Audio Typing and Transcribing

Audio typing and transcribing

On Time Typing specialises in audio typing and audio transcription – transcribing digital audio and audio cassette recordings of dictation, meetings, interviews and focus groups for academic research, internal and external investigations, minutes, reports and publications.
On Time Typing guarantees Quality, Confidentiality and Reliability and as part of our audio transcription service, we give you a signed Guarantee of Confidentiality, 100% Accurate Transcripts (for audible recordings) and Delivery by Deadline.
On Time Typing offers you a free consultation via telephone or email to clarify the audio quality of your recordings, your preferred timeline and the type of documents you require – interview or focus group transcripts, dictated reports, minutes of meetings or other reports. We then send you a personalised quote that meets your particular needs and a signed Guarantee of Confidentiality, 100% Accurate Transcripts (for audible recordings) and Delivery by Deadline.
On Time Typing maintains strict security and confidentiality regarding all queries and bookings, and all audio and document files. We always provide you with a signed Guarantee of Confidentiality and our experienced audio typists have signed strict Confidentiality Agreements with On Time Typing. When you send us your digital audio files via our forwarding website, we use a system of changing passwords to ensure that only On Time Typing has access to your files. If your recording is on audio cassettes, we recommend you post your cassettes to us by Registered Mail and we always return your cassettes by Registered Mail. After completion of each booking, we destroy, delete and/or return all relevant electronic and hardcopy material.
On Time Typing not only transcribes but also proofreads your digital audio and audio cassette recordings of dictation, interviews, focus groups, meetings or other events – which ensures that as long as your recordings are audible, your transcripts will be 100% Accurate.

Transcribing as you speak

On Time Typing specialises in transcribing via telephone or on-site, anywhere in Australia. We transcribe what you say, as you speak, then produce whatever you need – transcripts, letters, statements, minutes or reports. We are highly skilled in transcribing then writing interview reports, minutes of meetings and other reports and submissions.
On Time Typing specialises in transcribing interview reports via telephone. We first ask you to email us some information so we can prepare a template for your interview report. Then we transcribe the interviews, and transcribe the panels' discussions straight into the interview report document. We then re-write, edit and submit your edited interview reports within 2 working days.
On Time Typing transcribes your dictation, meetings or focus groups as you speak, via telephone or on-site, then produces edited transcripts, minutes, letters, statements or reports.
On Time Typing offers you a free consultation to clarify exactly what you need, your intended audience for the document (if relevant) and your preferred timeline. For example, you might ask us to submit your reports, transcripts, minutes, submissions or other documents to you as 1st draft documents only; or you might need us to provide you with edited, formatted and proofread documents ready for distribution or publication. You might require your report to be concise, or comprehensive. You might require your report to be formatted according to the style of previous minutes or reports, or presented in a new format. You might need a verbatim transcript of your event, or you might only want a list of the main points of the proceedings. After we have clarified your exact needs, we will suggest the best way to produce the documentation you require and then provide you with a personalised quote and a signed Guarantee of Confidentiality, Accurate Content and Delivery by Deadline.
On Time Typing maintains strict security and confidentiality in relation to all clients and potential clients' queries, names and contact details, bookings, quotes and all other material in relation to your bookings. After we have completed each booking, we destroy/delete or return all relevant material, as required; or if requested by a client, we will keep a copy of the relevant documents on file.
On Time Typing guarantees that when we transcribe your dictation, meetings or other events via telephone or on-site, your transcripts, minutes and reports will be accurate in content; your minutes and reports will be well written and, if required, edited, formatted and proofread. Of course, On Time Typing always guarantees Confidentiality, Quality and Reliability.

General typing services

copy typing hand-written or typed documents
word processing, formatting
transcribing
editing, and/or proofreading (Australian English, British English or USA English)

Free consultations and advice

Free consultations and advice are available regarding: recording (interviews, focus groups, meetings or oral histories); audio transcribing; typing; word processing; writing; formatting; editing and/or proofreading.

