Transcription Rates for the Quality Services We Offer

What Does Transcription Cost?

Our transcription rates start from as low as R12.99 per audio minute for English, one-on-one interviews, transcribed in intelligent verbatim style. Student discounts may be offered, where applicable.Our transcription rates start from as low as R12.99 per audio minute for English, one-on-one interviews, transcribed in intelligent verbatim style. Student discounts may be offered, where applicable.

It is important to keep in mind that an experienced typist may type around 55 to 60 words per minute. However, the average talking speed is much faster, around 125 to 150 words per minute. In addition, with the diverse range of accents in South Africa, transcription requires careful attention to detail.

Transcribing one hour of audio can take up to five hours on average as each word needs careful transcription, which involves listening to the audio multiple times. Rushing through the transcription process can lead to errors and inaccuracies. Thus, we ensure accurate and careful transcription by taking our time, within reason.

Transcription Rates Inclusions and Value Adds

We believe that it’s the little details that make all the difference. Therefore, we strive to ensure that every transcript we produce is of the highest quality possible.

Our transcription rates include:

Quality Check

Quality Check

We take a thorough approach to ensure the highest level of accuracy and completeness. To achieve this, we listen to each audio file at least twice during the transcription process.

During the first draft, we gain perspective on the content by getting to know the speaker’s manner of speaking and the topics discussed. We therefore capture as much information as possible, ensuring we overlook nothing.

In the second draft, we go back and carefully review the transcript to confirm that we have captured everything accurately. We take the time to fill in any gaps that may have been missed in the first draft. Additionally, we double-check the work already done to ensure there are no errors or omissions. Our commitment is to provide you with a high-quality transcript that reflects the nuances of the original audio.

Document Formatting

Document Formatting

We understand the importance of formatting in creating a high-quality transcript that meets your specific needs. That’s why we ensure that the Word document is properly formatted before we begin transcribing.

By starting with a well-formatted document, we can make changes to the formatting quickly and easily using simple Style changes. This means that we can change formatting elements to meet your preferences without sacrificing the quality of the transcript.

In addition, a well-formatted document makes it easier to copy and paste text from the transcript to other documents as the formatting will remain constant across different platforms. This can be particularly useful if you need to incorporate the transcript into presentations, reports, or other material.

Time Coding

Time Coding

Our transcription service is designed to provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive transcript possible. That’s why we incorporate time coding for any indistinct areas that may occur during the recording, at intervals of a minute or so. With our time-coding system, you can quickly navigate to specific sections in the audio, making it easy to add any missing information.

Research

Research

We are committed to providing the highest level of accuracy and attention to detail possible. That’s why, when necessary, we conduct thorough research to ensure that even the smallest details are captured in the transcript. This includes researching unfamiliar terminology as well as any names or places that are mentioned in the audio. By taking the time to research these details, we can provide a transcript that accurately reflects the content of the recording.

Accuracy

Accuracy

We take pride in our commitment to accuracy and quality. That’s why we’re proud to say that, according to feedback from our satisfied clients, we achieve an accuracy rate of 95% or higher. We believe that this level of accuracy is a testament to our dedication to providing the best possible service to our clients. From the moment you submit your audio file, we work tirelessly to ensure that every word is transcribed accurately and efficiently. Of course, achieving such a high level of accuracy is no easy feat. It requires a combination of technology, expert human transcribers, and a commitment to excellence that runs deep through our organisation.

Factors Influencing Transcription Rates

We strive to maintain competitive and cost-effective pricing for our services. However, it is important to note that there are a variety of factors that can impact the final cost of our service.

These factors may include, but are not limited to:

Verbatim Requirements

Verbatim Requirements

We offer three types of transcription: Full verbatim, intelligent verbatim, and edited transcription. Full verbatim takes longer because we meticulously capture every hesitation, stammer, filler word, false start, and repetition that may occur. While these may go unnoticed to any normal listener, it is important for us to capture every detail. Due to the additional time and effort it takes to transcribe these elements, we do charge a surcharge for full verbatim transcription.

Edited transcription and combinations are costed on a case-by-case basis as there are many factors to take into consideration here.

