Online Transcription Services The Wave Of The Future

By Susan Ross


Whether a freelancer or independent contractor, there are often a number of opportunities. One of these opportunities involves working for online transcription services. In fact, there are now a number of online services offering jobs to individuals whom have experience in transcription.

In most cases, transcriptionists are often good at converting information through live or recorded speech into a document. Most often, services work with medical professionals, legal entities and business organizations. Whereas, creative writers and poets have been known to hire individuals to transcribe a number of audio files or written pages into book form.

With the advancement of computers and technology, transcription has taken on an entire new identify. For example, it used to take a great deal of time for an individual to dictate a letter, proposal or other document, then have the material typed on a typewriter. After which, there were often a number of passes on the typewriter before a document could be finalized and delivered.

Most services prefer that clients submit files to be transcribed on a CD, VHS or cassette. Whereas, the most preferable format is that of an audio file. For, when it comes to audio files, an individual can transcribe the information, then save the file for future revisions. While this is the case, there are still those whom are still using dictation and a Dictaphone, most often when working in an office.

Rates for transcription services often differ among individuals and companies. In most cases, hiring an individual will be less expensive than going through a service. At the same time, services can often offer a faster turn-around time. As such, it is up to individual needs as to which might be a better choice at any given time.

As rates can vary widely, it is important to know how a service will be charging. In most cases, private transcription houses often provide services to trade associates, nonprofits, meeting planners, courts, law firms and governmental agencies with billing based upon a contract and agreement.

In the early days, office workers often took dictation from superiors, then typed out the information on a standard typewriter. As there could be a number of revisions, individuals often spent a great deal of time retyping documents from the beginning. Then, in the late 1970s, jobs became easier with the introduction of recording devices. As such, superiors would then dictate into the equipment and transcriptionists would type the information into a typewritten document.

While mailing cassettes became part and parcel to the job of a number of transcriptionists in the late 1970s and early 1980s, others still preferred to use traditional equipment. Now, audio files have become quite popular. In most cases, a client will provide audio files of all documents needing to be typed. After which, there will be a review along with a number of edits, changes and revisions before the document is finalized.




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