Having worked in transcription for over a decade, I have heard just about every transcription myth that exists. After hearing them over and over again, I decided that it is time to demystify some of these transcription myths.

1. It takes an hour to transcribe an hour long audio recording

This could be the most popular transcription myth that floats around, but it does not hold any water. It can take longer than an hour, even up to three hours or longer, to transcribe an audio file. However, this depends on some aspects including:

• The technical nature of the recording
• The accents of those captured in the recording
• The client’s formatting needs
• The transcriptionist’s general experience

Another thing to have in mind is that audio recordings with multiple speakers generally take longer to transcribe. For instance, an hour long audio recording with multiple voices could take between 3 to 4 hours to transcribe.

The transcript also goes through a confirmation stage involving listening to the recording once again. This stage takes an equally longer time than the actual length of the audio recording.

2. Transcriptionists need to be fast typists

This is one of the other myths commonly floating around about transcription. It is in actual sense not true; in a s much as fast typing skills are an added advantage when it comes to transcription, what matters most is a keen ear to get down the right information.

The first step is to have a listen at the recording and to accurately type the information.

It seems like an obvious step right?

Surprisingly, this is the most difficult phase of transcription and even the clearest recording still takes time to transcribe.

Dealing with a recording with several voices is often the toughest task, as well as working on a recording with several voices with diverse accents. It can also be a difficult task to carry out transcription for a new client or on an unfamiliar subject.

Take note of the client’s requirements and guidelines to carry out the transcription effectively.

Clients have differing needs and it is important to accurately carry out transcription according to the client’s requests. Formatting requirements, whether verbatim is needed or not and the turnaround time are important aspects to note down when initially taking on the task.

3. Transcription is simply typing, anyone can do it – it’s easy!

The number of times I have heard this could make me a millionaire if I got a dollar each time.

It is true that technology has advanced and most people have computers at home, and pretty much everyone can type. However, not everyone can transcribe; transcription involves a combination of listening skills, hearing and documenting what you have heard. As easy as it sounds, it definitely is not that easy and that is why we are not all transcriptionists.

Transcription is also not everyone’s cup of tea and most people view it as an arduous task, hence the reason why most people outsource this work to others. The work also involves a good level of research to make sure that the names of people, places and terminologies are documented correctly.

Have you ever watched a documentary about a given person and as the person seats down on an interview the shot cuts to other footage which might depict what they are talking about? A B Roll is essentially cutaways or secondary footage inserted into interviews to break the monotony of the main shot. In this article the main shot or primary shot will be a reference of the actual interview recording.

B Roll is an integral part of video recording, because it acts as a support or reinforcement of the narrative. It also adds visual flavor and interest, therefore bring life and meaning to the interview piece. B Rolls are also used to emphasize or create a visual backing of what the interviewee is talking about. For instance, if the interviewee is talking about their daily routine then it would be visually appealing to see segments of their daily routine such as taking a bus to work and working.

They do not necessarily have to match what the interviewee is saying. General images such as the interviewee interacting with family members or work mates also add visual flavor to an interview. The cutaways can also act as ‘patchwork’ allowing the video editor to present only the best shots and avoid unflattering segments of the footage. The interviewee might also use a lot of unnecessary words such as errs and ums; cutaways can also be used to seamlessly remove unnecessary audio seamlessly. The other vital use of cutaways is to join different shots together to create the final video in its entirety.

Designing the final look

Having the final look in mind helps to narrow down on the target audience and create a visually appealing end product. Crash zooms and whip pans can be used to capture the attention of a youthful audience, while drifting or slow shots may be used inversely.

The planning process is important

B Rolls do add production value and they therefore deserve proper planning to make sure that only the best footage is obtained. A shot list goes a long way when it comes to capturing cutaways. Planning the sequence of shots is also an important aspect of coming up with good cutaway footage.

