Recording

Software

NCH offers a free download of Dictate Express. This is a software program that can be downloaded to your iPhone (or any mobile) as well as your computer. The link to their download page is:- http://www.nch.com.au/express/index.html Files should be saved as .WAV files.

Equipment

Hand held Digital Recorders like those commonly used by solicitors, are capable of storing up to 170 hours of dictation

Interviews

When conducting interviews, only allow one person at a time to speak. It becomes very difficult to transcribe if several people are speaking at over the top of each other.

Environment

Please ensure that there is no background noise when you are dictating or conducting an interview. All noise including traffic, people in the background, laughter, coffee cups on tables, shop noise, etc. will all be recorreded on the tape and this will become difficult to transcribe.

Multiple Voices

If interviewing more than one person, where possible provide individual microphones. If this is not possible, ensure when each person is speaking that the microphone is at least 25cm from them to ensure clarity.

Unusual Names

During the course of the interview or recording, if any unusual names of any kind occur, this includes first, lastnames, street names, different languages, etc. please spell these as this will save time later in transcription.

Send Data Files

You can send your digital files to TranscriptAust via Dropbox. If your files are over 2MB each, Dropbox is ideal for sending these. Dropbox is simple to use and free. You will need to join Dropbox and then you will be able to send and receive files using their secure file transfer system. To understand how Dropbox works, you can watch this video on You Tube that Dropbox has produced: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFb0NaeRmdg. The link to download Dropbox is:- https://www.dropbox.com/ See FAQ for more information on sending digital files.