You're talking about two different issues here: (2) the whole question of using a digital recorder, rather than an analog one; and (2) using a software package to transcribe your interviews. I have looked into issue 2 and been asked about it a lot, and I don't think the technology is ready to do a very good job transcribing. It has to be set up, and even then it is not very reliable. You would have to do an audit edit just to make sure you got the wording correctly, not to mention the grammar and punctuation, style, etc. etc. Try one of the professional oral history transcribing services, and I think you'll find that the product is far superior, and it's more cost effective as well. Lesley W. Brunet, CA M. D. Anderson Cancer Center "Baird, Cathleen D" <CDBaird@CENTRAL.UH.EDU> on 05/07/2002 01:49:40 PM Please respond to "Baird, Cathleen D" <CDBaird@CENTRAL.UH.EDU> To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU cc: (bcc: Lesley W. Brunet/MDACC) Subject: Digital voice recorders for oral history interviews Is anyone using or exploring the use of digital voice recorders for oral history interviews? Explanation: There are now digital voice recorders that incorporate 'Dragon' voice-to-print software for under $250.00. You can download the OH interview to the computer -- you have both the digital voice, and you can save-to-print using a word processing program such as Microsoft word so that also gain a written transcript as well. I suspect it would need editing/ perhaps heavy editing, but you would not have to pay a transcriber....or use your limited time to perform that initial transcribing task. Cathleen Cathleen Baird, M.A., Director & Archivist Hospitality Industry Archives 229 C.N. Hilton Hotel & College St., UH Houston, TX 77204-3028 Tel: 713.743.2470 E-mail: CBaird@uh.edu
Cathleen Baird, M.A., Director &
Archivist
Hospitality
Industry Archives
229
C.N. Hilton Hotel & College St., UH
Houston, TX 77204-3028
Tel:
713.743.2470 E-mail: CBaird@uh.edu