Create a professional video interview

Audiences will generally not seat down and watch an entire interview which comprises of only the main shot with all its quality problems. A professional video interview takes into account that at the end of the day the audience have to be captivated and get the message being conveyed. The role of the B Roll is to essentially create a professional video interview. more on b roll transcription

Teleseminars are useful business tools and they assist in building lists used to bond and communicate with your business prospects. It can take a lot of time to plan and eventually create teleseminars, but you can get a professional to handle the work especially if you are not technically inclined. This however should not deter your spirit; teleseminars are lucrative, fun and they come with a number of benefits that you might not have imagined.

1. Replays can be run anytime you are interested in them. You don’t even have to tell other people that the teleseminar is on replay. An audience may be on call and you can have an question and answer forum and people can actually think that you are asking the questions then.
2. The teleseminar can be transcribed and the content can be transformed into a number of articles. You will get the basic structure that will be used to make re writing much easier.
3. The audios can be used to produce podcasts that can be posted on a weekly basis. This gives listeners details or information that you will not have to create. Come up with a huge list of individuals who will listen to the chunks of replay and you can purchase through the affiliate links at the end of the calls.

Press releases can be done on the weekly releases or ad often as you would like. The press releases are great tools for increasing traffic and also for search engines.

The benefits that come with the teleseminars make it worth your effort. Other than assisting you build links fast they also help you get more money and also increase traffic in a huge way. You should never underestimate their power.

When looking for a professional that will work on the teleseminars you have to be very careful to chose the best so that you do not end up with something that you will regret. This is someone who should have the skills as well as the experience that is needed to produce quality work. You also get someone who will not charge you too much money so that a hole is not dug in your pocket. You can go through samples of other teleseminars that have been done to get an idea of the final product that you want. Always take time to come up with something that will ensure you get all the benefits that you deserve so that you don’t think you wasted a lot of time on nothing.

Teleseminar transcription is becoming very popular and some of the reasons why this is so include:

There are very many things that can be done with the transcripts. They can be used a free report that can be handed out to potential customers. It can also be turned into an e- book which can be sold. Costs of the entire transcription can be paid by the sale of a single book depending on the length of the teleseminar as well as price of the book.

Some portions of the transcribed work can also be used on your website. This allows the search engines to pick up keywords that will be used to make it more popular. This also helps to improve the ranks of the website so that it can become more visible.

There are also very many people who prefer to read the transcripts rather than watch or listen to the material that has been posted on your site. Mostly because they would rather be sitting comfortably on a couch as they read the book with a drink of their choice rather than spend time in front of their computers. There are also some who will not find the time to listen to the entire recording and they would rather read the transcript at their own pace. It is usually advisable to offer both the options so that people can choose the ones they are most comfortable with.

Having the transcript material also helps to save the information so that it can be used for reference in the later years. Unlike recorded material which can be destroyed fast so that you end up losing all the material that you had, transcribed material can be used to store the information without any trouble. It can also be used to find some of the details that you are looking for fast without having to go through a pile of recordings to get the material needed.

To ensure you get the best transcripts always carry out a lot of research when looking for the company that will handle the project. Make sure to work with one that has a good reputation as well as turn about time so that you don’t have to wait for many years to get the finished product. You can always get reference from people who have worked with the company before to be on the safe side. It is also important to find one that is cost effective.

Recording research interviews is very important especially when it is being used for data analysis especially for academic researchers and postgraduate students. The interview recorded should be of high quality and clear so that all the contributions and comments can be accessed without a problem. Below you will find a list of some of the most effective things that can be done to achieve great recordings:

