Thursday, Februrary 10, 2012
CNN sued over lack of closed captioning on website
A federal magistrate has refused to dismiss a suit by deaf Californians against CNN for its refusal to add closed captioning to news video clips on its website.
The lawsuit only alleges discrimination in the way the network delivers its news online and is not an attack on free speech, U.S. Magistrate Laurel Beeler of Oakland said Thursday.
The suit accuses CNN and its owner, Time Warner, of violating state disability laws by denying full online access to more than 100,000 Californians who are functionally deaf. CNN provides closed captions on television, as required by federal law, but its CNN.com website does not caption the brief video segments that make up most of its programming.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/03/BAKK1N2SST.DTL#ixzz1m0EB7yZW
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Web captioning; let’s stop pretending that voice recognition works.
Our secretary called a customer service line today. Greeted with a friendly, yet distant IVR voice, she was prompted for the reason she was calling.
The IVR droned the following:
For customer service, please say, customer service.
For billing inquires, please say, billing.
For technical assistance, please say, technical assistance.
“Technical assistance,” our secretary says.
“I’m sorry, I did not understand. For customer service, please say. . .”
“Technical assistance.”
“I’m sorry, I did not understand that. For customer service, please say. . .”
“Customer service.”
“I understood you to say, customer service, is this correct?”
“Yes.”
“I did not understand your response.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry. . .”
“Correct!” she yells.
“Thank you, you are looking for customer service. If this is an inquiry on service, please say service.”
“Service.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t get that. . .”
The rest of the conversation didn’t get any better.
Conversation, I can’t believe I just used that word in this example. A deaf instrument asking for a verbal responses to multiple-choice questions doesn’t constitute a conversation. Nor does it constitute customer service.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Voice recognition doesn’t work. We’ve all seen the calamity that YouTube makes of captioning video, we’ve all had those customer service phone calls that dump you first into a voice recognition system, why do we still believe it’s possible to program for all types and nuances of natural language?
The 2011 Telecommunications Act defines that web captions need to be an equivalent option for the spoken word. No words may be missed, substituted or deviate from that original soundtrack. Television shows that are captioned using live captioners must be cleaned up re-captioned to account for the mistakes made with on-the-fly transcription. Web episodes that don’t currently have captions will need to be captioned. This is no different than adding wheelchair access and handicapped parking.
To use an automatic voice recognition program to create these captions is equivalent to creating a handicapped parking space and paving it with mud or making a wheelchair access 2” to small. Yes, it looks like you have made some effort to become handicapped compatible but that façade quickly fades when one realizes it’s not actually useable.
Twenty percent of the American population is Deaf or hard-of-hearing. In a family of five, that would be one of your parents, siblings or you yourself that will suffer as more and more video is being populated to the web.
Go tell your mother she's not important enough for accurate web captioning.
Friday, January 27, 2012
I'm glad you captioned your show, too bad you didn't hire a certified transcriptionist to complete the transcription work.
Take two minutes and mute your home or office television and turn on the closed captioning feature. Find a pre-recorded show, not a live broadcast such as CNN, and take some time to read the captioning that is being provided. How many spelling errors can you find? Turn the volume up and compare the captioned text to the speech that is actually being said, how does it compare? Are there words missing?
Unfortunately the answer is probably a resounding yes. Accurate transcription is the key to accurate captioning. Don’t just take our word for it, see it for yourself.
In to vs. Into,
In general, use into when movement, action or a transformation of state occur. In indicates location or state that is generally more static and not transitional.
Tuesday, January 10, 2011
I would have loved to enjoy your video, but it wasn't captioned.
My information isn’t worthwhile to deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. Nor do I care about equivalency.
This is what you really must be thinking after spending countless hours filming, editing and marketing your video work. How do I know? Simple, the film isn’t captioned.
With fully one-fifth of all Americans suffering from some type of hearing impairment, and in a world with an ever-increasing life expectancy, web captions, YouTube captions and closed captions hold a great significance for all Americans.
For its part, Congress has passed the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 setting deadlines on which and when web videos need to be captioned.
Now you have to do your part.
Picture your world without wheelchair ramps. Public transportation without handicapped seating.
Barriers to employment, transportation, public accommodations, public services, and telecommunications have imposed staggering economic and social costs on American society and have undermined our well-intentioned efforts to educate, rehabilitate, and employ individuals with disabilities. By breaking down these barriers, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) enables society to benefit from the skills and talents of individuals with disabilities, allows us all to gain from their increased purchasing power and ability to use it, and will lead to fuller, more productive lives for all Americans.
