If you are looking for the best transcription services online, then you are at the right place as we would be showing you the best ones you can use to get your files transcribed accurately. Transcription services offer a large-scale use of speech to text. And the best transcription services usually include a manual review process and this is to ensure that the transcription has a high success rate and maximum accuracy. The primary objective is to provide a hands-free service that deals with one-to-one dictation and also normal conversations.
It is normal to want to look for the cheapest transcription service, but you also have to take note of the error rates as the transcribed file may end up being useless.
How much is a transcription service?
There are a lot of factors that affect the pricing for transcription services. Some of these factors include the type of transcription to be done, the turnaround time, the input format of the file, and some others. The price range is also affected by your decision to either choose a well-known company that provides quality services over those that are less known. The average price for transcription usually ranges from $1 to $2 per recorded minute.
What is the best transcription service? Top 3 transcription services
The following are the top 3 transcription services you could opt for when looking to get your file transcribed.
No.1: Scribie
Scribie is a dedicated transcription service that has both manual and automated transcription services to offer. For the manual transcription gives you a 99% transcription accuracy and a good turnaround time of about 36 hours. They also offer speaker tracking, and all these are for $0.80 per minute of audio. All you have to do is upload your video or audio recording to the site, and then be rest assured that the freelancers on the team will get your transcription done. You can choose to utilize the automated option for simpler jobs, which is ideal if you are looking to save some time and effort.
To utilize either one of Scribie’s transcription services, you need to sign up and create an account. Although their web is a bit dull and can be confusing. In the top right corner, you will see five different sections which are: Upload (default), Files, Calls, Payment, and Settings. Scribie allows you to upload files your local storage, through a link from YouTube, and even from your Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox account. The audio and video files that are supported include MP3, WAV, MP4, AAC, AIIF, MKV, and OPUS.
Scribie follows a transcription process with four parts which is thoroughly detailed on its site. The first step is to break the transcript into segments and send it to home-based freelancers who start working on it. Secondly, more transcriptionists find and correct any mistake while adding extra services like timestamps and speaker identification. Next, the file will remain separated until it is read again to fix any error. The last step is a quality check.
Pros
Cons
- Excellent accuracy
- Free, automated option
- Extra costs can add up
No.2: GoTranscript
GoTranscript is a transcription service that uses humans who work as freelancers to transcribe your files, not an automatic speech recognition engine. The starting cost for utilizing GoTranscript is $0.90 per minute of audio. But, that price doesn’t include some extra options like timestamps and it is for files that include one or two speakers while the turnaround time is about 5 days.
So, if you want any of the extra options, you should be prepared to spend some extra cash. GoTranscript recently improved its dashboard as it is now more organized. The menu options are now located on the left side of the interface and are broken down into three main sections: Dashboard, Account, and New Order. You can find all your Transcription, Caption, Subtitle, and Translation orders in the “My Orders” section.
GoTranscript follows a similar transcription process as other human-based transcription services. Firstly, the files are divided into sections and freelancers transcribe them separately. Next, timestamps and speaker details are added. After that, the individual files are merged and checked for any inconsistencies. While the last step is an additional proofreading pass. Your files are protected thanks to the 2,048-bit SSL encryption that GoTranscript uses while also operating under strict NDA policies. GoTranscript also allows you to delete files from your dashboard. This will also remove all the traces of data from your transcriptionists’ computer.
Pros
Cons
- Good turnaround times
- Availability of mobile apps
- Extra costs add up fast
No.2: GoTranscript
Rev is also a human-based transcription service that is ideal for transcribing your audio files as they produce highly accurate transcripts at an affordable price. You have to pay by the minute as it lacks a subscription model. The pricing is straightforward and transparent. It costs $1 per minute and there is no extra cost for faster delivery, bulk rate, or extra cost for poor audio quality. The only time you would have to spend extra cash is if you want timestamps every 30 seconds or a verbatim transcription, which would cost an extra $0.25 per minute. They offer one of the fastest turnaround times as files that are 30 minutes or shorter have a turnaround time of 12 hours.
To get started, you will need to sign up with an email address. When you successfully log in, click on the “Get Started” button on the main transcription page or on the “Place New Order” button from the account section. Rev allows you to upload a file from your local storage or by pasting a link to a public address. Once the file is successfully uploaded, the payment and service options will appear. When you confirm your order, a Rev freelancer will then have the option to claim your transcription from a job board.
Pros
Cons
- Top-notch accuracy
- Fast turnaround times
- No subscription model
Conclusion
Any of these transcription services you choose to opt for will be far better than just letting your recordings go to waste. It is a well-known fact that a transcription process can be very stressful and also costly, but the value of accurate and top-quality transcripts is greater than these downsides.
At the very least, one of these services would be offering exactly what you need, so ensure that you read the reviews before selecting any of them.