The Value of Transcription
(Page 1 of 2)Author: Jennifer Honn
Publication Date: 02/05/2007
Transcription plays a valuable role in preserving memories and history, and Heritage Narratives offers transcription services for this very reason. In fact, there are many reasons to transcribe archives of audio, video and even manuscripts into digital text format.
The most important benefit of transcribing old audio, video, and manuscripts is that digital text does not degrade over time. Analog (or non-digital) records degrade after each playback as well as while being stored. Transcribing them now will ensure that these records are not lost. Cassette tapes become harder to hear and understand, and pencil and ink often become harder to read over time. Copying this text or audio into digital format keeps those ideas and memories fresh, even if the originals eventually fade away.
Another benefit of having records in a digital format is search capability. This is a selling point for many businesses and historical organizations mainly because they have researchers looking for specific information. For example, an interview of someone who remembers an important historical event may be the only first-hand recording of that event. In this example, a researcher may be looking for a specific name or location that is mentioned only in that interview. Once the interview is transcribed into digital text, it is easy to search for specific key words and find the information needed. (Continued...)