• Recording device- choosing the appropriate device should be the first step when coming up with high quality work thus you should choose the one that has all the features needed. Have in mind that this is an investment that can be used beyond the research. Pick one that has various quality recording settings, enough memory capacity, variety of time formats that are used to save data and high speed file transfer from the device to your PC.
• Microphone position and type- for multiple speaker recordings and interview transcription, it is advisable to use an external microphone rather than one that has been built in. There are some devices that can either be used with omni- directional mics placed on a tripod while others have mics that can be detached.  One of the best practices is to have 2 interviewees share a mic.   Before kicking off test the sound levels, position and the recording device.
• Environmental noise- venue of the interview should be chosen carefully having in mind aspects that may bring in background noise like high ceilings and hard wood floors among many others. Mobile phones should be switched off and windows closed to drown noise from outside. Refreshments should be served before or after the interview and you should also be on the lookout for coughing /sneezing, shuffling of papers etc as they can interrupt with the recordings.
• Briefing and introduction of interviewees- this is where they get to know all the things that should or should not be done during the interview to make sure that the recording is a success.  They should start conversations with their names spelled pout clearly so that they can be recorded with ease.
• Uploading and saving of files- data should be kept safe and you should also have backup copies in case anything happens to one copy.
• Use of transcription services- only choose the ones that are reputable company that has been in the business for a long time to get the best services in the market.
• Decide on layout and format: this ensures you get the project the exact way you want it.

More on interview transcription

There are very many reasons why a person would want to record a phone call be it: catching someone when they are not telling the truth, proving a point, to be used as evidence in court or just to have peace of mind etc.  Most people think that recording the phone calls is difficult.  The truth however is that it is simple. Landlines and cell phones can be used for this purpose through the use of small computer software, call loggers and services. You can follow the steps below when you need to record any phone calls.

Research to determine the best methods for recording the calls

The first thing you need to do is choose between a service, recording software or device. Externals recorders are recommended for landlines as they are also cost effective. Call loggers can also be installed in the home for recording. Most phones usually have built in loggers thus all you have to do is go through the manual to know how to use it.

Devices like Smartphone Recorder Control are suitable for landlines. It is plugged directly and can record both lines when people are talking. Recordings are saved at the end of the conversations and stored in a cassette tape. Digital recorders can also be used when you want something that is more technologically advanced. They are however more costly.

Call logging software can be used for mobile phones. This is a small application that is normally installed in smart phones to log and track phone conversations.  Call logger is different from the recorder.  Ordinary recorders do not record phone calls as they work for in person conversations.  Most phones come with recorders that are built in; tracking of phone calls is done via call logger software.

External devices that be used for effective phone call recording

Tp7 recorder can be used without a problem. It is simply attached to the mobile phone and then it starts work automatically.  When choosing between software and external devices you only need to think of the time that the phone calls need to be recorded as external devices take time since they have to be plugged in.  It is better to use software or a professional service when using smart phones.  Recordings should be stored in a safe place.

Recordia pro: Easiest way to record calls

Final step in the decision making process should be whether to use a service. RecordiaPro is one of the best options in the market as there is no need to install any applications, software or make use of bulky hardware. All you need to do is purchase a plan and you are good to go. More on telephone transcription

Almost everyone can come up with amateur voice recording. Decent quality voice recording can be achieved with simple techniques and tools. Some of the basics that can be followed when making the recording include:

When people compliment your voice, do you usually think that they are honest or just lying. Would you want your friends or relatives to get recorded data? You can also get audio material that can be used to teach kids. These are some of the many reasons why you would like to record your voice. Some of the items that are needed to start the job are:

Equipment

Computer

It is possible to record without a computer but it usually provides a higher degree of flexibility and power.

Microphone

This is very important when it comes to recording. It is usually best to use a high quality mic but a cheap one can also be used when the resources are not available.

Headphones

These are used to listen to the recording accurately so that they can make the necessary adjustments. There are some expensive as well as cheap ones that can be used of the job.

Recording and Editing Software

These are programs that are used to record the sound that is picked by the microphones as well as store the data so that you can work on it later in case there are any changes that need to be made.  There are numerous options available but this post will mostly focus on audacity.

Audacity can be described as an audio recorder and editor that can be used to serve more than one podcast as well as semi- professionals. It is easy to learn and also intuitive to learn. It is a “free application” that runs on home desktop operating system. There are very many people that use audacity one of the reasons why it is ideal for amateur recording.

Audacity can be downloaded online without a problem.

Acceptance of your personal voice

Learn to love your voice and you will find that it will work out great for you when you are recording. Always have a test run first before plunging into the main project.

