Navigating Complex Recording Types

Updated: 11/15/24

In most transcription tasks, particularly depositions, the controlled setting and clear dialogue make it relatively straightforward to capture speech accurately. However, events like field footage, police body cam recordings, and intense interviews at police stations present unique challenges. These types of recordings often involve less structured, more chaotic environments, heavy use of slang or dialects, and quick back-and-forth exchanges that can be difficult to decipher.

Steps for Mastering Complex Transcriptions

1. Familiarize Yourself with the Context
   1. Spend a few minutes listening to understand the setting, identify speakers, and get a feel for the flow of the conversation.
2. Optimize Your Listening
   1. Use good headphones and adjust the playback speed to help catch fast speech, mumbling, or overlapping dialogue.
3. Keep Speaker Labels Consistent
   1. Clearly label speakers (e.g., "Officer 1," "Victim") and use the same labels throughout to maintain consistency.
4. Use Short Breaks to Avoid Listening Fatigue
   1. Listening to challenging audio can be tiring, especially when dealing with poor quality or intense conversations. Take short breaks to rest your ears and reset your focus.
5. Use Context Clues for Accents and Slang
   1. When you encounter unfamiliar slang or heavy accents, listen carefully to surrounding words and phrases for context. If you’re unsure about a particular term, consider replaying the section multiple times or researching common regional expressions or slang used in similar scenarios.
6. Proofread and Double-Check for Errors while you go
   1. Review your work for accuracy, paying attention to speaker labels, punctuation, and any missed tags as you progress through the recording.
7. Final Proofread
   1. After completing your transcription, take a moment to proofread your work. Check for accuracy in spelling, grammar, speaker identification, and proper tagging. This final review can help you catch any mistakes or inconsistencies before submission.

To help you tackle these more challenging tasks, we’ve compiled some tips and best practices:

Understand the Context of the Recording

Knowing the context of the recording can help you anticipate the flow of the conversation and better understand what is being said. For example:

• Field Footage: These may involve real-time emergencies or heated encounters. Expect interruptions, background noise, and rapid exchanges.
• Body Cam Audio: Often captured during active police work, body cam audio can include multiple overlapping voices, environmental noise, and police jargon or codes.
• Interviews: These may have a more formal setting but can become tense, with speakers raising their voices, talking over each other, or using slang.

Handling Overlapping Speech and Interruptions

In high-intensity recordings, interruptions and overlapping speech are common. It’s essential to capture these moments as accurately as possible without altering the intended meaning.

• Use <crosstalk> tags for brief overlapping speech when you cannot distinguish what is being said.
• Apply em dashes (--) for interruptions, especially when a speaker is cut off mid-sentence.

  • Example:

    Speaker 1: "I was just trying to tell you--"

    Speaker 2: "I don't care what you were trying to say."

• Distinguish each speaker's dialogue clearly, even if it means frequent switches.

Dealing with Slang, Speaker Dialect, and Accents 

Transcribing slang, regional dialects, and accents can be challenging, especially when speakers use informal or non-standard English. In full verbatim transcription, capturing these elements accurately is crucial to maintain the integrity of the dialogue. Here are some tips to help you handle these situations effectively:

Transcribe Exactly as Spoken:

• No matter how informal or grammatically incorrect the speech is, transcribe it as it is spoken. 
  • For instance if a speaker says, "I'mma go get it," write it as "I'mma go get it," instead of trying to "correct" it to "I am going to get it." This helps preserve the authenticity of the speaker's voice.

Use Context to Guide Your Transcription:

• Sometimes, a word may sound unclear due to a strong accent. Use the surrounding context of the sentence to determine what the speaker is likely saying. For example, if a speaker says, "I was fixin' to head out," the word "fixin'" is a regional way of saying "preparing" or "getting ready."

Handle Fillers and Hesitations:

• Accents and dialects often come with unique filler words or hesitation sounds. Include all fillers like "uh," "um," "you know," and regional fillers such as "like" or "ain't."
• Example: "I was, like, just about to leave, you know?"

Adjust Playback Speed and Use Headphones:

• Accents and fast speech can make transcription tricky. Slow down the playback speed and use quality headphones to catch subtle sounds and words. This can help distinguish between similar-sounding words or phrases.

By following these strategies, you can ensure a faithful and precise transcription, even when dealing with complex slang and heavy accents. The goal is to represent the speaker's voice as authentically as possible while maintaining clarity and accuracy in the transcript.

Managing Background Noise and Unclear Audio

Field footage and body cam recordings often include significant background noise, which can obscure speech.

• <inaudible> indicates complete silence, such as when someone’s audio cuts out but you can still see their mouth moving, while <unintelligible> means you can hear the sound but cannot decipher what is being said.
• Adjust playback speed to help clarify sections that are hard to hear.

Transcribing Police Jargon and Codes

Body cam audio and police station interviews often include police jargon or specific codes.

• Transcribe codes exactly as spoken: If a speaker says "10 four," you must transcribe as "10-4".
• If uncertain about a police term, use Google to research the context to have a better understanding of the context.

Here are some common police codes and their meaning:

• 10-4: Acknowledgment or "OK"
• 10-1: Signal weak
• 10-2: Signal good
• 10-3: Stop transmitting
• 10-10: Fight in progress
• 10-29: Check for wanted
• 10-31: Crime in process
• 10-33: Emergency
• 10-69: Advise telephone number
• 10-70: Improperly parked vehicle
• 10-71: Improper use of radio
• 10-72: Prisoner in custody
• 127: Proceed with caution
• 128: No siren, no flashing
• 129: Request backup
• 130: Emergency
• 187: Homicide

Capturing Tense Conversations and Emotional Exchanges

In high-stakes situations, speakers may raise their voices, interrupt one another, or use emotionally charged language. It’s crucial to transcribe exactly what is said without altering the dialogue.

• Do not sanitize the language: If a speaker uses strong language or expletives, transcribe them as they are spoken to maintain accuracy.

General Best Practices

• Consistency is key: Adhering to our full verbatim guidelines ensures uniformity across all transcripts.
• Review your work: These challenging files often require a second pass to catch any missed details or errors.

Transcribing non-traditional recordings like field footage or body cam audio can be demanding, but with patience and a meticulous approach, you can achieve accurate and reliable transcripts. We encourage you to take your time with these files, make use of all available tools and tags, and reach out for support when needed.

Your effort to navigate these complex scenarios enhances the quality of our work and ensures that we deliver precise, dependable transcripts.