What is Transcription?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, Transcription is a written or printed version of something and the final product is a transcript. Therefore in this case I will explain it in the layman’s language. A transcription is converting an audio file into a written document. Nowadays there are many software’s that can get you easily start. The person who does this is a Transcriptionist.

Types of Transcription.

There are two types of transcription:

General transcription.
Medical Transcription.

Transcription companies are always hiring so it’s good to have look and see how it goes with you.

What are the Are the Skills and Requirements.

The basic requirement for you to become a transcriptionist is to have access to good internet, a laptop, high-quality headphones and a foot pedal. I would also recommend having external speakers connected to your laptop or desktop to be able to listen to audio loudly if the file you are working on has poor audio quality. This way you can get to hear some words louder.

The good news is that there are transcription software’s that you can use to reduce the pain of converting audio and video to text. This transcription software saves you thousands of hours every day. Some of the best transcription software are:

Dragon Speech Recognition
Sonix
Otter
Dragon anywhere
Happy Scribe
The FTW Transcriber
Rev
Transcribe
Nvivo
Designrr
RingDNA
Trint

There is so much transcription software. The ones I have mentioned are just but a few.

Now, for you to nail your application with most of the transcription companies, you have to be able to prove to them that you can type the words that you hear correctly. Therefore, some companies will have you submit a transcription test that is normally 3 to 5 minutes long. If you pass these simple audio files and a few grammar questions, then you will be given access to start earning with the converting audio files to text and get paid.

Do note that the following points are key to passing your audio file as quality expectations normally fall in this category. These are the reasons customers return their files to be re-done.

Accuracy – You are required to correctly hear and type what words were said and who said them. In doing this be precise and transcribe what exactly was said. Check your spellings, have a sharp ear to details not to confuse words that sound the same but spelled differently (Homophones) , don’t omit or add content, use punctuation and symbols correctly, be sure to use the right tags. Also check the user guidelines to know what style you are required to transcribe your audio file.
Formatting – You are required to correctly communicate the words you hear and notate in a way that is readable and digestible. For this one, note that you need to follow the customers instructions in the files when they use words like “new paragraph”, “period”, “comma” ,make sure not to type them but instead take it a sign to insert the right punctuation or symbol and not type out the instructions. Use speaker labels correctly, insert the right notation tags, use paragraphs so your work can look easy to read. If a customer has provided the speaker names be sure to use them and most importantly check to ensure if timestamps are needed.

Important skill sets for Transcriptionists

Good Typing speed
Microsoft Office
Excellent customer service
Good communication
Fluent English
Excellent listening skills
Be determined
Good Posture. You will sit for long hours.

Where possible get training to maximize your chances of getting high approval rates in your job applications.

Learn how to Transcribe with the best transcription courses

To be honest you can become a successful transcriptionist by learning the company’s transcription style guide. Transcription isn’t for everyone. It’s not the easy job the scammers make it out to be. To make real money doing this — money that’s actually worth your time spent — you need training.

This way you open more opportunities to earn more money as compared to if you don’t have any experience. If you have some entry-level experience and have applied to some of the companies for you to earn even more money you may need in-depth training. I have done my research and so far Transcribe Anywhere is the best Transcription Training course I have come across. Transcribe Anywhere offers the tips and tricks of how to be able to nail the most difficult transcription files.

Styles of Transcribing Files.

The audio files that you transcribe will come with instructions on the style of transcription the customer would love their files to be in. There are two styles in transcription:

Verbatim
Non-Verbatim

Below is a brief summary of the two:

Verbatim	Non-verbatim/ Default style.
Include speech sounds: Mm-hmm(Affirmative) or mm-mm(Negative), Uh-huh(Affirmative) or Uh-uh(Negative)	Include speech sounds.
Transcribe exactly what you hear	Lightly edit for readability. Don’t change structure or meaning of the speech.
Include filler words (ums, uhs, you know, like, right, well etc. )	No filler words
Include stutters (e.g. I think we should buy s-s-s-some b-b-bread.)	No stutters (e.g. I think we should buy some bread.)
Include False starts/ self corrections.
Include words spoken intentionally. e.g. I think, probably, well, really, just, e.t.c.

Verbatim vs non-verbatim

Having listed the two difference, bear in mind that each transcription company has its own style guide that is to be followed.

How much can I earn as a transcriptionist.

The Answer to this is Unlimited because the more you do the projects assigned to you the more you get to earn. As a transcriptionist, you get to choose the number of hours you want to work. Therefore the more hours you put in the more you get to earn.

