your ideal partner to provide accurate, reliable transcripts, thus maintaining your data integrity. Need to transcribe any material or content? Drop a mail to sales@timbel.net.
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