Do you know the difference between an audio typist and a transcriptionist?
Here at Alphabet we would be interested to hear if you make a distinction between an audio typist and a UK transcriptionist? Obviously, both compile a typed document of a recorded medium. But here at Alphabet we recognise there is a vast difference between the two.
The Definition of an Audio Typist Explained:
An audio typist often has worked in various office settings, be that in the legal, medical or financial sector, etc., but usually only transcribes one person dictating office correspondence. Namely letters, memos, reports, and they become familiar with their bosses’ voices, quirks, and the content of the material that is produced on a daily basis.
The Definition of a Transcriptionist Explained:
A UK transcriptionist has to have many skills. Firstly, they have to be adept at dealing with more than one speaker, and often multi-group discussions are commonplace. These can involve over 20 people speaking, and it is a challenging task transcribing this sort of discussion.
A highly competent transcriptionist needs to have an excellent ear and the patience to deal with people over talking incessantly, and being able to document this accurately in a transcript. They have to cope with all sorts of accents and dialects, often with poor audio quality and all sorts of other noises and distractions on the recordings.
Being able to research adequately is another key element that a professional transcriptionist must be able to master. Patience is required with not always picking the first thing that springs up on Google, but to diligently filter through the meaningless items that can appear.
A transcriptionist can be asked to transcribe the recording of a medical conference one day and a fraud investigation the next. Their skills have to be honed and tuned at coping with extremely complicated recordings where they have poor audio quality, speakers with heavy accents, lots of specialist terminology and tight deadlines.
The Role of Technology in Transcription
Modern transcriptionists use various technologies to aid their work. This includes transcription software, noise-cancelling headphones, and specialised keyboards to enhance accuracy and efficiency. Advanced speech recognition software can also assist but requires manual review for accuracy.
The Evolution of Transcription Services
The transcription industry has evolved significantly with advancements in technology. Understanding these changes helps highlight the differences between audio typists and transcriptionists. While audio typists primarily work within predefined formats and routines, transcriptionists must adapt to new software, methodologies, and diverse client needs.
Key Differences Between Audio Typist and Transcriptionists
Scope of Work
- Audio Typist: Typically transcribes single-speaker dictations within an office setting.
- Transcriptionist: Handles multi-speaker recordings, including interviews, conferences, and investigations.
Skill Requirements
- Audio Typist: Requires good typing speed and familiarity with specific voice and material.
- Transcriptionist: Needs advanced listening skills, patience, and the ability to research and understand diverse and complex topics.
Work Environment
- Audio Typist: Works in a controlled office environment.
- Transcriptionist: Works with recordings that may include various background noises and poor audio quality.
The Importance of Research Skills
A professional transcriptionist must be able to research adequately, filtering through irrelevant information to find accurate references. They may transcribe recordings from different fields such as medical conferences or fraud investigations, requiring them to understand specialised terminology and context.
Challenges Faced by Transcriptionst
Transcriptionists encounter numerous challenges, including:
- Accents and Dialects: Transcribing speakers with different accents and dialects.
- Poor Audio Quality: Working with low-quality recordings.
- Background Noise: Managing recordings with background noise and distractions.
- Specialised Terminology: Understanding and accurately transcribing specialised terms from various fields.
Why Alphabet Does Not Employ Audio Typists
At Alphabet, our transcriptionists are certainly not referred to as audio typists, and we do not employ audio typists. Transcriptionists need many more skills to become highly successful and competent in their roles. We emphasise the importance of these skills and the need for continuous improvement and adaptation to new technologies and methodologies.
Knowledge is Key:
We appreciate how hard transcriptionists work and their jobs are not an easy one, and that is why we make a distinction between the two. An audio typist does not have the experience of dealing with multi-speakers on a daily basis. Their boss does not change on a daily basis. The subject matter does not alter on a daily basis. They do not have to deal with children screaming on a recording, or an interview being conducted in a café on a daily basis. On a daily basis a transcriptionist’s workload is extremely diverse, and when you hear the words ‘audio typist’ and ‘transcriptionist’, this is how you differentiate between the two.
At Alphabet our transcriptionists are certainly not referred to as audio typists and we do not employ audio typists. We are inundated with secretaries who assume that because they have worked in an office and can type at 100 wpm, they will make an ideal transcriptionist. This is not the case. You require many more skills to become a highly successful and competent transcriptionist.
This is just a snippet of how we distinguish between an audio typist and a transcriptionist.
If you would like to discover how Alphabet can assist you or your organisation in the transcription process, please telephone: 01707 260027.
