May
26
Typists: “What transcription software should I choose?”
There are a variety of transcription software options available for typists. With such a broad scope of alternatives to choose from, the challenging part can be selecting the right one. Express Scribe, Quikscribe Playerand TheRecord Player: these are some of the most popular audio players used by typists. The advantages of each playerare highlighted below, to help simplify the selection process.
Express Scribe
Express Scribe comes with one immediately obvious benefit: it is free. Other than that, the playback speed can be modified. This is particularly helpful when doing a final check of a transcript, to save time and therefore, increase productivity. Another advantage is that Express Scribe is able to be used with a foot pedal, which enables the typist to transcribe at a faster rate. The software is compatible with Microsoft Word and all of the other main word processors. It works with most audio and video file types and loading audio files is a breeze. Express Scribe is a user friendly platform that enables typists to manage files with ease.
Quikscribe Player
Touted as the number one dictation system, Quikscribecan help increase work capacity. There is an option in the Quikscribe Player Settings that notifies the typist when a new file is waiting to be transcribed. Additionally, there are a range of visual icons on the player that inform the user of the status of the files, which can come in handy when a lot of work is on the go. The player is compatible with WAV and DSS files. It also boasts the Intelligent Audio File format, which provides advanced features that can help the typist to manage files more effectively. One of these features is the ability to insert files within a file, for greater work efficiency.
Another nifty feature of the Quikscribe Player is that location markers can be used at any point on an audio file. The typist can then more easily return back to those unclear sections that are marked. The Quikscribe Player is compatible with any Windows word processor. Also, files in the player are queued based on priority, in terms of turnaround time. Saving arguably the best feature to last, the QuikScribe Player is able to amplify the audio. This can come in handy for those tricky files where the audio level is low and therefore, difficult to hear. The player can be used with a foot pedal. Unlike Express Scribe, Quikscribe Player is certainly not free software but it can make transcribing leaps easier with its sophisticated features.
TheRecord Player
For all court reporters out there, TheRecord Player can appeal, for its leading edge audio features. It is often mentioned as being the benchmark for playing back court, meeting and conference proceedings. The player, which is compatible with FTR Gold audio, allows transcribers toselect specific parts of an audio file and increase or decrease their influence. This is particularly useful for managing background noise that can pose a challenge when transcribing. Additionally, the playback speed can be controlled and the FTR USB foot pedal can be used with this software. TheRecord Player offers ease of use and audio quality enhancing playback options.
Transcription software comes with a varying range of benefits. The perks of the widely used Express Scribe, Quikscribe and TheRecord Player software have been highlighted, to make choosing the most suitable transcription software that extra bit easier for typists.