Having to listen to an entire conversation in order to get the information that you need can be problematic and time-consuming. You'll save a lot of time if you get the audio transcribed at $1 to $1.50 per audio minute. Clear audio recordings and transcription help can ensure better understanding of the conversation, less transcription errors and faster turnaround times. Here are 3 tips to implement in order to get clear audio recordings that will make the transcription much easier for the transcribers.

Keep Background Noises to a Minimum

It's hard for transcriptionists to clearly hear what everyone is saying if there's a lot of background noise in the audio. This will interfere with the quality of the transcription, and will also result in higher service charges, as transcriptionists will need to spend longer amounts of time transcribing your audio. Clear audio with little to no background noises can make a huge difference in the quality of the transcription, the time required to complete the transcription and more.

There are several ways that you can keep background noises to a minimum. For one, you should only record the audio in a enclosed and soundproof room. You should also consider removing any devices that make unnecessary noises, like clocks or buzzing light fixtures. Essentially, you want the room to be as quiet as possible with as little influence from anything that is happening outside of the room.

Prepare Speakers Ahead of Time

The clarity of the audio recording will also be dependent on how the speakers are pronouncing and enunciating their words. If you plan on recording the conversation to have it transcribed at a later time, let the speakers know ahead of time and prepare them on how they should speak. Verify that all speakers know that they should speak loudly, slowly and aldo clearly. Remind them to make as little noise as possible when someone is speaking. For example, this might include fidgeting with a pen or shuffling papers. These activities will produce unwanted background noises.

It might also be a good idea to identify speakers in the beginning of the audio. This allows the transcriptionists to put a name to each voice, which can help with the transcription. Ask the speakers to introduce themselves in the beginning of the discussion, In addition, ask the speakers to address each other by name when asking a question.

Place the Microphone in the Right Location

Another fairly important factor to consider that will highly influence the clarity of the audio is where the microphone is placed. You definitely want to purchase a high quality microphone and digital recorder that is capable of picking up sounds easily. External microphones tend to be higher quality than built-in microphones. You should be able to try the devices out at the store before you commit to purchasing them,

Knowing where to place the microphone is also of utmost importance. Ideally, the microphone should be placed as close to the speakers as possible. You want to avoid moving the microphone around if possible, as that might generate unwanted noises. Place the microphone equidistant from all speakers, so that the microphone can pick up the words spoken by each speaker.This also prevents muffling.

Providing the transcribers with clear audio recordings will help you get higher quality transcription with fewer mistakes. If you already know that you'll need a conversation or discussion transcribed in the future, it's a good idea to give everything a trial run before you start recording. This will guarantee that you'll be happy with the results and that you won't run into any funny business when getting the audio recordings transcribed.