Equipment for transcription

You will need different equipment for transcription depending if you will be doing digital transcription or tape transcription. Go to transcription business start up costs which outlines equipment necessary for digital transcription and then equipment neccessary for tape transcription.

With digital transcription, although you can download a free transcription platform, you will still need to purchase quality headphones and a compatible footpedal to your software.

With tape transcription, unless you can borrow from a client, you will need to purchase a tape transcriber, either mini, micro or standard size.

So how does digital transcription work?

Your client sends you work through a piece of software called an FTP (file transfer protocol) which is a server that allows a file to be sent from one PC to another. It's all very user friendly and you access the voice file on the FPT and copy it to your hard drive. The FTP is either provided by the client for free or in other situations you can access other free or paid FTPs to transfer files. I list two such examples of FTPs at transcription business start up costs.


Then you grab the voice file from your hard drive and copy it to your transcription platform that you download for free or purchase. From there you are able to listen to the digital voice file and type it up.

Free digital transcription platform

Express Scribe has a free digital transcription software that you can download and use. This platform allows you to listen to and transcribe digital audio files. This is actually the platform that I use and I find it fantastic.

Digital Dictation 7.5 by Legal Easy is also free. Make sure you read the comments left by users. You may or may not wish to give it a go.

I list other free platforms at free dictation and transcription software

Purchase digital transcription platform/audio tape equipment

There are heaps of digital transcription platforms to purchase. As an example Quikscribe is a very popular digital transcription software.

Also check out Transcription Gear for a range of popular transcription software to purchase and headsets and footpedals and tape transcribers as well.

Whilst you are on their site, or click here now , make sure you register your transcription business on their register. People wishing to find a transcriber can peruse the register. Apparently it's very popular. Open to transcribers worldwide.

In the UK check out SpeakIt for a wide range of equipment. And StartStop in the US has a huge range of equipment. They even have PowerPlay for Windows where you can play and transcribe Video DVDs and Audio CDs on your PC under foot pedal control.Transcribing of this media is becoming more popular.

I'm talking about digital transcription here and if you must you can use the PC speakers, but I tell you this is not a good way to transcribe an audio file. With the headphones on you are able to hear so much more that you are prone to miss with the speakers. You may not have speakers around and behind you and the voice goes out into the room. With headphones the voice is in your ear and so much better to capture words.

Also in some places you may not even be allowed to have the audio heard in your home office. You are of course transcribing confidential conversations most often and if you sub contract for a transcription agency or whoever, they may require that you wear the headphones anyway.

So this piece of equipment for transcription should only set you back about US$150 (rough estimate).

More links:

For more equipment for transcription relating to tape transcription please visit transcription business costs

Go to working from home and transcription for so much more relevant information and links

Return from equipment for transcription to virtual assistant advice home page