However, according to Glassdoor the basic salary a transcriptionist can make is A$47,316 / yr as I write this article.

I hope I have answered some of your questions. Now let’s get to the main focus of this article. Based on my research

40 Best Online Transcription Companies To Work For As A Beginner (or Pro)

1. Rev

With Rev.com, you sign up, take a quiz and submit a transcript to demonstrate your mastery of English and the Rev’s Style Guidelines. You will get reviewed and get an email from Rev.com telling you the outcomes of the submitted documents. If approved you can start working right away.

Rev has hundreds of freelance transcription jobs you can claim and work on.

Rev’s range of pay is $0.30 -$1.10 Per audio/video minute.

Average earnings per month are $245 while top earners make a monthly income of $1,495

You will get paid on a weekly basis via PayPal every Monday. Rev payment currency is in US Dollars.

Also other than transcription, you can do captions where you watch the video and accurately type what is being said or Foreign Subtitles where you translate a foreign language like Spanish or Chinese to English.

2. TranscribeMe!

Just like most transcription companies, you also have to sign up and do an exam. With Transcribe me the system is automated so after you do their English Entrance Exam. Accuracy of high 90s is needed for you to pass. If you fail don’t hate yourself for it. Go back to the Style guide and see where you went wrong. If you fail the English Entrance Exam you have two more chances. If you fail with those two chances you can always retry again after 90 Days. Keep re-applying again 🙂

If you pass the exam you will receive a welcome email with further instructions.

TranscribeMe! has no minimum required typing speed (wpm). Therefore, the faster and more accurately you type, the more money you will make.

The only prerequisites to joining the platform are that you must:

Be at least 18 years old
Have access to a computer or laptop and a stable internet connection
Have access to a valid PayPal account for you to get payed weekly every Thursday once your account balance reaches $20.
Pass the English Entrance exam.

Earnings start at $15 – $22 per audio hour. The average monthly earnings are $250 with the top transcriptionists earning a monthly income of $2,200

Take note: For you to be able to access the entrance exam, TranscribeMe highly recommends a laptop or a desktop with a chrome extension as you will not be able to take the exam from a tablet or phone.

Be on the lookout for more advanced Transcribeme opportunities that pay at even higher rates!

3. GoTranscript

GoTranscript is a web-based transcription and translation company. The company pays up to $0.60 per audio/video minute. The average earnings per month are $150 with the top monthly earners making $1,215. Payments are made weekly via PayPal and Payoneer every Friday for all the work completed.

For you to be accepted into the program you must do a test. You don’t have to have any transcription experience for you to be accepted, just good English making this a perfect fit for beginners.

It doesn’t matter where you live because GoTranscript hires anyone worldwide. NO Typing speed is required. You can be given 6 hours to transcribe a 10 minutes file. You may be required to transcribe a file with a heavy accent, therefore, need good listening skills.

4. Babble Type (fit for pros)

Babble type has been in business for more than 20 years and transcribed more than one million minutes. The company has a detailed introduction video explaining all the requirements before applying with them.

If you are looking for the easiest subject matter or the easiest recordings, then Babble type is not a good fit for you. 50% of the work is medical. The company is looking for contractors who are:

Professional
Reliable
Available
Knowledgeable
Good researchers
Good computers skills
Not afraid to tackle a variety of topics, recordings and accents.
English language skills beyond simple verbatim transcription.
Big vocabulary
Write quickly and well

For you to apply, you have to take a 10 minutes test of a real-world focus group.

To take the test you have to sent an email to the email address on the video instructions the you will receive an automated email. Read the email to proceed to your test.

If you pass you get to go through an interview, formal paperwork, assessment process with paid assignments before you can officially get to work with them.

Babble type pays via PayPal.

Unfortunately, Babble type does not state the rates on their website.

You are ready. Start your Freelance Transcription career Today.

5. 3Play Media

3PlayMedia is a transcription company that offers remote work from home jobs. It was founded in 2007 For you to join you have to apply online through their website. The required qualification is:

Good communication skills
Excellent command of English Grammar and punctuation.
A good internet researcher a
Ability to work independently.

You get to choose your schedule once accepted into the company.

6. GMR Transcription Services, Inc

GMR does not disclose pay rates until you are hired. The pay rates are based on the turnaround time, a number of speakers, and the quality of audio. The company is always looking for well-qualified typists for general transcription. It DOes NOT hire for medical or legal transcription.

You are required to type at least 4 audio hours each month. They require 99% Accuracy. You also have to attach your resume during application. And have a reliable email account.

