There are many different uses for transcription, from lawyers using transcribed documents for evidence within their cases, to businesses using it to record important meetings and phone calls. Transcription companies offer different types of services, however important audio files transcribed word for word can be the most important.
This article will discuss the importance of having audio or video files transcribed exactly as they are spoken, and how removing important aspects can adjust the way in which the audio is interpreted.
Table of Contents
Clean Verbatim:
The meaning of clean verbatim is that the transcribed document will be lightly edited to make more sense to the reader. A transcription company offering clean verbatim will remove certain aspects of the audio or video file to make it easier to read and understand. The removed factors can include non-verbal sounds such as, filler words like urm and hmm, stutters, false starts and any extended pauses.
As well as non-verbal sounds within the conversation, a clean verbatim service will also not transcribe any noise being spoken in the background.
There are some contexts where this type of transcription would be necessary, such as the education industry. This is due to the fact that you would want to portray the information in a way which can be easily understood by a student and it is easier to follow.
Clean verbatim is usually the cheapest and quicker method of having an audio transcribed due to the fact that it is easier to type and remove these factors then assure they are typed out exactly as they are spoken.
Where Should You Not Use Clean Verbatim?
Using clean verbatim in the legal industry is a massive no and it is very common for lawyers to use transcription within their cases. Those factors which are removed can really affect how a verdict is reached.
As well as this, if you are running a business and are recording disciplinary meetings and wanting to get these transcribed, you would ideally not want to use clean verbatim. This is due to the fact that if you needed the document in a legal situation further down the line, you would want it to be an accurate account of what was said during the meeting.
Why Are Non Verbal Sounds Important?
Non-verbal sounds such as filler words are especially important in the legal industry. This is due to the fact you can analyse a conversation in more detail by these being present.
In the legal industry these non-verbal sounds are particularly important, for example if someone is stuttering on adding filler words you can determine if they are guilty or not guilty. This is because these words present a lack of confidence in what is being said. If a potential suspect is not confident in what they are saying you can use this to suggest that they may be lying, or making up what they are saying on the spot.
Why Is Transcribing Background Noise Beneficial?
There are a number of reasons why you would want to include any background noise in a transcribed document. This is due to the fact that you can tell if someone is being prompted on what to say or if hints are being given by someone present in the room.
Transcribing background noise can be anything from laughing, side comments and even coughing. By including these factors adds another layer to the conversation to allow even further analysation of the discussion being had.
To Conclude:
To conclude there are many scenarios where it is important to have your audio and video files transcribed word for word including any non-verbal sounds and background noise. By including factors that would be excluded when using certain types of transcription services, such as clean verbatim, allows for more context to be analysed if necessary. This is vital when it comes to transcribing for any legal purpose.
However there are various situations, such as in education and research projects where it would be acceptable to have filler words and background noise eliminated from the final transcribed document.