The Americans with Disabilities Act gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.
Take into account everyone you know, then subtract twenty percent. This is the number of friends, colleagues, family members who cannot use your material.
Broadcasters, movie studios, and pretty much everybody else have spent 30 years cooking up one excuse after another not to caption their programming and time after time, deaf people – and other captioning viewers – settle for not enough captioning or lousy captioning. Or they file lawsuits and complaints against companies and, after all that trouble, they settle for exactly the same thing – not enough captioning or lousy captioning.
While some deaf/hard-of-hearing organizations make a big show of demanding 100% captioning everywhere, in practice, some deaf people and deaf groups settle for much less.
The first step is solving this is realizing that there are no shortcuts. Voice-recognition software doesn't work well enough for accurate transcription and YouTube’s autocaptioning service and Google's voice-recognition programs are unsuitable for capturing the true text and nuance of the audio or video file.
Find an accurate secretarial service and submit your Quicktime, flv or mov file and have them create a xml file for you to add to your media.
Twenty-percent of the world would love to see your work.
Monday, January 9, 2011
Schedule of Deadlines
While the CVAA specifies that the Commission must promulgate rules within six months
of the submission of the VPAAC Report, it does not specify the timeframe by which those regulations must become effective.
Additionally, while the VPAAC Report recommends timeframes by which closed captioning must be made available, it does not address the timeframe on which devices must become compliant.
It notes that one group suggested that a minimum of 24 months would be required to implement the features discussed above, but that others thought this time period was too long.
Saturday, January 7, 2011
Deadlines
The VPAAC proposed the following schedule of deadlines for compliance with the new
requirements for closed captioning of IP-delivered video programming that is published or exhibited on television with captions after the effective date of the new rules: (1) for programming that is prerecorded and not edited for Internet distribution, a compliance deadline of six months after the rules are published in the Federal Register; (2) for programming that is live or near-live, a compliance deadline of 12 months after the rules are published in the Federal Register; and (3) for programming that is prerecorded and
edited for Internet distribution, a compliance deadline of 18 months after the rules are published in the Federal Register.98 We seek comment on the VPAAC's suggested schedule of deadlines. We believe that these compliance deadlines are reasonable, given that they have been agreed upon by the VPAAC, which includes industry representatives that will have to comply with our new rules as well as consumer groups.
Friday, January 6, 2011
Devices
Congress also determined that the objectives of the CVAA could not be met unless the
devices that consumers use to view video programming, including those devices that may be small and portable, are able to display closed captions. Therefore, it enacted Section 203(a), requiring "that [the] devices consumers use to view video programming are able to display closed captions."
To do this, Congress directed the Commission to enact provisions that require all "apparatus designed to receive or play back video programming transmitted simultaneously with sound . . . be equipped with built-in closed
caption decoder circuitry or capability" and contain exceptions only for those devices which are "display-only video monitors with no playback capability" and devices with picture screens less than 13 inches for which meeting the regulation is not "achievable."
Additionally, the Commission must require that all devices "designed to record video programming . . . [must] enable the rendering or the pass-through of closed captions" and that the "interconnection mechanisms and standards for digital video source devices are available to . . . permit or render the display of closed captions."
Thursday, January 5, 2011
IP-Delivered Closed Captioning and Sections 202(b) and (c) of the CVAA
Today, IP-delivered video programming takes a number of forms, such as programming
delivered to a personal computer, tablet device, cellular telephone, game console, Blu-ray player, or set top box. The Commission previously recognized that the Internet has become a powerful method of video programming distribution, and that the amount of video content available on the Internet is continuing to increase significantly each year, as consumers increasingly utilize the Internet for this purpose.
The Internet's role in video programming delivery "has progressed from negligible just a few years ago to an increasingly mainstream role today." Although much IP-delivered video programming remains inaccessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, certain entities have taken voluntarily measures to begin including captions on some of their programming.
Through the CVAA, Congress sought to "update the communications laws to help ensure
that individuals with disabilities are able to fully utilize communications services and equipment and better access video programming."
The Committee reports state that, while modern technology such as the Internet has everyday benefits, those benefits are not always accessible to people with disabilities.
Section 202(b) of the CVAA requires the Commission to revise its regulations to require closed captioning of IP-delivered video programming that was shown on television with captions after the effective date of the new regulations.
