Cogi Transcribe Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a transcript of my audio?
Upload your audio, and then check your email inbox in a few hours- it's that simple. Once you've securely uploaded your audio file, Cogi begins processing your job. As soon as it's ready, we'll email your transcript to you. You can also securely view your transcript online within your personal Cogi portfolio.
What kind of audio files can I upload for transcription?
We support a wide variety of audio file formats including: AAC, AIFF, AMR, AU, AVI, DTS, FLAC, GSM, MOV, MPEG, MP2, MP3, MP4, OGG, RM, VOC, WMA, WAV.
How to make a good recording for transcription
Speech: An individual, loud, clear voice speaking grammatical English will generally produce the best transcript. Most conversations between people often involve multiple persons speaking on top each other, the use of non-grammatical English, repeated words, brand names, jargon and other potentially misspelled words. Having the speakers take turns and clearly enunciate will go a long way towards producing high quality transcripts.
Microphone choice and placement: When possible use a high quality microphone appropriate to the goal of the transcript. Whether it's a good noise cancelling omni-directional mic placed centrally to a group of people if the goal is to record all of them. Or a directional microphone pointed or placed on the host of a lecture if the goal is to capture only what that one person says while ignoring sounds from others around him.
Room and ambient noise: When possible, conduct your recordings in a relatively quiet area, free from traffic, music, machinery noise, and any surrounding, unwanted conversations and sounds including children and pets.
Speaker Volume Levels: Transcripts generally come out best when the people talking are at relatively the same loudness to each other. And while Cogi does automatically process recordings to compensate for faint and loud talkers, it always helps the transcript (and the finished recording) to have people talking as close to the same volume level as can be arranged.
Audio Submitted: Do not over-compress the recording. Cogi accepts files in a wide variety of formats and compression levels. Some compression of high fidelity audio is fine, and can save upload time. Heavy compression adds distortion and can make a less than ideal recording come out worse and reduce the quality of your transcript.
How long will it take to receive my transcript?
Our goal is to deliver transcripts within 1 business day.
How does Cogi transcribe my audio?
We use a unique combination of proprietary technologies and human quality assurance to produce highly accurate transcripts.
Does Cogi offer a way for me to make a recording?
Yes. You can use Cogi to record your audio in several ways. You can use our new iPhone application. Or you can dial the Cogi access number and make a recording from any phone. All you have to do is set up a Cogi account.
How long do we store the audio online for you?
We store your audio in your secure Cogi portfolio free for 30 days.
How long do we store your transcript online?
Your transcript is available in your secure Cog portfolio indefinitely.
Are there humans involved in making Cogi transcripts?
Yes…and necessarily so. That's because "machine only" translation has an error rate of 30% or higher, and that's just not acceptable for business grade transcriptions.
Can I copy and paste the transcript from my email into a word processing document?
Absolutely. Just click, cut, and paste your transcription into any word processing document.
Can I access my transcript online?
Certainly! Just log in using your secure user name and password and you can view all of your transcripts.
Can I access my audio online?
You bet! Just log in using your secure user name and password, and you can replay your original recording.
How can I share my transcript and/or audio?
You can share your transcript in two ways. You can either email it directly to those who you wish to share it with. Or, you can log into your secure Cogi portfolio and click the 'share' button. This will send an email to the intended recipient and they will be able to log in (for free) and review your transcript AND the associated audio on the web. This can be handy if certain parts of the transcript are made more clear when one hears the actual words as they are spoken, etc.
What if I'm not happy with the quality of the transcript?
Sometimes even our trained transcribers miss something (often due to poor audio quality of the uploaded file). If a transcript is not right, simply resubmit it for transcription on our website.
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