The 10 Best Transcription Kits
Editor's Notes
May 22, 2020:
The advent of portable recorders and computer software revolutionized the transcription industry, as previously a transcriber had to record in real-time, using advanced skills such as stenography or shorthand. Since the 1970s, the job has been made easier by portable tape recorders, and now digital handsets allow on the spot recording, editing, and playback, making it considerably quicker to achieve accurate results.
The transcription bundles ranked here provide foot pedals that allow the transcriber to play, pause, and scan files, leaving their hands free to type, as well as lightweight headsets, which provide clarity and improve focus for the user. The Express Scribe Pro Bluetooth has wireless connectivity, reducing the physical limitations even further when transcribing.
Some packages, including the Express Scribe Pro, Olympus AS-2400, and Philips 7177 SpeechExec, are software-based products that are used solely for transcribing existing files via your laptop or PC. Other bundles, including the YBS Olympus Complete Starter Kit, Philips DPM6700, Olympus DS-2600DT Starter Kit, and the Olympus DS-9000DT Starter Kit, include digital recorders, with powerful directional microphones and built-in editing functionality. These provide a complete solution for recording, editing, and transcribing, and are ideal for professionals who work in the field, such as reporters or market researchers.