Monday, January 2, 2011
The need for YouTube captioning
With fully one-fifth of all Americans suffering from some type of hearing impairment, and in a world with an ever-increasing life expectancy, web captions, YouTube captions and closed captions hold a great significance for all Americans.
For its part, Congress has passed the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 setting deadlines on which and when web videos need to be captioned.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Captioning required for IP-delivered video programming
Closed captioning is an assistive technology that provides individuals who are deaf or
hard of hearing with access to television programming. Closed captioning displays the audio portion of a television signal as printed words on the television screen. Existing regulations require the use of closed captioning on television.
Until now, however, closed captioning has not been required for IP-delivered video programming.
That changed with the enactment of the CVAA. Specifically, Section 202(b) of the
CVAA revised Section 713 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), to require the Commission to "revise its regulations to require the provision of closed captioning on video programming delivered using Internet protocol that was published or exhibited on television with captions after the effective date of such regulations.”
Create a schedule of deadlines by which:
o All prerecorded and unedited programming subject to the new requirements must be
captioned within six months of publication of the rules in the Federal Register;
o All live and near-live programming subject to the new requirements must be
captioned within 12 months of publication of the rules in the Federal Register; and
o All prerecorded and edited programming subject to the new requirements must be
captioned within 18 months of publication of the rules in the Federal Register;
In addition to displaying the audio portion of a television signal as printed words, captions may identify speakers, sound effects, music, and laughter.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Closed captioning of video programming delivered using Internet protocol, definitions.
(1) Video programming. Programming provided by, or generally considered comparable to programming provided by, a television broadcast station, but not including consumer-generated media.
(2) Full-length video programming. Video programming that is not video clips or outtakes.
(3) Video programming distributor or video programming provider. Any entity that makes available directly to the end user video programming through a distribution method that uses Internet protocol.
(4) Video programming owner. Any person or entity that owns the copyright of the video programming delivered to the end user through a distribution method that uses Internet protocol.
(5) Internet protocol. Includes Transmission Control Protocol and any successor protocol or technology to Internet protocol.
(6) Closed captioning. The visual display of the audio portion of video programming.
(7) Live programming. Video programming that is shown on television substantially simultaneously with its performance.
(8) Near-live programming. Video programming that is substantively recorded and produced within 12 hours of its distribution to television viewers.
(9) Prerecorded programming. Video programming that is not "live" or "near-live."
(10) Edited for Internet distribution. Video programming whose television version is substantially edited prior to its Internet distribution.
(11) Consumer-generated media. Content created and made available by consumers to online websites and services on the Internet, including video, audio, and multimedia content.
(12) Video clips. Small sections of a larger video programming presentation.
(13) Outtakes. Content that is not used in an edited version of video programming shown on television.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Issues of outsourcing research material
Communication problems, confidentiality of research, syntax and non-native-speaking issues occur anytime you send your work overseas for transcription. It is possible to find $.70/minute transcription from India but it is then a given that dozens of additional hours are needed to proof the integrity of the work. Money saved is time lost.
Risks to confidential data and personal data. The world may becoming a global village but laws that protect privacy and personal information are locally based. Once you outsource your data, you have very little control about what happens to that data. http://www.sqlsummit.com/Trends/Terrorism.htm
Thursday, December 23, 2011
Consumer Groups Comment on Proposed Web Captioning Rules
The NAD urges consumers to file comments by November 1, 2011 with the FCC sharing their experiences with Internet captioning and urging them to adopt regulations that support the Consumer Group's comments. The following is a summary of the major points in Consumer Groups’ comments on the FCC IP Captioning NPRM.
Covered Entities and their Obligations
Advocated for the FCC to make it easier for consumers to notify of captioning problems on the Internet by adopting a single point of responsibility – the entities (VPPs/VPDs) that distribute video programming to the end users. Since VPPs/VPDs are the entities that consumers primarily interact with, this liability system will result in more efficient, effective, and responsive captioning system.
Performance Standards
Supported the adoption of the performance standards proposed in the Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee (VPAAC) Report. The VPAAC Report proposed that IP captioning be at least the same quality as broadcast television captions. The Consumer Groups, however, pushed for the proposed VPAAC performance standards to be the minimum for IP captioning quality, with room to improve.
