Transcription Machine: What is it and What is it Used For?

What is a Transcription Machine?

A transcription machine is a special machine used for voice processing and word processing. This machine typically takes audio or video recordings and converts them into text. Transcription machines are often a combination of both professional human transcriptionists and dictation or transcription machines.

An Overview of Transcription as a Profession

Looking for a steady, lucrative, work-from-home job? Or a side hustle to earn a little extra cash? If you’re a fast and accurate typist, you might be thinking about finding a transcription job. Transcription work gives you the flexibility to set your own hours and work as much as you want each week. And many employers will hire entry level transcriptionists with no prior experience. 

Several industries commonly use dictation and transcription services. Specially trained transcriptionists can find work in the medical or legal fields. But even if you haven’t taken any special classes, you can find work as a general transcriptionist. There are many people who use general transcription services. Potential clients include students, journalists, event organizers, podcasters, market researchers, and more.

Transcription Equipment

We recommend using the best equipment you can afford. Transcriptionists can increase their typing speed significantly by acquiring the right tools. 

Let’s take a look at the equipment you’ll need to build quality transcription kit.

Traditional Transcription Equipment

Currently, most businesses record their meetings and notes using a digital recording system. However, there are still a few who make recordings on cassette tapes. If you are working with clients who use this type of system, you’ll need to use an old-fashioned transcription machine.

The old-fashioned transcription machine is user friendly. It comes with several parts.

• Micro-cassette transcriber: This is the main part of the transcription machine. It looks like a small cassette tape player. Your client records their notes on a dictation machine, and you pop the tape in here to listen to it. It’s that simple.
• Foot pedal: Transcriptionists use this piece of equipment to start and stop recordings. It keeps their hands free to type away. Trust us, you don’t want to skip it. Forgoing the foot pedal can reduce your typing speed by up to 50 percent.
• Headset: You’ll need a comfortable set of headphones to listen to your recordings. Some beginner transcriptionists use earbuds. But many people find these uncomfortable after hours of work. 
• Computer: Obviously, you can’t type without a computer. For most jobs, your computer must be a PC, and you have to use Microsoft Word. 
• Mechanical keyboard: We recommend a high quality, comfortable keyboard. Mechanical keyboards have keys that are easier to push down, which helps prevent pain and injury. 

Digital Transcription Equipment

In 2021 and beyond, clients are much more likely to prefer audio and video transcription. For these jobs, you’ll need high speed, digital equipment. You’ll need most of the equipment listed above, plus a few additions and upgrades.

• Computer requirements: To work with video and audio files, your computer will need to meet several specifications. You’ll need at least 4GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and as many USB ports as possible. And again, your computer should be a PC with Microsoft Word.
• Dual monitors: Transcriptionists can save themselves a lot of time (and clicking!) by having two screens visible at once.
• High speed internet: Downloading and transmitting audio files and video files would be painfully slow on dial up.
• Transcription software: In combination with the foot pedal, transcription software allows you to start, stop, slow down, speed up, rewind, and forward the recording with ease.

Need to Hire a Transcription Service?

Look no further. Rev offers professional human transcription services we guarantee 99% accuracy. Our rates are low at only $1.25 per audio or video minute. Many of our transcriptionists use the transcription machines described above for optimal transcription speed. Just send us your file, and you’ll get an accurate, expert transcription back within hours.

Rev also offers the most accurate automatic speech recognition engine in the world as both a speech-to-text API and a $0.25 per minute automatic transcription service.