Tell me more ×
Answers OnStartups is a question and answer site for entrepreneurs looking to start or run a new business. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite
1

I am looking for a cheap transcription service for video blog material (interviews, etc).

I don't need subtitles or time syncing. Just cheap and relatively accurate transcription of video.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

share|improve this question
I have used 3PlayMedia 3playmedia.com They are Cambridge, MA startup run by some really down to earth nice guys. Very accurate transcripts. – Apollo Sinkevicius Oct 17 '12 at 22:11

closed as not constructive by Zuly Gonzalez♦ Oct 20 '12 at 16:47

As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or specific expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, see the FAQ for guidance.

7 Answers

up vote 2 down vote

I think Andrew Warner of mixergy.com (great podcast btw) is using Amazon's Mechanical Turk and he gets pretty good results from what I have seen.

ps. sorry for not linking mixergy.com, I can only add one link

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

The Stack Overflow podcast set up a wiki for transcripts. Do you have enough listeners/viewers who would be willing to participate in a transcript wiki of your video blog?

share|improve this answer
No, I don't have this audience. – Joseph Turian Jan 7 '10 at 8:03
up vote 1 down vote

Try synergy transcription services for your transcription needs, they can provide accurate transcription at a cheap price.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

So I've used:

TranscriptionStar – iSource solution Inc. 
transcription@transcriptionstar.com
http://transcriptionstar.leapfile.com
1291 Weber Street| Pomona |CA |91768
Ph: 714-277-3909

before and they transcribed audio files that went with videos for about $1.25/minute (advertised $1.00 but it ran a bit higher). They did a good job although we had to go in and fix the engineering terms.

Their billing leaves a lot to be desired.

share|improve this answer
Care to elaborate: "Their billing leaves a lot to be desired." ? – Joseph Turian Nov 30 '09 at 0:28
We paid them but for months I kept getting calls asking for me to pay again. I kept emailing them the payment info (including the cleared check) and they just kept calling. My guess is they applied my payment to someone else or something. I assume this was just a one time problem. – Dane Nov 30 '09 at 18:01
up vote 0 down vote

On the This Week in Google podcast, they said Google is rolling out something like this functionality for videos. No idea if it's publicly available.

http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009/11/youtube-audio-transcription.html

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

I'd suggest putting up a request at FindVirtual.com - it's an online community of virtual assistants: deal direct, lots of skill sets available, nice people.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

We've used Mechanical Turk and it has been great. If you don't want to figure out all of the tips and tricks of the system, there are services like Casting Words that will organize it for you.

share|improve this answer
Casting Words is $0.75 per minute. Speakertext is $0.33 per minute. – Joseph Turian Jan 7 '10 at 8:04

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.