Written by Lina Rusyte, SEO Content.
Interview transcripts are a text record of oral interviews. They accommodate two-person discussions as well as scenarios where there is a panel of participants. Interview transcripts come from both recordings and real-time conversion.
How to Write an Interview Transcript
Interview transcripts provide a text archive of captured information and serve as excellent reference material. The text format is smaller in size than the audio or video, making the transcripts much more convenient to work with. Not only that, but they allow deaf people to consume data from interview discourse.
Owing to the importance of interview transcripts, it is essential to follow the best practices when preparing them. Below are the steps followed in creating an excellent interview transcript.
Step 1: Listen to the Entire Recording
Depending on the subject matter, interview transcription sometimes gets complex. It is of great utility to listen to the full recording to grasp its context. With a good idea of the complexity of the interview, you are better poised to make an accurate transcript on the first draft.
Step 2: Estimate Time Needed to Complete
Not only does estimating help you plan your workflow, but you also get a more accurate turnaround time for the recording. Yes, different interviews take varying times to transcribe. This usually has to do with the difference in complexity and quality of the recorded file. Other factors, such as timestamping and speaker tracking, also add to the time it takes to complete a transcript interview.
Step 3: Select the Proper Tools
Transcription only needs a few tools, but they are vital to the process. You’ll need the following:
- Transcription Software
Transcription software allows you to type out the text and control the audio playback from your keyboard or foot pedal. The ability to control those two aspects conveniently makes the process much faster and easier. Transcription software usually has text fields available within the program itself for you to type out what you hear.
- Foot Pedal
A foot pedal lets you easily control audio playback. When you use one, you have free hands to focus on typing. Thus, it promises a faster transcription process.
- A Good Pair of Headphones
Lastly, a good pair of headphones enables you to capture the recording as accurately as possible. Noise-cancelling headphones are best as they prevent distraction from ambient noise around you.
Step 4: Prepare the First Draft
Once you have all the necessary tools and your recording is loaded and ready, type the first draft. This draft is usually free of formatting and captures the main essence of the interview.
Step 5: Edit Your Draft
It is best practice to take a short break between typing the first draft and editing it. If the audio is of inferior quality or the subject matter is complicated, your brain needs to rest to remain efficient throughout the process. A short walk or exercise session does the trick for most people. After your break, you can proceed with editing. In this stage, you validate your timestamps, formatting, and speaker tracking. You also verify foreign terms and unfamiliar vocabulary and correct mishears.
Conclusion
Any interview transcript is only as good as the transcriptionist handling the work. Follow the above steps meticulously, and you should have accurate and well-formatted text. Transcription is the backbone of information preservation from audio/video recordings and should be managed with reverence. Not only are you transcribing a file, but you are creating a piece of history while you are at it.
Service providers such as GoTranscript provide stellar work that accurately reflects the interview recording. You want a transcription company with adequate experience and expertise to handle even the most complex recordings seamlessly.
