Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Quick Guide to Transcription Files and How to Access Them

Most people would love to work in the general transcription field because of the perks they can get. Not only will they have the chance to work at home, but they would be able to take care of their families as well. On top of that, they don't have to deal with issues like commuting to work. These people are welcome to work for transcription companies; it's too bad that some are hesitant because they are intimidated by transcription files and other technical aspects of the job as well. There is no need to be anxious because it's easy to figure out how to deal with these issues.

If you are working for a transcription company, you may not need to do anything because some would have built-in systems they would rather use. There are cases when you have to deal with it on your own. Even then, transcription file types are easy to grasp. The different file types are due to the difference in software or the actual recording devices used by clients. Some would even deliberately convert the format based on their file size preference. If you have accessed various audio files before, you might notice that there is a difference in the quality of the audio sound.

The most common format being used is.wav or WAVeform file. The quality is usually superb since it is dubbed as a lossless audio file type. The downside to this kind of transcription file is the size. Since there is no compression, the file size can be too big for e-mails. In the past, these are sent out through snail mail because it will be placed in a CD. With the advancement of digital technology, they are now sent through virtual storage disks. You would basically have to be online because as you are working, the transcription files will be downloaded in the background.

If you prefer to get a smaller file size, you can ask for the files to be sent via.mp3 format. Also known as MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 file, it is far smaller than.wav files. The quality is compromised in this format so you might find it a little harder to transcribe compared to the first choice. It is useful if the files are more than 1 hour long because it would take you less time to download. Aside from the usual virtual drive, this can also be sent through e-mail attachments.

Once you have received these audio files, you have to find a good player that can open them. The most popular file formats can be accessed by the player that was bundled with your operating system. You can also use players released by Quicktime and Real. The only problem they may have is the lack of transcription support. You may find it hard to slow down the speed of these audio files when you are transcribing. You can look for free transcriptions if your typing speed is a little slow. They are filled with features that can make it easier for transcriptions like you.

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