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Re: Digital voice recorders for oral history interviews




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





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