There are many different types of transcription services available, making it hard to determine what is best for you and your specific needs. While transcriptionists largely perform the same work, there are major differences between a strict verbatim transcription and a rough draft transcription, for example. Each is ideal for certain situations; we’ll go over the differences in this post.
A rough draft is the least involved transcription option, at least as far as the transcriber goes. The person will listen to the audio one time without being highly concerned about getting down every detail. You’ll get back a rough transcription. This may be okay for non-important audio files, but if you need a stricter transcription, it is probably not the best choice for you.
Smooth verbatim transcription is the most commonly used transcription style. It is also sometimes called cleaned-up verbatim. Utterances designated by the client are removed. This could be things like stutters, “uhm”s and other miscellaneous words that don’t alter the meaning of the content in the transcription. Otherwise, slang remains and grammar errors are typically left in. This is a great style for meeting notes, conferences, Q&As, and other similar material.
Content transcription is like smooth transcription, but detail is added. This will involve correcting grammar, removing interruptions in the audio, and correcting slang. This is often used for items that may be used in advertising or magazine articles, where polish is of high importance.
Strict verbatim is the last style, and it is precisely what it sounds like. Everything in the audio is transcribed exactly as it exists. That includes pauses, laughter, interruption, and everything else. This is often used for courtroom testimony and other necessary files that need to be 100 percent accurate to the audio.