Many businesses do not realize the importance of transcription. Companies exchange essential information daily. Meetings, interviews, phone calls can be recorded and saved. Even podcasts which are a new and effective part of marketing strategies need transcriptions.
And it can be challenging for businesses to keep track of their audio or video recordings.
That’s when business transcription comes into play.
Businesses can quickly turn their meetings, interviews into accurate transcripts. A good transcription service helps companies turn voice files into text.
You can provide employees and meeting attendees with the text file. The document can also be saved for future reference. It is easier to recall important details of business communications if records of the conversations are kept. The documents may also serve as solid evidence if a dispute arises.
How do you decide which transcription service is best for you? Transcriptions can be either manual or automatic.
We will compare the two in this article. Here, we will discuss their advantages and disadvantages.
What is Manual Transcription?
Transcribing is always more convenient when handled by a specialist. Transcribing spoken words into comprehensible text by humans is known as manual transcription.
Many companies need manual transcriptionists. The medical and legal fields are two of the best examples. Manual transcription is still the only way to get an accurate conversion of over 90%.
Typically, transcribers listen to audio recordings with pauses and transcribing them. This eliminates transcription errors caused by automated transcription software.
Manual transcription is still widespread among many transcription companies. For some companies, manual transcription is more cost-effective than automatic transcription. In addition, records can be maintained easily by transcribers. Human transcriptionists can manage workflows and timestamps with ease.
Unlike automated software, the human brain can predict phrases better. In addition, it allows them to write and arrange text in new paragraphs.
Pros
There is no denying that manual transcription is highly accurate. Since many human transcriptionists spend a lot of time on this job, they have developed their skills and expertise. A machine or software can’t match the accuracy of a human transcriptionist.
So, a human transcriptionist may be a better choice in some situations.
An academic or medical setting is one example. An automatic transcription program would probably have trouble picking up everything. The complex terms used in lectures and presentations can be hard for software to pick up.
Cons
Manual transcription is a time-consuming and expensive process. For example, transcribing an audio or video file can take up to ten hours. Even a skilled and accomplished transcriptionist would take that long.
Different conditions can affect the speed of the transcription.
Transcribing a file with a single speaker who speaks with a clear language or accent familiar to the transcriber can go smoothly. If the topic is straightforward, there is no need for further research.
But, if the subject is complex, the transcriber would need to take more time. Also, if there are a lot of speakers, it can take longer.
What is Automatic Transcription?
Automatic transcription involves the conversion of voice and video into a text file. This is done with speech recognition and machine learning technology.
Automated transcription AI uses high-quality data or examples to train specific software. As the software is fed more datasets, it gains more experience. It builds a more sophisticated algorithm to help with the conversion.
Many of the largest companies like Microsoft and Google have spent years improving automated transcription. But, they only achieve up to 88% accuracy on average.
Pros
Automated transcription’s primary benefit is saving significant amounts of time and money. For example, automated transcription software can convert hours of audio in just minutes.
A human transcriptionist can’t match this speed. A human is precise or methodical, and that takes time.
If you’re looking for a fast conversion, a manual transcription may not be the best choice.
Cons
Automatic transcriptions can still be inaccurate to a certain extent. For example, automated transcription programs are vulnerable to missing certain words and phrases. In addition, machines can struggle to pick up the context of an audio file.
Technical terms and phrases double the problem.
For example, automated transcriptions cannot accurately convert a long lecture on law. This is because the lecture would most likely contain a large amount of jargon and terminology. As a result, the software system would probably commit some level of error.
It is also tricky for computers to recognize accents and dialects. If the audio is outside of their database, the software will surely make errors.
Some languages can be hard for computers to decipher. And some languages will be impossible to convert. In addition, automatic transcription software does not support all languages.
Transcribing is also tricky when there is background noise. However, human ears can decipher audio more accurately, even with background noise.
What’s the Best Option for Your Business?
Automated transcription is less expensive than manual transcription. You can avoid costly transcription mistakes by having a real person read your content. Also, automatic transcriptions can take a long time to revise. Choosing manual transcription will save you time.
Human editors are needed to fix errors and inconsistencies caused by automated transcription. Videos recorded with highly recommended podcast tools are easy to transcribe manually.
If you need accurate, high-quality text, manual transcription is your best option. Also, having a manual transcription is recommended when you have large or complex audio. Background noises, fast or difficult accents, or multiple speakers also need manual transcriptionists.
Transcripts that are manually transcribed are also secure. Before a project begins, both parties sign a confidentiality agreement.
Besides, manual transcriptionists can transcribe your content with timestamps. It makes it easier to figure out when a speaker spoke a sentence if there are timestamps. In video content, it is essential to insert timestamps.
In many cases, combining both automated and manual can result in a fast and comprehensive transcript.
Transcriptionists can begin using automated software. A manual transcription can double-check to ensure no errors are made.
Ultimately, you will need to know the specific needs of your organization or business before deciding between manual and automatic transcription.
If you’re looking for speed, go for automated transcriptions. If you need accuracy, go for manual transcriptions. Or a hybrid approach that could give you the best of both worlds.
