Podcasting Transcription Services

Update: http://jdfrey.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/podcast-transcription-service-update/

I promised a day devoted to podcasting transcription services, so I’ve listed the narrowed down services here in no particular order. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you which one I recommend for podcast transcription and why (click here to find out). I have used, or have friends / clients using, five of the nine companies listed here. If you have an experience with any of them (or another one), feel free to email me (or comment) so I can update this entry.

I came up with this list, as I stated, because I have had interaction with over half of them. I added the others because they seemed similar in process and cost to the five I know about. You can check out their websites just like I did, but hopefully I’ve given you some helpful information about each of them. If you’d like me to add another column or review another service specifically, let me know. Again, I’ll take some time tomorrow to tell you which one I recommend and why.

First, I check out the procedure for each service (how you get the audio files to them and how you get the text files back), who transcribes the audio files (this is important), and the tun-around time for your files.

Name	Procedure	Who Transcribes	Turn-Around
eScriptionist	Email or FTP digital files, or snail mail audio to them, text file can be emailed or FTP’d back	“We do not outsource any of our work overseas as many other transcription companies do”	3-5 Business Days
Transcribe It Quick	Log into their website and upload audio / download files	“staff is all AMERICAN-based”	24-72 Hours
highscribe	Send them audio files and text documents / pdfs are returned	Canadian based	Depends on the project
Production Transcripts	FTP MP3 files to their server, and get a Microsoft Word document emailed to you (or download from secure client area)	“We use a domestic workforce to transcribe your materials”	2-4 Days
Tech-Synergy	They subscribe to your podcast, create the transcript, and upload it back to your website if you choose	“With our presence in US India and Philippines, we are able to provide variety of Business and Technology services at an affordable price to our customers”	?
Casting Words	They only accept only handle MP3 and MP4 files and return a plain text, html, or rtf file in an RSS feed	Anyone on the internet that applies	“A few days”
Enablr	Give them the URL of your audio and you get an email of the file, learn about subscribing to your podcast and auto transcription from the coming soon link on their website	Based in Canada	3 Business Days
Transcription Services	FTP audio to them and get an email txt file back, also has a call in dictation service	?	?
PodClerk	Submit the RSS feed and they automatically send you a plain text, html, rtf, pdf, or xml file	?	24 Hours

Price is important… so here are the costs. Most split pricing up between one person and good audio, multiple people (like an interview), and bad audio, lots of people talking, or lots of different cuts… there is also rush pricing for some of the services.

Name	Single Person $	Multiple Person $	Lots of Cuts / Bad Audio $	Rush Pricing
eScriptionist	$1.50 /minute	$2.00 /minute	$3.00 /minute	$2.25 – $4.00 /minute
Transcribe It Quick	$1.50 /minute	$2.25 /minute	$2.75 /minute	$2.25 – $3.75 /minute
highscribe	$5.95 /minute	(not rated this way, see the website)	$13.95 /minute	Available
Production Transcripts	5 Minute Min = $15 60 Minutes =$90 30 Minutes =$50(approx $1.55 /minute)	60 Minutes =$120 30 Minutes =$65	60 Minutes =$219 30 Minutes =$109	Next Day = $90 – $200 / 30 min
Tech-Synergy	$0.50 /minute	N/A	N/A	24 Hour = $1.20 /minute
Casting Words	$0.42 /minute	N/A	“May turn down work”	N/A
Enablr	$1.00 /minute	N/A	N/A	N/A
Transcription Services	?	?	?	?
PodClerk	$0.34 /minute (minimum 30 minutes)	N/A	N/A	$0.40 /minute (minimum 30 minutes)

Here are my notes on the different services.

Name	Notes
eScriptionist	Spoke with an individual directly to ask a question, seemed professional
Transcribe It Quick	Lots of different business sectors listed as being transcripted
highscribe	Full broadcast transcripts, overkill for most podcasts
Production Transcripts	Many different types of audio listed (conference calls, seminars, documentaries) along with a specific podcast section and pricing
Tech-Synergy	Not just transcription services, someone I know used the service and had to make multiple corrections to the text… but it’s cheap
Casting Words	Lots of specific requirements, but podcast specific… and cheap
Enablr	Podcast specific (I’m looking forward to the new offerings on their website)
Transcription Services	Not enough info on the website to make me feel good about this one
PodClerk	Podcast specific, but 30 minute minimum may limit some people from going with them

I hope this helps you in your quest to transcribe your podcast. Tomorrow, I talk about the one I like (click here)… but later this week… I’ll tell you how to do your own podcast transcription!