Definition of “Full Length Programming” and “Video Clips”
Recommended that, because video clips are not required to be captioned, the FCC define “full length programming” broadly and limit “video clips” to videos lasting 30 seconds or less. The 30-second cap for video clips provides opportunities for video programmers to advertise dramatic or humorous moments for a full-length programming. A broad definition of “full-length programming” ensures that anything over thirty seconds will be captioned and therefore provide as much access for deaf and hard of hearing consumers as allowed under the law.
Exemptions for Entities and Programming
Urged the FCC not to allow anyone to avoid their captioning obligations because of nonprofit status or other reasons. The Consumer Groups asked the FCC not to grant any blanket exemptions for entities or programming for IP-delivered video programming. The Consumer Groups reminded the FCC that the relatively low added expense of transitioning captions to the Internet would rarely justify an economic exemption.
- http://www.nad.org/news/2011/10/consumer-groups-comment-proposed-internet-captioning-rules
Implications for Education
There is no question that use of web multimedia in education is increasing. Many online education courses are provided entirely using web multimedia. The education system has an ethical and, in many cases, legal obligation for providing equivalent access to individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. Despite this, a vast majority of educational web multimedia is not captioned. There are many reasons why this may be the case:
- Lack of awareness. Those producing web multimedia do not understand the accessibility implications.
- Lack of policies or standards that require or even suggest accessibility.
- Captioning is considered cost prohibitive.
- Lack of technical knowledge to provide captions and/or tools to generate captions.
- Use of technologies that do not natively support captions (and no method for providing captions using alternative technologies).
Increasing the accessibility of web multimedia should be a top priority for all in education. The issues listed above are all ones that can be overcome to ensure accessibility to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing.
- Web Captioning and Education, NCDAE.org
Naturalizing Captions
A rhetoric of closed captions. . . is rooted in the following claims:
- Captioning is a rhetorically complex and creative act. Captioners are rhetorical agents who must, at times, make decisions about which sounds to caption and how to caption them.
- Captions provide a different experience of the text.
- Captions do not merely transcribe audio content but transform it.
- Significant sounds do not exist in a vacuum. Significance is contextual, not simply a function of volume level.
Wednesday, December 22, 2011
A sampling of statistics about hearing and deafness in the U.S. begins to suggest just how many people may require or benefit from closed captioning:
- In the U.S., approximately 36 million adults—about 11% of the population— "report some degree of hearing loss" (NIDCD, 2010).
- The number of closed-caption users in the U.S. is estimated at 50 million (CaptionsOn, 2010)—i.e. about 1 in 6 Americans.
- The number of U.S. students with disabilities going to college "more than tripled" between 1978 and 1996 (OCR, 1999).
- "According to the Deafness Research Foundation, hearing loss is the No. 1 diagnosis for U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and more than 65 percent of Afghan war veterans are suffering from hearing damage" (Hemstreet, 2010).
- The number of Americans 65 years of age and older—a population group more likely to benefit from accommodations such as closed captioning—is projected to rise from 13% in 2010 to 20% by 2050 (U.S. Census, 2008).
- "One third of all senior citizens have hearing problems" (CaptionsOn, 2010). Thus when we focus on digital natives and so-called Millennials, we risk ignoring the needs of this fast-growing group of older Americans.
VPAAC First Report on Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 - APPENDIX B – EQUAL CAPTIONING EXPERIENCE
Representatives of deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers provided many useful suggestions about practices that would help ensure a quality experience when watching captioned TV programs delivered over the Internet. While there is not consensus about whether these practices should be mandated or only offered as suggestions, it is believed the following do provide helpful guidance about what consumers want for entities that provide closed-captioned programming on the Internet.
1. Programming broadcast with captions that indicate there is no audio for people seen talking shall also provide this information in captioning over the Internet.
2. Programming broadcast with captions that consistently identify speakers or sound effects shall be delivered over the Internet with the same captioning consistency in identification.
3. Broadcast programming with captions that convey meaning and emotion through non-verbal elements such as background sound or changes in a speaker’s voice through pauses, pitch, volume, pace, and inflection are delivered in the same manner over the Internet.
4. Programming broadcast with captioning that identifies sound or speech in the foreground, background, or off screen shall deliver this information over the Internet.
5. Programming broadcast with captions that provides a word-for-word transcription of background audio shall also be provided over the Internet.
6. Captioning of song titles in broadcast programming that includes thematic music shall also be provided over the Internet.
7. Programming broadcast with captions that include non-speech sounds such as “gasp,” “grunt,” and “groan” shall also be provided over the Internet.
