Are you looking for tools and tips for transcribing videos faster? If yes, you have to the right place.
Video transcription isn’t exactly the easiest job. Depending on the length of the video, you can take hours and hours before you can finish transcribing the piece. Of course, with experience, things would be a lot easier. However, we cannot always rely on our transcription skills acquired over the years to beat deadlines and deliver results to clients in time.
Transcribing videos is an important step toward adding subtitles and captions. As such, there are various tools and tips that can help make the entire process easier and faster. This post will cover some of the tools and tips to boost your productivity as a transcriptionist.
Tools for Transcribing Videos Faster and Easier
Transcription Software
When transcribing videos, it might be a good idea to invest in special transcription software. The software simplifies your work by eliminating the need to constantly start and stop the video as you try to capture the words. It also works well with other tools, such as your keyboard and foot pedal, which significantly reduce the frustrations of enabling playback.
A Transcription Foot Pedal
Once you acquire transcription software, you might as well get yourself a transcription foot pedal. A transcription foot pedal makes video transcription easier by allowing you to control audio playback using your feet. With the tool, your fingers will only work on the keyboard, minimising the need to multitask while transcribing.
Noise Cancellation Headphone
One of the greatest challenges faced by transcribers is poor-quality audio. So, if you want to improve your video transcription speed, you need to improve the quality of audio you hear. What better way to enhance audio quality than using a high-quality noise cancellation headphone?
A noise cancellation headphone eliminates background noises and ensures you get clear audio while transcribing. It is especially important for transcribers working in a noisy environment.
An Autocorrect Tool
Even with all the tools mentioned above, you need a good typing speed to complete transcription work within the allotted time. Unfortunately, spelling mistakes are a guarantee when typing fast. That’s why you might need an autocorrect tool to minimise the need to stop every few seconds to fix misspelled words.
As the name suggests, an autocorrect tool automatically fixes your spelling mistakes. With such a tool, you can feel free to type as fast as possible, without constant stops.
Tips for Transcribing Video Faster and Easier
Work in a Comfortable and Quiet Environment
Listening is the primary part of video transcription. For that reason, you might want to work in a comfortable and quiet environment.
Transcribing involves listening to audio through your ears and typing using your fingers, which requires a lot of concentration. With that in mind, it can be a serious struggle trying to focus on your work while sitting in a noisy cafeteria or public park. If possible, do your transcription work in a library or office, where there are low chances of noise pollution.
Besides a quiet environment, you need a comfortable working space to enhance efficiency. Being uncomfortable while working significantly affects your productivity. So, ensure you pay attention to the ergonomics when setting up a workspace for your transcription task.
Sharpen Your Typing Skills
Typing is a huge part of video transcription. So, it might be time to take those typing lessons and sharpen your skills.
Whether you are a professional transcriber or a one-time transcriptionist, you might use a slight improvement in your typing speed. Slow typing speed is one of the primary reasons why you might end up working on a short video for an entire day. Luckily, you can easily enhance your typing speeds by enrolling in a typing class.
Of course, it will take time to see a tangible improvement in your typing skills. But every class you attend and practice session you complete gets you closer to a perfect typist.
Take Regular Breaks
When working on a large project, most people tend to feel the need to maximise their work hours. Unfortunately, working for long hours is not the answer for productivity.
As mentioned earlier, transcription work requires full concentration. It can be relatively challenging to pay attention to what you are doing if you are exhausted. So, working while tired increases the risk of errors and reduce productivity.
After working for a few hours, you can take time to relax. Perhaps sit in silence or take a short walk around the block. That helps your body and mind refresh, which is essential in ensuring efficiency and increasing productivity.
Final Thoughts
Transcribing videos isn’t a simple task. Luckily, there are a few tips and tools you can use to make your transcription faster and easier. The list above isn’t extensive but contains some of the few tools and guidelines essential for enhancing the productivity of any transcriptionist. You can also opt for an online transcription tool that can help you prepare your video transcriptions faster and more accurately.
