Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

LoriLee · #1 (**permalink**) 08-23-2008

Hello,
I have had an inquiry if I offer transcription and I said that I have and would be able to offer them this. My question is I have only done transcription with the tape, headset, etc...which I have the equipment to provide this service. What I'd like to do is offer it where I don't need the tape and move virtually. I believe I have read that there is a way to do this. If anyone know how this is done, the software/equipment needed and approx. what it costs I would greatly appreciate it.

Any info would be wonderful on this. Thanks.

Kerans VA · #2 (**permalink**) 08-23-2008

LoriLee,

I believe many VAs (including myself) who offer virtual transcription services use Express Scribe. There have been quite a few threads discussing this and other similar services, you can read more here and here and here.

It's always helpful to plug in terms like 'transcription' into the Search feature on the forum and you can generally get a lot of information that way.

By doing so, I discovered numerous other threads discussing things like pricing, practice software and equipment, etc.

Good luck!

JKVirtualOffice · #3 (**permalink**) 08-23-2008

LoriLee,
It looks like Kate gave you some good threads to check out. I know there have been a couple of good discussions about how to go about doing this. I think if you also did a search on "digital transcription" you would come up with some good resources that way as well.

LoriLee · #4 (**permalink**) 08-23-2008

Thank you

I usually do the search thing first but I guess I had a lapse in thinking. I appreciate the info you gave.

KiwiVA · #5 (**permalink**) 08-23-2008

Thanks for the thread. I've been wondering about this as well.

anisemama · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2008

I've been doing transcription for quite awhile, and now do it exclusively digitally. I use ExpressScribe. It's completely free. You can get a foot pedal that plugs into your computer and that will work with ES, but you can also use "Hot Keys." That is the F keys are setup to control the audio. They are pre-set in the program, but you can also change them to meet your needs. I prefer to use the hot keys over a pedal because I work on my laptop and like the ability to work anywhere, which is limited by a pedal.

Other than that, there really shouldn't be any cost involved in setting up to do digital transcription!

dawndmd · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

I use audacity. I have the client either send me a .wav of their file to transcribe or a cd in the mail. You can control it with your mouse and a headset. Dawn

JKVirtualOffice · #8 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008

Does anyone transcribe verbatim messages from a client's voicemail? If so, how does that work?

I have a client who is looking for that service, but I asked him how he planned to get the messages to the person for transcribing and he seemed puzzled as to why they couldn't just transcribe directly from the voicemail. Maybe I'm mistaken but I would think that would be hard to do since you can't start and stop a regular voicemail.

The only option I could come up with was that he could forward that message to a VA that had a service like Ring Central which would then give the VA sound file for transcribing from. Does that sound like a workable option or am I making this harder than it needs to be?

ChristieNJ · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

Originally Posted by anisemama

I've been doing transcription for quite awhile, and now do it exclusively digitally. I use ExpressScribe. It's completely free. You can get a foot pedal that plugs into your computer and that will work with ES, but you can also use "Hot Keys." That is the F keys are setup to control the audio. They are pre-set in the program, but you can also change them to meet your needs. I prefer to use the hot keys over a pedal because I work on my laptop and like the ability to work anywhere, which is limited by a pedal.

Other than that, there really shouldn't be any cost involved in setting up to do digital transcription!

Originally Posted by dawndmd

I use audacity. I have the client either send me a .wav of their file to transcribe or a cd in the mail. You can control it with your mouse and a headset. Dawn

Do you have your clients record using the simple "sound recorder" that comes with windows?

MoragB · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2008

Dawn - why not recommend your clients use Express Dictate and then email or upload the files for you to transcribe?

Kimberly - I frequently transcribe clients' voicemail messages. I find the best thing is to take them down in shorthand and then type them up.