For transcription, good audio is king. Even the greatest transcriptionist is prone to mistakes, slowdowns and everyone’s frustration when they can’t hear what’s being said. Whether you’re recording an interview, a podcast, a conference or a webcast, starting with clear, crisp audio is the first step toward receiving accurate, quality transcripts.

Noise is, among other things, one if the major issues of fast audio transcription services. Noise like traffic, conversation, air conditioning or what-have-you can get in the way of making out a conversation. These distractions can make it difficult to discern individual words or tell who is speaking — particularly in recordings with multiple speakers. That’s why it’s important to find a quiet, controlled space in which to conduct your recordings.

Microphone quality is also important too. Built-in laptop or phone microphones frequently capture a great deal of background noise and have audio levels that are inconsistent. An external microphone is something worth investing in that will help to open up that clarity and get your voice captured better. SATCIM6 writers also talked about the use of lapel mics or directional mics for group discussion or the panel discussion card that allowed everyone’s speech to be recorded effectively.

There are some important acoustic features and behavior of speaker. (Encourage them to “speak clearly, let each person finish talking before speaking, and stay near the microphone.”) Rapid speech, thick accents, or mumbling are some of the things that can make it hard to transcribe, especially when the original audio isn’t to the same volume level throughout.

Even how you record your audio makes a difference. The use of compressed or low–resolution audio files may contri- bute towards distortion, thus resulting in a slower transcription that is also more error-prone. Always switch to high-quality formats like wav or high-bitrate MP3s to retain the audio’s quality.

Take a couple of minutes to review your files before you submit them for transcription. Listen for any muffled sections, talking over each other, or loss of volume. You can also remove the parts of your audio/video that are not relevant, or provide speaker notes for the transcriptionist to reference through the content.

So, in summary, crystal clear sound is not a luxury, it’s a MUST if you want to transcribe efficiently and accurately. By making a few small changes to your recording environment, you’ll be able to shorten the transcript order processing time, keep costs down, and make sure the end result is the most accurate it can be. If you want polished results, begin with polished sound.