Finding the Best Modern Transcription Equipment

There's currently more than one kind of machine for transcription on the market. The most basic kind will record a conversation, and then let you play it for future transcribing as you wish. This sounds very little different from normal sound recorders, and in fact these types of machines are just that - recorders that contain added capabilities specifically for recording and playing back dialog meant for transcription.

Products capable of doing the final step of transcription are available. Rather than being stand-alone machines, they're kits consisting of the necessary devices and a special program on a CD for your computer. Using these two halves of the product together, you can record a session, then have it transcribed on your computer. Usually you will find the same features in these kits that you would find on non-software transcribing machinery.

One feature common to most transcribing equipment is the pedal. This keeps the hands free while allowing you to manipulate the machine unobtrusively. Remembering to take into account the pedal's space allotment for both itself and any necessary wires will help you find a good layout for it under your desk.

Don't assume that transcribing a session from the phone is the same as transcribing anything else. In fact, it's considerably more difficult to do so accurately. That is, unless very specific features are included in the transcriber equipment. The good news is that such features, like telephone transcription jacks, are very common on the better transcription products.

One of the limitations of software kits for transcription is the fact that they, like all software, can only use specific formats of files. Obviously you should figure out what formats those are before you buy any particular model. This is particularly true if you use a less conventional OS (Windows users are generally safe). And even otherwise good products can have some surprising incompatibilities that you wouldn't expect.

Try to get a machine that has more than one speed for playing back content, if you can. The ability to adjust this is much preferable to constantly pausing and rewinding. Even with a very precise **transcription machine**, sooner or later you'll probably transcribe something that would be ideal to play back at a speed other than the default.

Unless you've settled on acquiring pre-owned equipment, you'll have to spend at least a hundred and fifty dollars or so for a non-computer-based transcribing machine. If you shop too carelessly, you can end up paying twice that, though! So be careful and look around. Prices are much more stable than you'd find with other professional equipment like **cash counters**.

So, how much should you spend if you're getting a transcription kit for your computer? Probably less than two hundred dollars, on average. You'll notice many products that are much more expensive than that, of course. But as a baseline, between one hundred and one hundred and fifty dollars is enough to satisfy most people's needs.