Test Recording

Once all the above items have been tested, it is vital to make a test recording.  This is where you can start with something to read for the recording purposes, to make sure that everything works as it should. This allows you to adjust the volumes and anything else so that there are no problems when you are recording the final work.

It has been said time and again that an artist is only as good as the tools that he/she is using one of the reasons why it is important to be very careful when selecting the programs that will be used for upcoming as well as home studios.  Below is some of the best sequencing and recording programs that are found in the market.

1. Protools- this can also be referred to as the golden standard that is used by most professionals in the industry.  This can be used to make anyone sound great as long as the right producers are used. It comes with unlimited support when using multi tracking a number of applications that help to perfect the projects. It also has endless guides to let a person know if there is anything they are doing wrong. The only downside is the fact that it can quite expensive.



2. Adobe Audition 2.0/ 3.0: when your computer cannot access the Protools Adobe comes in quite handy to produce high quality work.  It is perfect for mastering and mixing of songs. It also has a wide array of effects and a sequencer that been inbuilt. It is extremely powerful and easy to use.



3. Cubase 4.0: this is a raw audio recorder, sequencer that allows a person to create almost anything that is needed when it comes to the effects that will be used on the songs and lyrics. It can be used with other programs quite easily. It is easy to learn and use.



4. Reason: this is used for professional sequencing and sampling. It comes with a sound back CD that gives you too many sounds that you can play around with. It also has additional discs that can be used when looking for a specific trumpet, drum, sitar or anything else that you may require. It provides a certain realism that is unmatched. And it is also possible to come up with your own tunes.  A person needs to do a lot of reading to understand how to use the program.



5. FL Studio 7: this has a massive sound back although it cannot be compared to the synths and drum sounds that are produced by Reason. It is enjoyable to work with as it provides numerous options that a person can play around with. It has a simple interface that can be learned easily without a problem. It supports lots of effects and MIDI.

More on audio recording tips and  audio transcription

Presently, there is a wider range of tools used in the production of audio media as compared to the past. Better methods of manipulating and capturing audio are developed with each passing day, to enhance the quality of recorded sound.

Apart from PDAs and laptops, the assortment of the available equipment used for audio recording include: tape recorders, memory recorders, disk recorders, and analogue and digital recording equipment. The main aim of this article is to assist you to make an informed decision when getting ready to buy audio recording equipment.

The information contained on this page is meant for a diverse group of people including students, speech therapists and researchers. The article largely focuses on handy equipment that can be used to capture audio media in the field within the available budget (the most expensive recorder mentioned goes for £650), which therefore excludes complex recording equipment used by Radio broadcasters or for mass communication in general.

The objective is to help you assemble an assortment of tools and equipment that have the capability to produce excellent audio recordings, which are good enough to be used for signal analysis. An example would be the use of a computer in the analysis of the vocal sound quality, format frequencies and fundamental frequencies. The audio recorders currently available in the market are meticulously constructed to ensure that all vocal recordings to be used in the instrumental analysis process are of good quality. This quality of vocal output is attained by ensuring that you have the right choice of a recorder, the perfect microphone and a good recording environment that is free from noise – ensuring that the audio recording settings are set to precision.

For each of the mention recorders their basic functions, advantages and short comings are mentioned. However, technology is constantly improving at a rapid pace. This means that what is relevant today might be outdated within the shortest period of time.

The Use of Cassette Recorders in the Audio Recording Process

Cassette recorders are amongst some of the sound recording devices which have been around for a while. Initially the recorders utilized 1/8″ tapes with 1.875 inches/sec recording speeds. Modern cassette recorders were tweaked for efficient speech recordings, but they are generally unforgiving when the recording levels are not set correctly. They are not the best devices to be used when high-quality speech recordings are required. This is because they are prone to harmonic distortion and degenerating quality after years of storage. In the 90’s walkman recorders were the most preferred cassette-based audio recorders. Today it is difficult to find a walkman recorder in the market, because they have been edged out of the market digital audio recorders. However, before digital recorders came along the Minidisc Recorders were preferred largely because of their compact nature and disk use.

