Headphones

This article is courtesy of Yuen, our Medical and HIPAA Director and seasoned transcriber!

HEADPHONES: Opinion piece from a transcription old-timer

Let's talk about headphones and why I believe you need them to get the most out of your work.

When you are starting out and cannot/will not pay for a pair of headphones, listening from your speakers is adequate. However, over time you will figure out that any type of earbuds or headphones will give you improved sound quality.

Experiment: Get yourself a grungy-sounding audio file with voices, listen through your speakers, then listen with a pair of earbuds/headphones. That background noise may fade or at least be at a level that is tolerable. The voices will get clearer. You will be able to pick up more words, I can almost guarantee you! I believe that you can actually hear the people's voices with more clarity without having to battle and cancel out the background noise.

I believe there is nothing more important than going out and getting yourself a pair of earbuds or headphones. I believe that it's even more vital if you are working in an environment that causes distractions. You need not purchase an expensive pair, straight off the bat. Get yourself something within your price range. Once you start to earn more money, upgrade your equipment! Price is not an indication of quality. Please remember that. What works for some people may not suit others. The best thing I believe is to try them out at the store or read reviews; lots of reviews!

Once you start using earbuds/headphones for every job, you will start to get through audio faster, and in turn, make more money. Which is exactly what we want for you, to make the most amount of money for the least amount of time with the best possible accuracy for the client.

I personally use a Sennheiser HD202 and have been for years. It's not what I started with and having bought many types/brands (moderately priced and uber expensive) over the years, I reckon these are a good fit for me.

Headphones are great for many reasons:

• They cancel out noise from the transcriber's personal environment.
• They help the audio sound clearer to you while transcribing. This is because the audio is coming directly to your ears instead of into the room while using speakers.
• They allow you to go into alternate spaces and do work. This means you are not stuck behind a desk all the time. Bonus!
• They help you to be less distracted while working.

Personally, to be honest, if I was using strictly speakers, I would get distracted quite frequently. I would have to fight to urge to turn the TV on, or watch a movie, and other things of that nature.

With a pair of earbuds and headphones, I get work done faster, work more efficiently, and the audio comes out clearer. It helps take out some of the guesswork with what the speakers were saying.

As always, you are your greatest asset. Be kind to yourself and the work will flow!