[Air-L] out of luck re transcription?

[Pam Brewer]

I recently conducted 99 interviews using VOIP and phone (about 150 hours 
of interviews).  Like others, I couldn't find any software tool that 
would transcribe the interviews effectively, and I didn't think the 
final product of machine transcription would capture what I needed 
efficiently and effectively anyway.  So, I used tried and true, 
dirty-hands methods.  I took good notes while interviewing and recorded 
the interviews digitally.  I then transcribed my own written notes more 
thoroughly immediately after each interview.  It was from those notes 
that I gathered my data, and I used the digital recordings to check the 
accuracy of quotes, review details of an issue, review tone, etc.  But I 
made no attempt to transcribe all of the audio notes from the files.

P

Pamela Estes Brewer
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Appalachian State University
phone 828-262-2351
fax  828-262-2133
email  brewerpe at appstate.edu



Rhiannon Bury wrote:
> I had no idea what "mechanical turk" was--thank goodness for Wiki. ;) I don't think folks seem to appreciate the skill it takes to do a proper transcription.  A good transcriber is worth his or her weight in gold! I find it hard to believe that top transcribers are lining up to offer their services on this web service.  I recently had some done by a person who came recommended and had experience and it was not well done. 
>
> And I'm totally with Denise. If you want to really understand your data, you need to get your hands dirty.  I always listen to my interviews and take detailed notes, including on intonation etc even if I don't do the transcription myself. 
>
> Rhiannon 
>
>
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