Using Minidisc Recorders for Speech Audio Recording

This kind of audio recorder produces compressed audio media on a 2.5 inch magneto-photosensitive disk. A cartridge is used to shield the disks from damage. The ATRAC compression system invented by Sony is used to produce the audio media. These recorders are amazingly small in size and highly portable, with a great capacity of audio data handling. On the flip side, their small size makes them difficult to handle and operate.

The Minidisc recorders are designed to deter people using them from copywriting audio media, meaning you are not able to directly get rights to the compressed sequence bits that make up audio media. You have to compress and recompress the media before it can be used, and the compression and recompression process leads to loss of playback sound quality. A number of minidisc recorders are equipped with digital output capabilities to facilitate the transfer of audio media to a computer, but in order to do this you will require a PC with a digital audio input and a minidisc deck that has a digital output.

Currently there is a deliberation to decide whether there is any variance in speech recordings when using ATRAC compression method and whether it would affect instrumental analysis. Considering that the method is basically a time-domain coding that is used on varying frequency signals, the pitch is not likely to be affected by coding. However, the spectral envelope might be affected and there is no guarantee that it would not be negatively modified. It is difficult to know what effect compression will have on a recording, however small or negligible the change may have been the uncertainty is what causes a lot of concern.

The HiMD recorder is the latest recorder to be produced in the Minidisc recorder category. This new minidisc has two fascinating aspects that set it apart from the older models. For one, the HiMD recorders come with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface which has the capability to load audio media into a computer, which is only possible if they were produced on a recorder that supports analogue input.

Secondly, they utilize disks with higher memory capacities enabling the recording of vocal media for an hour or longer; whether in a compressed or uncompressed mode. One of the HiMD Minidisc recorders available in the market at the moment is the Sony NH700. It captures audio media in ATRAC3plus and Linear PCM recording to Hi-MD up to 1 GB. Normal MD blanks are reformatted to 300MB functionality since you can now use it as a USB disk. Doing so facilitates the use of a PC to transfer audio media from the line input.

The use of (DAT) Digital Audio Tape Recorders to Capture Audio Speech

Digital Audio Tape recorders were designed to capture digital audio recordings on 6mm tapes. The recorders used an enhanced video recording technique, with rotating tape heads. DAT recorders have the ability to capture high-quality audio recordings, and they gained wide use in the broadcasting professional. The recorders capture PCM digital signals in 16-bit linear recordings at either 48000 or 44100 samples/sec speeds. Most AT recorders come with a digital output mechanism, enabling the digital transfer of recordings to computer systems. One of the main concerns about DAT recorders is their tape transport system and rotating head complexity. The devices are highly sensitive and they require regular maintenance and a high level of protection during transit.

Using the Solid-state Digital Voice Recorders to Record Speech

The solid-state recorders store audio recordings on memory cards loaded on the device. The recorders often come with the choice to save the recorded audio either in compressed forms line the MP3 format or as uncompressed linear PCM formats. With larger memory card capacities, the solid-state recorders can record longer sessions on the compressed formats; however, in such instances the quality of the recorded audio is often lower in quality. Audio recordings intended for computer analysis should be recorded at data rates of about 192kbps to obtain quality recordings. In the uncompressed monophonic format, a one hour 16-bit recording recorded at a 44100samples/sec speed occupies a space of about 320MB. However, if the recording is maintained at a 192kbps data rate, the recording occupies only about 90MB of space.

Recording Speech Using Hard-Disk Recorders

Hard-disk recorders store both uncompressed and compressed audio recordings onto in-built disk drives with high storage capacities. The recordings are transferable to computers or they can be copied to CDs. There are few hard drive recorders in the market at the moment, but their use promises to increase progressively as a number of people embrace the new technology. One of the main reasons why they are not in high circulation is because they tend to be very expensive and they are generally not designed with portability in mind. However, a number of compact music players are available in the market and most come with live recording functionalities. They store the recorded audio on in-built low capacity in-built hard-disks, and come with external sockets to accommodate microphones. The iRiver H300 is an example of these portable music players, and it comes with about 20 to 40GB hard disk storage spaces. The recordings are then transferable to computer systems via USB ports.