8. Poems should be rendered visibly on the screen as they were originally written.
9. Programming broadcast with captions that positioned captions in a way to help identify multiple speakers shall also be provided over the Internet.
-First Report of the Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee on the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 12:16 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Tuesday, December 21, 2011
VPACC Performance Objectives Overview; User Settings
Player tools must support the display of captioning information as defined in the interchange format, as outlined below, including caption-placement information intended to help identify speaker location. 15
Player tools must support the ability of end-users to customize the display of captioning information
Players shall permit the user to choose a setting that displays captions as intended by the caption provider.
Once the viewer chooses a set of customized caption display features, such as font and/or color, these settings remain until subsequently changed by the user.
In addition, the following capabilities must be supported.
Character color
Players must provide the end user with the ability to override the authored color for characters.
Players must provide end users with a selection of no less than eight colors which must include the following: white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, magenta and cyan.
Players must support the ability to choose from the full complement of 64 colors defined in CEA-708.
Character opacity
Players must provide customization support for 100%, 75%, 25% (opaque, semi-transparent) opacity.
Character size
Players must provide customization support for character font size, with the ability to increase the size up to 200% or decrease the size to 50%.
Fonts
Players must provide customization support for selection of seven fonts which must be mapped to the seven font styles defined in CEA-708.
End users must be able to assign fonts available on their systems to act as the defaults for each of the seven styles.
Caption background
Players must provide the end users with the ability to override the authored color for caption background.
Players must provide end users with a selection of no less than eight colors which must include the following: white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, magenta and cyan.
Players must support the ability to choose from the full complement of 64 colors defined in CEA-708.
Players must offer customization support for 100%, 75%, 25%, and 0% (opaque, semi-transparent, transparent) background opacity.
Character Edge Attributes
Players must provide support for character edge options: none, raised, depressed, uniform, or drop shadowed.
Caption window color
Players must provide the end user with the ability to override the authored color for caption background.
Players must provide end users with a selection of no less than eight colors which must include the following: white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, magenta and cyan.
Players must offer users the ability to choose from the full complement of 64 colors defined in CEA-708.
Players must offer customization support for 100%, 75%, 25%, and 0% (opaque, semi-transparent, transparent) caption window opacity.
Language
The ability to select caption tracks in additional languages must be provided, when available.
The ability to choose “easy reader” captions must be provided when such content is available; i.e., the same content simplified for those who need or prefer to read less text. Such a choice must be clearly marked as “easy reader.”
Also of note
Player tools must provide the ability for the user to preview settings. Once chosen, the settings would remain as the default until changed by the user.
Player tools must support end user’s ability to turn the captions on and off as easily as muting the audio or adjusting the volume.
-First Report of the Video Programming Accessibility Advisory Committee on the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 12:10 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Saturday, December 17, 2011
VPACC Performance Objectives Overview
Completeness:
Nothing should be lost in transcoding when converting captions between conventional broadcast captioning formats and Internet. This includes not only the caption text, but the timing and positioning information, and presentation format (roll-up, pop-on). In the case where video has been edited before being placed online, the appropriate corrections to timing must be done.
Placement:
For Internet-delivered caption content, the positioning information as originally authored shall be made available to the consumer devices.
Timing:
All processing through the distribution chain, including transcoding, must provide a timing experinece3 that is equal to or an improvement to the timing of captions provided the caption shown on television. –VPAAC report on the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 5:55 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Friday, December 16, 2011
VPAAC defines performance objectives for web captioning.
A presentation format of the captioning; e.g., within one or separate caption “windows,” with text that appears all at once (pop-on), with text that scrolls up as new text appears (roll-up), or where each new letter or word is displayed as it arrives (paint-on);
Semantically significant formatting, such as italics, colors, and underlining;
The timing of the presentation of caption text with respect to the video;
The consumer’s ability to control the caption display, including the ability to turn it on and off, and to select font sizes, styles, and colors, and background color and opacity. –VPAAC report on the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 5:55 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Silent films held the earliest form of captioning.
In the era of silent films, much of the story of the film was told via graphical text describing the spoken word or sounds. This was an early form of open captions. When “the advent of sound films in 1927 suddenly deprived the deaf of one of their chief sources of information and entertainment,” the need for an accessible technology, which would eventually evolve into closed captioning, was born.
