You may not be familiar with the word “dictaphone”, but a dictaphone is a trademarked name for a dictation recording machine. A dictaphone is a device used to record audio of important events, meetings, presentations, or seminars. Before the introduction of smartphones and smart devices, a dictaphone was sold as a separate machine like a voice recorder. These can cost anywhere from $20 to hundreds of dollars. But with advances in technology, the modern dictaphone is now available on your phone, laptop, or any other smart device.

Transcribing audio to text is helpful for any individual or business who seeks to boost its brand awareness and have a physical record of important information. Having a folder filled with audio files is harder to manage and accessing the information in them takes time. By transcribing audio to text, you make your information accessible to everyone, easy to find, and easier to comprehend and remember.

Since the introduction of modern technology and transcription software, traditional dictation has become a thing of the past. Dictation is the transcription of spoken word to text that includes someone who is “taking dictation” and another who is “dictating” or speaking. When we picture this, it usually looks like someone sitting in front of a typewriter, computer, or with a pen and paper writing down words spoken by another person. One very common, and current, use of dictation is that done by a court stenographer who transcribes all the spoken words during a hearing or trial. But dictation is used in many other professions and has a multitude of benefits for personal and business purposes.

Transcribing a video to text is beneficial for anyone who seeks to increase their brand awareness and emphasize important information. With transcription, a video becomes more accessible to people with hearing impairments and can overcome technological issues that may interfere with general viewing. Transcribing a video to text not only boosts a brand’s visibility, but encourages better comprehension and engagement amongst viewers.

“Taking dictation” has started to become a bit of an outdated term and practice given the advances of online use. Taking dictation used to include physically recording a client or bosses’ spoken notes, or other form of formal speech either by hand or using a typewriter or other word processor. This practice has instead been taken over by online dictation services. Technological and software progress have even introduced multiple applications that use algorithms to transcribe recorded audio into text automatically. Online dictation has proven to be a practical and economical solution for those who require transcripts of speech.

Transcribing an audio book may seem a little strange. More often than not, we assume the print or ebook version of a book precedes that of the audio content. Or, we wonder what the added benefit of a print book has when audio books are especially convenient for their ability to be listened to anywhere and at any time. But it’s not uncommon for audiobooks to exist before the print version of a book and there are numerous benefits to entering alternative book sale markets through transcribing an audio book.

If your profession requires you to record and transcribe voice notes, you know just how easily the work can pile up. Whether you work in the medical, legal, or insurance field, the decision to seek out voice dictation services is one which will give you back a great deal of your time and energy. But knowing which voice dictation service to choose is not always a simple matter. Today, we’d like to share the three most essential qualities to look for in a voice dictation service that will meet your needs.

If your professional life requires you to record and transcribe audio often, then you are familiar with how difficult this part of the job can be. Indeed, there aren’t many tasks that prove more time-consuming than transcribing audio to text. You should plan for the transcription time to take at least twice as long as the length of the recorded text, but that could be much longer (think 5-10 times as long) if the transcriptionist is inexperienced, if there are multiple speakers, or if the audio quality is not good. Follow these three tips to maximize your efficiency.

The podcast movement is exploding. New offerings surface constantly, and scores of new listeners search for engaging and valuable content to enjoy. Whether you are new to the podcasting community or a seasoned voice with an established following, it’s time to up your game by providing your listeners with transcripts of each and every show. Enlisting a podcast transcription service is a savvy way to expand your audience while enjoying a strong return on investment.

Outfitting your podcasts with transcripts may seem like user engagement 101, but it’s about more than just making the content available in multiple mediums. It’s about accessibility. Ask yourself: who can access your content? Which audiences might be left out? How inclusive is your attempt to share your content with as many people as possible?