Recording Audio Using Laptop Interfaces

Laptops can be transformed into digital recorders, if equipped with high-quality external microphones. However, most laptops have sub-par microphone inputs and they are usually too insensitive to act as proper quality microphones. A separate digital converter and microphone pre-amplifier are required to work in collaboration with laptops for quality audio recording. With the introduction of USB microphone interfaces such as the M-Audio MobilePre have made the process much simpler. The USB interface comes with 3.5 mm microphone ports and it can support XLR cable connections. It can also supply Condenser microphones with phantom power and it is relatively efficient when it comes to noise reduction. It is important to have quality recording software installed on the laptop, with the ability to create audio files and store them on the computer system.

Using PDAs as Audio Recorders

PDAs or Palm-top computers have the ability to be used as portable audio recorders. These devices are often preferred for audio recording when compared to conventional computer systems, because they are highly portable, less expensive and come with better battery life. PDAs and Palm-tops also come equipped with network and memory interfaces making them the ideal option when compared to conventional computers. Few PDAs come with microphones and those that do are designed specifically for voice recording as opposed to quality audio recordings. PDAs are usually designed for telephony purposes with combination of a headset and microphone. For the purposes of quality audio recording, a Compact Flash interface accompanied with a quality pre-amplifier will be required to facilitate external microphone use.

Choosing a Microphone to Accompany the Selected Audio Recorder

Once an appropriate audio recorder has been selected, the next step is to choose a compatible microphone to accompany the recorder. The chosen microphone should be compatible to the recorder when it comes to connection and quality. Using a sub-par microphone with a quality recorder will result in equally sub-par audio recordings and vice versa.

The different types of microphones available

There are essentially two main types of microphones available in the market; the Condenser microphones and Dynamic microphones.
Dynamic microphones are considered as the ‘general-purpose’ microphones. They accommodate rough handling, because they are quite sturdy and flexible. They are the ideal choice for audio recordings where high volume levels cannot be avoided for example when amplifiers and musical instruments are part of the audio recording. They do not have internal amplifiers and external power sources or batteries.

Condenser microphones are more sensitive and they require external power sources or batteries. They are known to produce stronger audio signals and they are generally more responsive compared to dynamic microphones. They are however not ideal for audio recordings in high volume situations, because of their high sensitivity.

The different types of microphone connectors

Microphones come with different types of connectors, and this is an important aspect which should not be overlooked because it determines the microphone’s comparability with the audio recorder when it comes to connectivity. Although conversion cables are available to enable a microphone to be used with an incompatible recorder, it is much simpler to get a microphone which is connector-compatible with the recorder at hand.

The XLR connectors commonly accompany professional microphones. Each microphone comes with earthed shields and two signal lines. They are known to provide the best amount resistance to electrical-based interferences.

The Mini XLR connectors accompany lapel or lavalier microphones. The connector essentially connects the microphone to a radio transmitter or battery box. The other end of the battery box often has 1/4″ jack connectors or XLR connectors.

1/4″(6.5mm) stereo or mono jack connectors commonly accompany stereo microphones and professional microphones respectively.

1/8″ (3.5mm) stereo or mono jacks commonly accompany consumer-based stereo and mono microphones.

3.5mm mini jacks commonly accompany telephony headsets, which come with mono microphones and stereo headphones.

Good audio is very important for audio transcription success. You may be one of the best instructional designers who come up with the best engaging process available, but the sessions will definitely fall apart when the audio quality is wanting.

We have looked at why it sometimes makes sense to think about spending money on professional narration earlier. This is a good option when money is not a problem. The problem is that most people’s cupboards are empty just like Old Mother Hubbard. When you want to do the narration on your own or you are working with a limited budget, you can use some of the tips found below to get the best job is done. This time round we will look into the recording environment and the microphone. From here, we will plunge into some of the methods that can be used to achieve great sound narration.

