For a written transcript…

For years news and documentary producers have required a mono recording with timecode to send back to transcription houses. I’ve never been to a transcription house, but I picture a bank of desks filled with circa 1950 female secretaries or court reporters typing feverishly with headphones on. The reason my view is so antiquated, is we still receive calls on a weekly basis looking for stereo cassette recorders. The idea is one channel audio, one channel timecode. Yeah, don’t look back two sentences, I said CASSETTE. In recent months, the light has finally begun to gleam through the horizon. Producers are catching on and realize an MP3 can be emailed.

For those transcription houses on the “leading” edge, digital audio is a very new thing. You’ve been doing it for years, but only a stern “I can’t provide you with a cassette, the recorders aren’t made anymore” has gotten their attention. Eventually, the productions responded saying, “Well, what can you give me?” The doors for sound mixers in this realm are now open. There are two types of recorders that can solve the problem for you.

Non-linear (digital) timecode recorders stamp files with timecode information. What this means is when the file is pulled into the post machine, only the timecode start point and frame rate are on the file. The post machine recreates the timecode. For instance if your audio file starts at 08:54:17:00, and your frame rate is 30ND, then the post machine/software will playback at 30ND starting at 08:54:17:00. This is very simple for timecode transcription. However, only the Sound Devices 7-series recorders (702T, 744T) will record timecode stamped MP3s. In this use I recommend recording mono MP3’s, stereo files can be problematic. Once the file is recorded simply connect the recorder to your computer and drag the file into an email. Send to [email protected]. Done.

Once again the correct post software is helpful, but slowly transcription houses are coming on board. If a 702T or 744T isn’t in your kit or your budget, several low cost flash recorders are in the field excelling for timecode transcription (Zoom H4, Zoom H2, Marantz PMD660, Marantz PMD620) These units do not have dedicated timecode inputs. No problem, you did it with the cassette, you can do it with these recorders too.

Timecode is a line level signal, a very stiff line level signal. Depending on which recorder you use, you may need to pad this signal significantly. For instance in a recent in store test we discovered the Zoom H2 performs the best with a mic level signal on one channel and the timecode signal padded 50 dB. This volume structure is necessary because the recorder does not have separate gain controls for each input, and the line level inputs are -10 (consumer line) Also, we set the preamp on the H2 to medium. This was important to keep the outputted timecode level hot enough for an external timecode system to jam.

Once you have the levels set on the flash recorder, then you can record without much issue. MP3 files are transferred the same way as with the 7-series recorders. Obviously each recording situation is different, cabling, levels and recorder functions dictate how your transcription set will work, but this should help bring the producer up to date.

Once again I thank you for reading, and we’d love to hear your topic suggestions.