As the marketplace grew, so did the emergence of for-profit captioning agencies. Today there are a wide variety of choices and vendors of this product, which has become a fully integrated part of television industry production. –VPAAC report on the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
VPAAC Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 timeline.
January 2012 requires captioning for live and near-live programming online.
July 2012 requires captioning for all prerecorded programming "substantially edited" for the Internet.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 5:55 PM , Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Infinity foot pedals and ExpressScribe.
Accurate Secretarial LLC requires all contractors to use an Infinity foot pedal with Express Scribe as the controller.
The foot pedal will allow you to control the playback speed, fast forward and rewind. With this you will combine the program Express Scribe. Express Scribe is free and is used as the media playback device which is controlled by the foot pedal
Express Scribe also allows manipulation of the playback sound quality, amongst other useful tools, as noted in other selections of this blog.
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Digital-Transcription-Foot-Pedal/dp/B002MY6I7G
http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/index.html
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 5:55 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Your right ear processes speech better than your left ear.
If the audio is only in one channel, put that channel in your right ear. Your right ear processes speech better than your left.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 2:42 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
ExpressScribe High Pass Filter
File> Special Audio Processes>>Background Noise Reduction, Extra Volume Boost, High Pass Filter
We often recommend Special Audio Processes in Express Scribe to tweak things a bit. The High Pass Filter can be of great help, even on good recordings.
The others, Background Noise Reduction and Extra Volume Boost, can be hit and miss as far as their effect on the audio. Sometimes they distort things, and then other times they're really helpful. Just play around with them and the different channels to get the best and clearest audio you can.
If you don't like the results of any of the processes they can be undone.
File> Special Audio Processes>>Undo
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 2:10 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Reflex™ Keyboard w/ Anti-Fatigue Comfort Motion
When it comes to QWERTY keyboards, we recommend the Reflex™ Keyboard w/ Anti-Fatigue Comfort Motion.
We're not paid to say this, we are paid to type. When we type on QWERTY we use Ergomotion and Smartfish Technologies.
http://www.smartfishtechnologies.com/Reflex-Keyboard-w-Anti-Fatigue-Comfort-Motion_p_8.html
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 5:41 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Friday, June 3, 2011
Turn on Widow/Orphan control in MS Word
Format > Paragraph > Line and Page Breaks>Pagination
Click the box for Widow/Orphan Control
Click Ok
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 12:46 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Friday, April 8, 2011
Formatting time.
4 o'clock = 4:00
AM = a.m.
PM = p.m.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 4:59 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
-wise
Hypenate -wise.
Length-wise
Health-wise
Weather-wise
Setting Word to display double dashes.
Open Word. Tools > Autocorrect Options>Autoformat tab. Unclick Hypens.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 4:55 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
[sp?]
Use [sp?] when you cannot verify the spelling of a word or proper noun. Place the notation directly up against the word in question.
Dr. Fritzhower[sp?]
[ ] brackets
All notations should be framed in brackets.
[laughs]
[sic]
[inaudible]
[clears throat]
[chuckles]
[sp?]
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 1:55 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Saturday, March 26, 2011
ExpressScribe and the Infinity pedal
To control the playback speed of your audio file we recommend ExpressScribe.
http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/index.html
To ease and have control over your playback software we recommend the Infinity pedal.
http://www.sylvansoft.com/Infinity%20Foot%20Pedals.htm
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 1:04 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Friday, March 25, 2011
Always use a stereo headset
To tell the difference between a stereo and a mono headset, just check the headset jack. If there are two stripes on the jack it is a stereo jack. If there is only one stripe it is a mono jack.
We recommend the Denon AH-C351.
http://usa.denon.com/US/Product/Pages/Product-Detail.aspx?Catid=f28e56fc-7d35-4cf7-88d8-f6ce5abeb128&SubId=617d13be-8126-46e4-a1b6-21795d63ffc6&ProductId=c7655a0c-c4e7-400e-b7ed-6961f7670a28
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 7:20 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Monday, February 21, 2011
[production pause]
Is used in broadcast transcription when there is a break in the interview for technical reasons.
Place a singe line break above and below it.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 2:37 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
[inaudible] and time stamps.
For broadcast, [inaudible] is used when you cannot understand the speaker's utterance.
In research, a time stamp [00:00:00] should be used instead.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 1:28 PM
[sic]
[sic] indicates that the passage is just as it appears from its original source. The usual purpose is to inform readers that any errors or apparent errors in the transcribed material are from the speaker and not as a result of poor transcription.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 1:20 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Then vs. Than
Than is used in comparison statements: He is smarter than I.