1. Get a high quality microphone

You get value for money spent on sound equipment when it comes to the quality of the chosen microphones. To get great audio quality, you have to buy a good microphone. This however does not mean that you should go for expensive microphones; there are many times I have had to go for store-bought microphones which do not have brand names, because the companies I was working for did not have a lot of money to spend on sound equipment. They usually worked out okay especially when I followed the tips below:

Nonetheless, the truth remains that there will be a noticeable difference when the narration that has been recorded with a high quality and low quality microphones are compared. However, the perks that come with going for store-bought microphones is that a lot of money does not have to be spent and with proper use the quality of the recorded sound will be stellar. My Samsin desktop mic and the Plantronics headset have worked successfully. In my opinion, Blue Snowball mic looks great and has good reviews from people I know have used it.

I personally prefer a desktop mic, because it allows me to have more control over the quality of the audio. In addition to this, I find the idea of sharing a headset mic quite gross but that is just how I look at things. There are some people who grew up in the 60’s and don’t have a problem sharing the mic.
When selecting a microphone, it is always best to go for the unidirectional mic. This records the sound from a single direction. This is a great option especially for narration as it will only pick up sound from the narrator, thus you will not receive lots of ambient noise.

Recently, I bought the Samson Go Mic and am in love with it. Audio quality is simply amazing. It goes for only $50 and I can record uni or omni directianl as it has 3 way record switch. It is worth the price. I did a few tests for Go Mic. I came up with a number of demos that differentiate a desktop mic and headset.

2. Maintain a steady environment

There are recording studios where sound can be controlled but this is only in an ideal world. However you might not have the skills to ask your boss to get the studio as asking him to part with $5 for a stock image is really hard. This means that you will have to think outside the box when recording.

Controlling the recording environment means that you will get better audio quality. One sure way is to have a consistent routine when recording. It is quite obvious that there are some times when you might have to take re-takes. You are able to match the quality of the audio by maintain the same procedures and environment.

• Try using the same room, microphone and computer settings.
• Measure the recording distance when using a desktop microphone meaning it is advisable to use a stand so that the same height is used all the time you are recording.
• A screen can be used to get rid of the popping p’s that are present in most amateur recordings. You can make a personal one with little cost and no time.

3. Eliminate as much ambiance noise as possiblef

Getting rid of the noise is very important unless you belong to the Quiet Riot group. This is because to get complete silence is very hard. This becomes very clear when you start to listen to the recording and get all sorts of noises. There are some companies that will pipe in white noise so that it is easier to concentrate as there will be less distraction from the surrounding conversations.

Either way, you want to eliminate the noise that you can control.

• Turn off air conditioners and fans. Unplug machines in the office.
• Direct the machine away from the computer when looking for a place to put it. You might not notice but the computer emits lots of fans noises. This is the fan hat keeps the machine cool and not celebrations for you.
• Put a silence sign on the door. Ask people around you to be quiet. You can get a plane with a banner that instructs people to keep it down to fly around the office. Do whatever it takes to make sure the place is quiet. The Hume technique can be used when all others fail. It is an effective yet subtle way but it put the point across.

4. Make the sounds damp

The walls in a recording studio are designed in such a way that they absorb the sounds. You can try and do something similar to this. Cubicle walls are designed to absorb the waves in addition to getting the life from you dry bones. In fact i use my small cubicle that has been set up in the home office for recording and it has pleased me so far.

We have made a storage closet to be a makeshift recording room once. Rails were placed on the walls and blankets hang from it. This also helped in case we got stuck in the building for a long time.

There are some people who have used curtains and a PVC pip frame to make a portable studio. The frame could be assembled quickly and shower curtain rings were used to put up the curtains.

A portable sound booth can also be made. When you are not too sure of the knife handling skills it is better to purchase a Porta Booth.

Always remember that you are not an audio expert who is producing sound for Hollywood productions but for quality audio transcription process. But it is vital to learn about ways of recording and audio to do a great job. The post is a good beginning. More on Audio recording tips