| This article explains the different features available for | | | | including my company Penguin Transcription, sent using |
| recorders, what they’re for and how they will | | | | a file-sending box on the transcriptionist’s |
| (or won’t) be of use to you, as someone who | | | | website. Even if you plan to transcribe the files |
| is recording for transcription. The different features are | | | | yourself it is a tedious business if you have to do this |
| listed and then explained, and this should allow you to | | | | directly from the note taker’ as recorders |
| choose a machine that’s right for you and your | | | | that don’t have a download interface are |
| transcriptionist. As any visit to a good website or shop | | | | sometimes called. Ideally the recorder will link to your |
| selling these machines will show you, this is not a | | | | PC with a USB interface, usually requiring no extra |
| comprehensive list. It’s a list of the most | | | | software or drivers. Alternatively it might link through a |
| important aspects for transcription. | | | | port and come with a CD containing the relevant |
| There is, of course, no easy answer to this, but this | | | | drivers. |
| article aims to inform you on the different features | | | | The file type is another very important consideration |
| available for recorders, what they’re for and | | | | and is perhaps the one that is most often overlooked. |
| how they will (or won’t) be of use to you, as | | | | Examples are WAV (uncompressed, great quality but |
| someone who is recording for transcription. There is an | | | | enormous), WMA (Windows Media format, |
| enormous range of cost from less than £50 to | | | | compressed but reasonable quality for voice), DSS |
| hundreds of pounds, and this article aims to explain | | | | (Olympus proprietary transcription file, very |
| why that is. The different features are first listed and | | | | compressed but specially designed for voice so good |
| then explained, and this should allow you to choose a | | | | quality). These are just a few examples and you can |
| machine that’s right for you and your | | | | see details of a wider range of file types in my |
| transcriptionist. As any visit to a good website or shop | | | | separate article on this site Digital File Types for |
| selling these machines will show you, this is not a | | | | Audio Transcription’. If you plan to send your |
| comprehensive list. It’s a list of the most | | | | files to a transcriptionist for transcription you will ideally |
| important aspects from a transcription point of view. | | | | want files that are reasonably small and can be |
| The different features are: Recording quality | | | | emailed, although there are various ways of sending |
| Frequency response Amount of recording time | | | | much larger files over the net. WAV files will not only |
| Computer interface File type Editing of | | | | take a long time to send, they will take up a lot of |
| recorded voice e.g. rewinding and adding or deleting | | | | space on your PC, and on your recorder. DSS or DVF |
| some words How is the recorder powered? | | | | files for instance, are much more convenient as they |
| Dimensions Microphone jack Links with | | | | are small and compact, can be emailed without being |
| a speech recognition software | | | | blocked by the server, and are delivered quickly. |
| Recording quality will normally be indicated as SHQ | | | | Editing of recorded voice will probably be more |
| — stereo high quality, HQ — high quality, | | | | important if you are using the machine to take dictation |
| SP (short play) and LP (long play). SHQ is the best | | | | rather than an interview. When dictating a letter you |
| quality (and stereo of course) but will take up the most | | | | may want to go back and delete the last few words |
| memory, so you will be able to record less at this | | | | and replace them with something else. The recorders |
| setting. LP is the poorest quality but you can record | | | | at the mid to upper end of the price-range usually |
| more time. Mono is probably perfectly adequate for an | | | | have this feature but if it’s important to you |
| interview, but if you’re recording a number of | | | | it’s worth checking to make sure as they by no |
| different people e.g. at a meeting, conference or focus | | | | means all have it. |
| group, it might be useful to have stereo recording. To | | | | How is the recorder powered? Most recorders are |
| use stereo you will need a stereo microphone or more | | | | battery powered but if you’re gong to be using |
| than one external microphone. | | | | your recorder significantly it’s worth checking |
| The different recording qualities relate to different | | | | that you can use rechargeable batteries, from an |
| frequency responses. The human ear picks up audio in | | | | environmental and cost perspective! It’s also a |
| the range of between approximately 20 Hz and 20 | | | | consideration if dimensions are important to you. In |
| kHz. But what are the most used frequencies in | | | | particular the batteries can add considerably to the |
| speech? I’d love to know but a quick Google | | | | weight. Most modern recording machines are fairly light |
| search gives an unbelievable range of answers! I think | | | | and quite discreet though. If weight is a concern make |
| it’s fairly safe to say it’s somewhere | | | | sure that the weight listed includes the batteries. |
| around 250 Hz to 5 kHz, with the higher end being a | | | | Whether or not the recorder has a microphone jack is |
| high-pitched woman’s voice and the lower end | | | | an important consideration, as is the quality of mike |
| being a low-pitched man. So it’s around those | | | | that it allows you to plug in. Really for anything but |
| ranges that you need to be looking. There is a wide | | | | one-person dictation an external microphone is a |
| range of different frequencies available in different | | | | necessity. Recording an interview with only the |
| recording machines but frankly most will record a | | | | machine’s internal microphone is likely to give |
| one-to-one or one-to-two interview to acceptable | | | | disappointing results. A poor recording will lead, at |
| quality at SP, and possibly even at LP. | | | | worst, to a poor transcription, and at best to an |
| The amount of recording time will depend on which | | | | expensive transcription, as it will take longer to |
| recording quality you choose, and again the range of | | | | complete! If you are recording a conference you will |
| times is enormous, so you really need to think about | | | | need more than one mike, or a stereo microphone, as |
| what your needs are. You might need a long recording | | | | already mentioned. |
| time if you’re going to be researching in the | | | | Some recorders link with speech recognition software. |
| field’ for significant lengths of time, with no | | | | As yet this type of software is really only of use for |
| access to your PC to download files, or if you are | | | | one-voice recording e.g. dictation of notes. Even then |
| recording a conference, especially if you want to use | | | | you will need to spend some time and energy |
| a high quality recording for this, which will mean you | | | | training’ the software to recognise your |
| have less time. If, however, you are recording notes or | | | | voice, and then carefully check the transcript as it will |
| dictation, or one-to-one interviews, and can regularly | | | | doubtless be ridden with mistakes, especially on |
| download information onto your PC, there is no need | | | | homophones (words that sound the same but are |
| to save vast amounts of data onto the machine. It is | | | | spelt differently.) However, if you are going to use one |
| probably this factor that creates the biggest price | | | | of these packages then a feature that links your |
| differences, so think carefully and don’t buy a | | | | recorder directly to it is a useful addition. |
| machine that gives you hours more time than you | | | | This list is only the most important features in my |
| need. | | | | opinion for transcription of interviews, dictation, focus |
| The computer interface is a really important | | | | groups and conferences. It does not cover the |
| consideration. If you are planning to send the | | | | recording of music which requires a much wider |
| recordings to a transcriptionist to be transcribed you | | | | frequency range and a number of other specialist |
| will need to download them onto your PC first. They | | | | considerations, but I hope that it is helpful for those |
| can then either be emailed (if small enough, see file | | | | embarking on research that requires transcription. |
| type section), transferred by FTP, or in some cases, | | | | |