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See the following: useful notes from my transcriber Dr Mabel Lie School of Geography, Politics and Sociology Claremont Bridge Building University of Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU Tel: 0191 2227510 -----Original Message----- From: Rich Farnsworth [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 25 May 2005 16:14 To: M L S Lie Subject: RE: recording equipment Mini-discs: * MD recording records on to - wait for it - a mini-disc! Apart from stating the obvious, that means that each interview is contained on a separate vessel and can be sent directly to a transcriber who works from mini-discs. This is not the case for hard-disk/mp3 recorders where there's no removable data vessel. * Transcription straight from mini-disc may cause some transcribers problems in that they can't readily slow the speed down like you would with an audio cassette. (typists use a machine which slows down the audio so that they can type without stop/starting the cassette). * A transcriber would need a mini-disc player (but see alternate solutions beneath) Digital Recording (by that I think you mean "mp3"/portable hard disk recording - mini-disc is digital too): * The interview on a hard disk recorder would have to be transferred from the recording device on to another medium so it wouldn't be a one-stop process ie if you didn't transfer the interview to some other medium you would have to send the transcriber the recorder. * You would need a PC to transfer the interview to CD (or mini-disc but that defeats the point!). Alternatively, I'm sure you could transfer it to audio cassette by simply letting the mp3 interview play back in real-time into a good quality cassette deck. General Comment/Alternate Solutions: * The difference in fidelity between mini-disc and a hard disk recorder is negligible. The key thing is the microphone you use and the microphone placement (so there's nothing to choose between in terms of quality, the issue is one of ease of use and what's the most effective method of getting your interview to a typist) * Check with type suppliers what mediums they can transcribe from. I assume many will want interviews provided on audio cassette so they can slow the audio down. * I suspect that if you want flexibility in the of using any transcription service you will need to transfer the interviews to cassette. Again, check with suppliers who can transcribe from what. * Given that you will probably want to transfer the interviews to another medium (mainly cassette??) there are considerations about the different recorders: * Mini-disc - if you buy MD recorders buy ones which have a USB Hub/Cradle. What this allows you to do is transfer the information directly from the mini-disc onto a PC ie you don't have to relay the information in real-time like you would with a cassette. This would allow you to quickly put an interview onto a CD for example. You'd need a PC but the recorder will come with software to allow you to transfer the audio. * HD recording - a HD recorder should come with software & USB lead which would allow you to put interviews directly onto a PC. You'd then have to transfer it to another medium. Sorry if this is a bit disjointed. Hopefully you find this helpful but if there's anything you need clarified or want to discuss the options in more detail please just drop me an e-mail. I think the key things are - A)what transcribers are willing to work from and B)how much time do you want to spend post-interview transferring interviews from your source to a source that the transcriber can work from. Kind regards(if you're still awake after this) Rich -----Original Message----- From: M L S Lie [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 25 May 2005 13:03 To: Rich Farnsworth Subject: FW: recording equipment Hi Rich I think you are well placed to answer this following query: -----Original Message----- From: Social-Policy is run by SPA for all social policy specialists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Suzanne Hodge Sent: 25 May 2005 12:11 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: recording equipment We are currently in the process of updating our audio recording equipment and are considering two main options - mini-disk and digital recorders. The major factor we are having to consider is transcription. Does anyone on the list have any advice on what hardware and/or software is needed for transcription with each of these options and on how well they work? Most of our transcription is sent out to externally based freelance transcribers so any equipment and/or software would need to be made available to them too. Dr S.M. Hodge Research Associate Health and Community Care Research Unit University of Liverpool Thompson Yates Building Brownlow Hill Liverpool L69 3GB Tel: 0151 794 5282