• Transcribing an interview can be a painstaking and slow process.i write, i write, and the happiness is not present image by Andrey Andreev from Fotolia.com
  
  Though the concept of transcribing an interview is simple, and anyone who can listen and type should be up for the job, a good transcriber will adhere to certain guidelines and shortcuts in order to get the job done faster. Whether you are transcribing interviews for your own benefit or for business or professional purposes, there are some tips you can follow to make the often painstaking process go a little more smoothly and a little faster.
  
  

Know the Terminology

• Oftentimes interviews will involve specialized terminologies, such as finance or technology jargon, depending on the subject. When transcribing an interview based on such esoteric language, it helps to develop a glossary of keywords to reference throughout the transcribing process.
  
  Even better than having to develop your own set of keywords while listening to the interview is if the keywords can be given to you ahead of time from the interview subject, or even spelled out on the tape at the beginning or end. Many companies will have keyword glossaries already available from past transcriptions.
  
  

Use the Right Equipment

• A big factor in how easily an interview is transcribed depends on the equipment being used. It's important to have high-quality headphones that cover your ears entirely and provide good sound. Poor headphones will often obscure words, making them difficult to transcribe correctly.
  
  Since you will inevitably be starting and stopping the transcription tape frequently it greatly benefits you to have to foot pedal with which to control the tape. Not only will this give you better control over the audio, but it will also leave your hands free to focus on typing out the dictation. Start-Stop makes a number of foot pedal audio transcription products.
  
  

Set the Audio Speed

• When transcribing an interview, it often helps if you adjust the speed of the audio to better match your typing speed. People will often speak quickly during interviews, and by slowing down the audio you will be able to type for longer periods of time without having to break and rewind the tape. This slowed-down speed also makes many confusing or convoluted words easier to understand.
  
  

Know What's Important

• In many cases getting every word transcribed from an interview is not important. Unless you are concerned with word-for-word verbatim transcription, you can often skip or paraphrase certain parts of the interview. This will save you and whoever will be using the transcription time. Aside from passing over idle banter, you can also try to briefly note or simply skip other parts of the interview that might not be of interest to your or your client. By knowing what you're looking for ahead of time, you can save yourself priceless time and effort during the transcription process.