Recording Tips by Wordsworth Transcription Services

When recording an interview, meeting, lecture or other event with the intention of having it transcribed later, you can help make the transcription process as efficient and accurate as possible. While it's not always possible to follow all of these tips, taking them into account can help ensure better transcription by improving sound quality and minimizing incidental noise.

The better the recording, the more accurate and cost-effective the transcription will be.

As much as possible, try to follow these guidelines for best results:

General Recording Tips for Transcription

Recording Tips for Multiple Speakers

The following additional guidelines are useful for events where there are more than two people involved:

It is very important to have a microphone for each speaker. This is commonly done in conferences, but often overlooked in focus groups, group interviews or other smaller settings. Having a speaker some distance from a microphone almost guarantees that their contributions will disappear behind background noise.
If you have multiple speakers, it's ideal to be able to identify each speaker each time she or he speaks. If that is not possible, it's helpful for the speakers to introduce themselves at the beginning in their own voice.
If you use a mike for an audience or other large group, such as a mike in the aisle for questions, it helps cut down on noise (e.g. coughing) if you turn that mike on only when, for example, someone in that group is asking a question.
If you have an audience asking questions but don't use a separate mike for them, you can ask your speakers to repeat the question that has been asked, before answering it. This is also sometimes helpful if other audience members may not have heard the question.

Equipment Suggestions for Audio Recording

About Wordsworth Typing and Transcription Services

We are a cooperative business, a subsidiary of Meadowdance Community Group. We have been working together doing typing, transcription and data entry work for over five years.