Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

caroline · #1 (**permalink**) 07-04-2011

Happy Fourth, Everyone!

I am interesting in doing transcription and wanted to know the best way to learn.

My background is a little unique: I work for an attorney who I do transcription for, but oddly enough it's just letters and deposition questions, or interrogatory questions, not the depositions themselves. Even though she is a medical malpractice attorney, she actually rarely goes to court, as she is able to get settlements.

In short - I have only transcribed one person tapes (her asking questions, letters, etc).

I would love to continue doing just letters or and documents of that nature, but I've honestly never heard of it used anywhere else.

So my question is - should I market transcription specifically stating what kind of transcription it is (letter, depos, etc) or should I learn to other transcription and open myself up to a larger market?

Truth be told - I'd rather keep doing the transcription I am doing, but don't know if there's is a market for that.

Thanks for your comments and advice.

Caroline

RhondaHolscher · #2 (**permalink**) 07-04-2011

Caroline, There is a market for all types of transcriptions and my suggestion is if that is what you want to do then offer just that and test the field. But be patient and give yourself time to build on it.

The type of transcription you are doing is much easier than multiple speakers in my opinion. I do all types of transcription and I much prefer one speaker or two at the most. When it becomes more than two it can get confusing as to who is speaking especially if the voices are similar. Also the more speakers the more cross speaking you get and the more background noise you get. So you can where it can get more complicated and it will take longer to do than one person speaking. As far as learning how to do them someone else will probably have a better answer then me as I learned as I went. The client usually provides you with a description of how they want it done and often times provides you with an actual transcript as an example.

I also created a one page sample transcript that shows how the transcript will look if they don't give directions on how they want it done, and I give some guidelines within that transcript. Such as I tell them I will use such and such font, such and such font size, I don't do timestamps unless there is an inaudible section and that will look like this [inaudible 0:00:00.0], if I am not sure how to spell something I will do this [phonetic] directly behind the word I don't how to spell, etc.

I think you should stick with what you like doing though. If you don't you might end up hating it later. Of course you could try other types and see how it goes. Who knows you might end up loving it as well.

I have done some crazy transcripts as I have done so many different types. Best of luck!

alcbiz · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2011

A long time ago I worked in the typing pool of our police department. I really enjoyed it a lot because I was able to make it a game and I could see from one day to another how much I got done. I want to be able to do that again.

So I’m wondering what should be my first step?

ginamkd · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2011

I am very interested in doing transcription and dictation. Obviously there's really only a need for that in the legal / medical fields... Is legal transcription that takes alot to learn? I've never done it, but would like to offer it, any advice?

MommyL · #5 (**permalink**) 03-01-2012

This is obviously way past July of last year, but I was hoping to kind of tag on and get some advice as well.
I was thinking that transcription sounded interesting and so played around with it a bit. My question is, what are the best ways to get up to speed and practice? I know it's going to take time to get up to the point where all of you are at, but if you could point me in a direction, I'd love to get started and practice away until I've got it down. Advice?

Heather

RhondaHolscher · #6 (**permalink**) 03-02-2012

Gina, There are tons of ways to do transcription. Here is a link to part 2 of a 3 part series on transcription. This post tells you the types of transcription there are.

As far as the legal stuff I have done a bit here and there. I'm sure there is way more to it than what I've done, but it's just like anything else it takes time to learn. Usually the client will provide you with a sample or a template to follow and give instructions on what they want. I would hook up with someone else who does a ton of transcription and can outsource some of their's to you and see if they will let you try out some legal stuff if that's what you think you'd like to do.

Heather,

Click on that link as well. That is part 2, but you can go back to part 1 and read all 3 of them. I hope they are helpful and please let me know your thoughts and if you have any questions on them after reading. As far as getting up your speed the only real way to do that is to practice.

I got a typing program that allowed me to just practice typing, and I would just go online and find videos/audios and just type them for the practice.

Rhonda

MommyL · #7 (**permalink**) 03-02-2012

Really great idea Rhonda! I have found some practice typing sites to work on just getting some speed up, but hadn't thought about just going online and find videos and audios to practice!

Thanks for the links, lot of good information there as well. :-)