Used in statements of preference: I would rather drink than drive.
Used to suggest quantities beyond a specified amount: Read more than the last page.
Then is a time other than now: He was younger then. She will start her new job then.
Next in time, space, or order: First we must study; then we can play.
Suggesting a logical conclusion: If you've studied hard, then the exam should be no problem.
[Simultaneous discussion]
[Simultaneous discussion] is used when a number of people are speaking once in the conversation and you can't understand the conversation.
Place a singe line break above and below it.
Google and [sp?]
Use Google to look up words you can't spell. If you can't find the word, insert [sp?] immediately following the word you are unsure[sp?] of.
. . . vs. --
If the current speaker trails off or is cut off by another speaker we represent this with either . . . or --.
. . . (space, period, space, period, space, period) is used when a person trails off.
-- (dash, dash) is used when someone is cut off or interrupted.
Neither of these is acceptable for use within the body of a paragraph.
Affirmation sounds.
For consistency's sake, affirmative sounds should be um, mm-hum, uh-uh, uh-huh, huh.
Or [audible sound] if necessary.
Hyphens
If the words together before the noun modify it, hyphenation is usually necessary.
I have a full-time job.
My job is full time.
Commas, periods and question marks only.
Your goal is to make an easily readable document using commas, periods and question marks.
Refrain from using ; ! " " (semi-colons, exclamation points and quotation marks) Keep punctuation simple. Stick to commas, periods and question marks only.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 2:51 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Oftentimes is one word.
Spell out slang.
'cause = because
gonna = going to
wanna = want to
gotta = got to
ok = okay
where as = whereas
'til = until
Using numbers.
Spell out all numbers one through nine, and use numerals for 10 and above.
Nine=9, but 10=10.
Exception: Spell out all numerals if the number is at the beginning of the sentence.
The apostrophe moves when noting years and ages.
Years: '30s or 1930s. No apostrophe.
Ages: 30's. With apostrophe.
One space vs. Two spaces
Two spaces are recommended after colons and at the end of sentences.
Some consider it okay to only use one space. We don't.
To vs. Too vs. Two
To = preposition, or first part of the infinitive form of a verb:
They went to the lake to swim.
Too = very, also:
I was too tired to continue. I was hungry, too.
Two = the number 2:
Two students scored below passing on the exam.
We're vs. Where vs. Were
We're = contraction for we are:
We're happy to help.
Where = location:
Where are you?
Were = a past tense form of the verb be:
They were walking to the store.
Your vs. You're
Your = possessive pronoun:
Your shirt is unbuttoned.
You're = contraction for you are:
You're walking around with your shirt unbuttoned untied.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 2:16 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Their vs. There vs.They're
Their = possessive pronoun:
They got their books.
There = that place:
My house is over there.
They're = contraction for they are:
They're making dinner.
Lead vs. Led
Lead = noun referring to a dense metallic element:
The X-ray technician wore a vest lined with lead.
Led = past-tense and past-participle form of the verb to lead, meaning to guide or direct:
The evidence led the jury to reach a unanimous decision.
Idea vs. Ideal vs. Ideal
idea = noun meaning a thought, belief, or conception held in the mind, or a general notion or conception formed by generalization:
Greg had a brilliant idea.
ideal = noun meaning something or someone that embodies perfection, or an ultimate object or endeavor:
Greg was the ideal for chefs everywhere.
ideal = adjective meaning embodying an ultimate standard of excellence or perfection, or the best:
John was an ideal candidate.
Conscious vs. Conscience
Conscious= adjective meaning awake, perceiving:
Despite a head injury, the patient remained conscious.
Conscience = noun meaning the sense of obligation to be good:
You wouldn't cheat because your conscience wouldn't let you.
Advise vs. Advice
- advise = verb that means to recommend, suggest, or counsel:
I advise you to get a job.
- advice = noun that means an opinion or recommendation about what could or should be done:
I'd like to ask for your advice on this recipe.
Affect vs. Effect
- affect = verb meaning to influence:
Will lack of sleep affect your work?
- effect = noun meaning result or consequence:
Will lack of sleep have an effect on your work?
- effect = verb meaning to bring about, to accomplish:
Our efforts have effected a major change in policy.
Accept vs. Except
- accept = verb meaning to receive or to agree:
He accepted their gifts.