Our goal is to provide accurate, high-quality transcripts that meet your needs and we offer flexibility in our transcription service to best suit your requirements.

Audio Quality

Audio Quality

To transcribe poor-quality audio takes longer as we need to carefully listen to and review more segments than we would for high-quality audio. Due to this additional time and effort, we charge a higher rate for poor-quality audio. however, if the audio quality is so poor that it is difficult to extract meaningful content, we will contact you before proceeding with the transcript.

Voice Clarity

Voice Clarity

Voice clarity is a crucial aspect of any recording, referring to the level of audibility and intelligibility of the speaker’s words. Factors such as mumbling, strong accents, and distance from the recording device can significantly impact voice clarity. To ensure the best possible quality of your transcript, we devote additional time to address any issues with voice clarity, which may result in extra charges for challenging cases. However, we have extensive expertise in handling recordings with heavy accents.

Number of Speakers

Number of Speakers

When it comes to audio files with multiple speakers, the risk of crosstalk – the unwanted sound of one person’s voice bleeding into another’s – increases. As a result, we put in additional effort to carefully extract each speaker’s audio content, ensuring we maximise the quality of your transcript. To cover the additional time needed for this process, we charge an extra fee based on the number of speakers included in the audio file.

Voice Comparison

Voice Comparison

When it comes to conducting focus group interviews or meetings, it is not always clear who is speaking at any given time. Therefore, we rely on manual voice comparison to differentiate between speakers. However, this process can be time-consuming, especially for larger groups. As a result, we do charge an additional fee for this service.

However, it is important to note that you do have the option to forego this service. If you choose not to have voice comparison done, each speaker will be assigned a new reference every time they speak. This still allows for effective analysis of the audio content. Ultimately, the choice is yours and we’re here to work with you to find the best solution for your specific needs.

Editing

Editing

The editing requirements for your transcript may vary depending on the nature of the content. We offer basic editing as a complimentary service, which includes correcting non-standard English and obvious grammatical errors, such as changing “a apple” to “an apple”. However, for more extensive editing, we do offer a separate editing service.

Time Coding

Time Coding

Our standard transcription rates include time coding for indistinct areas at intervals of approximately one minute. However, if you require additional time coding beyond this standard, there may be an additional fee. This ensures that we can allocate the necessary resources to provide you with accurate time coding that meets your specific needs. Please feel free to contact us to discuss any specific time coding requirements that you may have and we’ll work with you to find the most appropriate solution for your project.

Customised Formatting

Customised Formatting

We offer a variety of formatting options for your transcription. However, it is important to note that some custom formatting requests may require additional resources and time to complete. As a result, we may charge an extra fee for complex or highly customised formatting.

For example, table formats can be particularly time-consuming. If your project requires this type of formatting, we will work with you to understand your specific needs and provide you with a clear and structured pricing structure.

Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the highest quality transcription service, tailored to your specific requirements. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about our formatting options or pricing structure.

After-Hour Requirements

After-Hour Requirements

We take pride in providing high-quality transcription services that meet the needs of our clients. We understand that there are times when urgent work is required, which can necessitate longer working hours and increased resources to ensure that we can meet your earlier deadline while still maintaining our commitment to quality.

To cover the additional time and effort required for this type of work, we may apply rush transcription rates or a weekend surcharge. However, rest assured that we never compromise on quality, regardless of the turnaround time for your project. We will work diligently to provide you with the same level of accuracy, attention to detail, and professionalism that we provide for all our transcriptions.

If you have an urgent transcription project that requires a quick turnaround time, please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your needs.

Additional Information for Transcription Rates

Visit our transcription services page for a comprehensive list of our transcription services. Provide us with detailed information about the audio files you need to be transcribed to receive an accurate quote. We guarantee complete confidentiality for all audio files submitted to us, whether you use our services or not.

Please note that our standard transcription rates apply, regardless of when your project starts, and project timelines depend on our availability. To help keep transcription costs down, we recommend you visit our recording tips page before recording your audio.

In addition to our transcription services, we offer value-added services that you can learn about on our Why Nikann page. Contact us today to learn more and experience the difference that our expert transcription services can make!