Recent clients

Audio transcription – transcribing digital audio and audio cassette recordings of interviews and focus groups

Monash University VIC – staff/students (research interviews, transcripts)
La Trobe University VIC – staff/students (research interviews, transcripts)
Charles Darwin University NT – staff/students (research interviews, transcripts)
Charles Sturt University NSW – staff/students (research interviews, transcripts)
Swinburne University VIC – staff/students (research interviews, transcripts)
Latrobe City Council
Melbourne VIC – private companies (dictation, financial reports)
Sydney NSW – private company (board meetings, transcripts)
Victoria Legal Aid VIC (investigation interviews, transcripts)
Darwin City Council NT (tender interviews – transcripts and formatted minutes)
Department of Local Government, Housing and Sport NT (investigations interviews, transcripts)
Department of Justice, Consumer Affairs NT (investigations interviews, transcripts)
Northern Territory Treasury (investigations interviews, transcripts)
Department of Employment, Education and Training NT, NT Worksafe (investigations interviews)
Hansard NT 2001-06 – Sally-Anne Watson (proprietor, On Time Typing) transcribed parliamentary sittings, inquiries and public hearing committee meetings.

Transcribing as you speak – transcripts, interview reports, minutes and other reports

On Time Typing has transcribed and drafted a number of comprehensive interview reports for the following Commonwealth departments: Employment and Work Relations; Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Australian Bureau of Statistics; Office of Indigenous Policy; Australian Customs Service; Centrelink.
On Time Typing has transcribed and drafted a large number of interview reports for NT departments: Local Government, Housing and Sport; Justice; Treasury; Employment, Education and Training; Health and Community Services; Business, Economic and Regional Development; Planning and Infrastructure; Chief Minister's Office.
On Time Typing has transcribed events (on-site) and produced transcripts, minutes and reports for: Menzies School of Health Research; Relationships Australia; Department of Employment, Education and Training; ABA National Advisory Committee (FaCSIA); Business Partnering Forum (DBERD); Learning Lessons Implementation Steering Committee.

Useful tips for recording – digital audio or audio cassette

The importance of audio quality

When recording your interviews, focus groups or meetings, it is important to be aware that the quality of your audio recordings will directly affect the quality of your transcripts. If your interviews are clear and audible, 100% Accurate Transcripts will be possible. However, if your audio recording contains background noise, or if people are speaking quietly or they are too far from the recorder microphone, some of what is said may be not be audible in the recording and your transcript will be less accurate.

How to ensure good audio quality

Before recording your interviews, focus groups or meetings, ensure that there is no background noise. For one on one interviews, place the recorder or microphone as close as possible to the interviewee (not the interviewer). For focus groups and meetings, place the recorder or microphone so that it is facing all the participants, and ensure that all participants are within about 2 arms' lengths of the recorder or microphone. If participants have soft voices or mumble, ask them to speak up so that their voices are audible in the recording; and try to ensure that participants speak one at a time, not altogether.
If recording onto an audio cassette, be particularly careful about ensuring that there is no background noise and that the microphone or recorder is facing and close to the interviewee or participants. Always use new cassettes and record on one side only of each cassette (Side A) because if you record on both sides or use an old cassette, the cassette ribbon can become stretched and that will reduce the audio quality and clarity of your recording.
Poor audio quality is usually caused by background noise, participants sitting too far from the recorder microphone, participants mumbling or speaking very softly, people all talking at the same time, or recording onto both sides of an audio cassette. Remember, if what people are saying is not audible in the recording, their comments will be missing from the resulting transcript so it is very important to produce a recording of good audio quality.
It is also worth noting that the audio quality and clarity of digital audio recordings is generally superior to the audio quality and clarity of audio cassette recordings.

Referencing your recording

At commencement of your interview, focus group or meeting, it is always a good idea to state the time, date and names of all present and/or ask each participant to state his/her name clearly for the purposes of the recording. At the end of the event, before you stop recording, again state the time (for example, 'Interview terminated, it is now 4.15 pm.').
Clearly write or type the name of the interviewee/participants, time, date and any other relevant information on the digital audio file or audio cassette and/or on the documentation attached to your recordings.
The audio transcriptionist will then be able to document these important details into the resulting transcript.

Sending us your audio recordings

Digital Audio Files: Most digital recordings are too large to be sent via email so we ask you to send them to us electronically via our forwarding website. Once you have confirmed your booking, we will email you the password and instructions for uploading your audio files to this website. Once you have uploaded your audio files, we download them and start transcribing.
Audio Cassettes: On Time Typing recommends you post your cassettes to us by Registered Mail. After transcribing, we will return your cassettes by Registered Mail.