- except = preposition meaning all but, other than:
Everyone went to work except Jim.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 1:43 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Quotation marks.
Set quotations off with commas. We do not use quotation marks.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 5:49 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Capitalizing mid-sentence.
Unless it's a proper name, don't. Use proper adjectives or adverbs to create emphasis.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 4:45 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Complement vs. Compliment
Complement, as a noun, means something that completes or makes perfect. It also means a quantity or amount that completes something. As a verb, complement means to complete.
Examples: 1. (as a noun) This area rug is the perfect complement to the room. 2. (as a noun) We have the full complement of encyclopedias. 3. (as a verb) A red wine would best complement our entrees.
Compliment, as a noun, is an expression of approval, praise or admiration. As a verb, it means to give someone approval, praise or admiration; to pay a compliment.
Examples: 1. (as a noun) He received a great number of compliments after the show. 2. (as a verb) My neighbor complimented me on my new haircut.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 3:34 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Rein vs. Reign vs. Rain.
Rein, as a noun, is a leather strap fastened to a bridle used to control a horse or other animal. Used as a verb, it means to guide or check the horse or animal; to restrain, curb and/or control.
Examples: 1. He is using the reins to control his horses before they take off on him. 2. She has developed a tight rein on her temper. 3. Their dogs have free rein in their house.
Reign, as a noun, means throne with dominating power or influence. Used as a verb, it means to have or exercise sovereign power or authority; to control and rule.
Examples: 1. The emperor began his reign by gathering his armies. 2. My company's CEO reigns over his employees.
Rain, used as a noun or verb, refers to water droplets that fall from the sky.
Example: The rain this morning was quite heavy and flooded my garden.
Side note: There is some debate with free rein vs. free reign. They are often used interchangeably, but the correct usage is free rein, according to the historical root of the term. Giving free rein indicated that someone was loosening the reins on their horse, allowing the horse free rein.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 5:13 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Friday, August 13, 2010
You're vs. Your
You're is a contraction for you are.
For example: I think you're (you are) going to love it.
Your is the possessive form of you, used as an attributive adjective...
For example: I like your idea.
OR
...the possessive form of you, used to indicate something belonging or relevant to oneself or another.
For example: The library is on your left.
Helpful Hint: A way to test the correct form to use, break down you're into you are, and if it makes sense in the context of the sentence, go with you're. And if it doesn't, use your.
One last example: You're (you are) going to enjoy your stay here.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 10:52 AM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Plural possessive nouns
Words that are made plural by a variation in spelling rather than by adding an -es or -s, e.g., women, men, children, people, should be treated as singular words when making them possessive.
For example:
The store is very pleased with its remodeled women's clothing department.
There is a new children's museum opening this weekend.
What are people's favorite menu items?
All the men's golf clubs are in this aisle.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 11:10 AM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Friday, August 6, 2010
What is the matter with spell check on all Microsoft programs and most e-mail servers?
While spell check and grammar check are valuable tools and often catch obvious errors, they are not capable of picking up a lot of nuance. For example, if one uses effect when affect should be used, spell check will often not pick that up. It might also miss the use of an incorrect form of a word, e.g., they're/their/there. In summary, spell check and grammar check should always be used, but they are not foolproof and careful attention to detail is still required.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 10:25 AM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Friday, June 25, 2010
It's vs. Its
It's - a contraction for it is or it has
Its - the possessive form of it
A foolproof way to determine which to use is to attempt to break the word down from the contraction form. If "it is" fits correctly into your sentence, use the contraction - it's.
An example of their usage is:
It's (it is) going to be a busy day for the office and all of its (possessive of it) employees.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 8:56 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Friday, May 28, 2010
Who's vs. Whose
Who's is a contraction for who is or who has.
Whose is a possessive form of who that's used as an adjective.
Examples:
Who's (who is) going to the concert?
Who's (who has) been to this venue before?
Whose car are we taking?
I wonder whose coat this is.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 12:50 PM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
Monday, April 26, 2010
Everyday vs. Every Day
Everyday vs. Every Day
- Everyday is a single-word adjective that means daily.
- Every day is two words and an expression of time, indicating regular, or daily, action. It is a noun (day) modified by an adjective (every).
A couple of examples are:
- My everyday jacket is not appropriate for an evening out.
- I wear this jacket every day, except on special occasions.
Posted by Accurate Secretarial, LLC. at 11:54 AM, Transcription, Web captioning, YouTube captioning
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