If they would like to hire you, you will be contacted within 2 weeks. If you do not hear from them, that means the company would NOT like to offer you a contract.

There is a probation period for all new workers to complete 2hours worth of audio before receiving any payment.

7. Dictate Express

Dictate Express requires testing before accepting your application. There are 4 tests:

Spelling
Comma Use
Confusing Words
and a 4-minute audio transcription test.

These tests are “open book,” so passing scores are high (100% for Spelling, 90% for Comma Use and Confusing Words, and pass/fail review of the transcription test). You must pass each test in order to proceed to the next test.

Equipment and skill requirements:

High-speed internet connection
Computer able to run Windows 7 or later
Microsoft Word 2003 or later
Wave player software and foot pedal
Intermediate to advanced skills using the above software, internet, FTP, and email
Ability to follow written instructions
Impeccable work ethic
Cheerful attitude
Great communication skills

8. Transcription Wing.

Transcription Wing is looking for goal-oriented individuals who enjoy the challenge of the work.

You get to earn up to $0.60 per recorded minute.

You have to have a very strong comprehension of the English language, excellent listening skills and can navigate their way through some accented speakers.

If you are an experienced transcriptionist this is a good fit for you.

Transcription Wing accommodates transcriptionists who are comfortable transcribing the following industries:

Legal
General
Medical
Business: Finance, Economics, Marketing
Information Technology
Technical
Science and Biotechnology.

9. 1-800-Typeitup

U.S Based

The lowest pay rate is $30 per audio hour.

The full pay scale ranges from $0.50 – $3 per audio minute.

You must be at least 14year old. For those under 18 years will need a parent or guardian to provide a PayPal account for them.

Payments are paid Via PayPal, Payoneer or Western Union.

Payments are issued twice a month Via your chosen method of payment on the 5th or 18th. You must have submitted at least 10 projects.

No transcription experience is required however 1-800-TypeITup has a fee for their entrance exam.

EXPRESS SCRIBE(Free Version) is required.

10. Daily Transcription

Daily Transcription hires transcriptionists for the entertainment, corporate, legal industries and academic institutions.

The benefits of working with Daily Transcription are that you get paid weekly and their starting rates are at $0.75 – $0.85 per audio minute.

You also get to receive training, feedback and coaching. Top transcriptionists make anywhere from $250 to $950 per week.

Daily Transcription is good for stay home mothers, fathers, students, part-time teachers, writers, academics or anyone who wants to supplement their income.

For you to get started, you need to apply online on their website and pass a Skills Assessment Test and a Transcription Test.

You need to have at least a typing speed of 50 wpm and the ability to meet strict deadlines.

A transcription software such as Express Scribe (Free Download), good headphones, a foot pedal is required. A foot pedal is not required but they highly recommend you have one( Infinity USB Foot Pedal)

Daily Transcription favours anyone in the US or Canada. DT has no fees to apply or to start working with them.

11.Ubiqus

12. Transcription Divas-SYDNEY BASED

13. Averbach transcription

14. Speak Write LLC

15. Tiger Fish

-Applications accepted via email only.

16.Casting Words

17. QuickTate

18.Verbal Ink– (Now called Ubiqus On Demand! New name, new look)

19.Scribie

20. Birch Creek Communications

21. AppenScribe

Appen provides long term or part-time flexible job opportunities that you can work from anywhere in the world. The work you will find in Appen includes projects, micro tasks which are tasks that you can start right away, and surveys and data collections which are simple tasks such as surveys or even record a few commands using your voice and your phone. Its number 21 in my list. don’t be fooled. Appen is one of my favourite work from home platform. Am sure this platform will soon be your favourite.

22.Cielo 24

23.Transcription Hub

24.Terescription

25. AST/CaptionSync

26. Neal R. Gross

27. Bam

28.Accutran Global

29.Crowd Surf

You must be ready to learn before you earn. Better transcriptionists get higher paying work for a reason.

Pros (Advantages) of online Transcription Jobs.

Transcribe whenever or wherever (Freelance 24/7)
Work as much or as little as you like (Flexibility)
There is always work you don’t have to look for it.
You learn as you earn.
Receive regular feedback and learn from other transcriptionists
Weekly payouts.
Work varieties
Earning power is up to you.

Cons (Disadvantage) of Transcription Jobs.

Takes longer to transcribe a file.
You sit for long.
Learning transcription can be overwhelming. Therefore it would be great getting training to accelerate your chances of getting in fully in the industry.