Special Delivery: How to Get Your Audio to Us

Have you ever wondered how to transfer your audio files to us? Many times we are asked how to best deliver audio files to us for transcription and if we can accept uploads or email attachments. The good news is: we can accept both, plus we have additional options for you.

Email Attachments:

If you have a small audio file, say around 5MB, you can attach it to an email and send it to our operations department at transcriptionrequest@ttetranscripts.com. Be sure to include your contact information, a descriptive title for your audio, and the turnaround time you are seeking. Your email and the attached audio file will be sent to our entire operations staff to ensure that your request receives timely attention.

File Uploads:

Any audio file you have can be uploaded to us via our ftp website. Just point your browser to www.tteintranet.com/customerupload.aspx and fill out the convenient form. Click on the "Choose File" button to locate your stored audio file and select the file you wish to upload. Once the form is completed, just click submit and your file is on it's way to us. Our system will automatically notify the operations manager that your file has been uploaded.

Direct Dictation:

You can have our digital dictation system record your conversation, meeting, conference or blog updates by dialing directly into our servers. Just add us as one of your participants in your conference call or dial our number from your conference phone or cell phone, enter your customer pin number and our system will immediately start recording your call. Once you release the call, our system will store your audio and submit it to our operations crew for transcription. We will complete your transcript within the turnaround time you set when you create your account. You can change your turnaround for any audio file by submitting an email to us at transcriptionrequest@ttetranscripts.com.

Snail Mail:

Do you have audio stored on dictation or regular cassette tapes? Just place them in an envelope and send them to our Huntley, IL office. Our mailing address is:

TTE Transcripts Worldwide

10317 Fair Lane

Huntley, IL 60142

If these solutions do not meet your specific audio file delivery needs, be sure to contact us at 847-592-6211. We have a solution for you.

Tips for Great Audio Recordings During Your Conference Call

Poor audio quality on conference calls can seriously impact the quality and the cost of your transcription. Here are several tips to keep in mind when hosting a conference call that will result in the best possible audio for transcription:

1. Electronic devices (such as iPhones, Blackberries, cell phones, other hands-free devices and laptops) can interfere with line quality by adding static if located too close to the phone. Make sure that you place such items at some distance away from the phone you are using for the conference call.
2. If you are conducting a call using a conference room phone, microphone or speakerphone, be aware of its location at all times and speak directly into the device to ensure the best audio quality. When making an operator-assisted conference call using these devices, be sure to test the volume and line clarity with the operator prior to starting the call.
   
3. For optimum clarity, use a headset or telephone handset. Avoid using a speakerphone. Speakerphones should only be used in very quiet locations.
   
4. Be sure to avoid background sounds like music, coughing, eating typing or shuffling papers by using your mute button.
5. If you must leave your conference for a short duration, be sure to mute your line instead of placing it on hold. Any hold music or messages will play into your call if you place it on hold.
6. Avoid using three-way calling to add other participants to the bridge for it degrades line quality.
7. Be sure to ask your participants using mobile phones in airports, computer rooms or other noisy environments to mute their phones to stem background noise.
8. Use the "presenter mode" for larger calls to automatically mute all participants to ensure audio clarity.
9. For small conference calls (25 participants or less), simply ask that all participants mute their phones to improve audio quality.
10. Be sure to turn off call-waiting on your cell phone or home phone to avoid beeps or blaring signals from being recorded.

Transcription: Making Neat Piles of Snow

Tom Freese, the best-selling author of "Secrets of Question Based Selling", makes a profound statement in his latest book, "Selling Yourself in Today's Competitive Marketplace":

We have essentially been ‘snow-globed.’ We’ve been turned upside down and shaken to the point where the tranquil scenes of our daily existence have been shrouded by a flurry of uncertainty that has suddenly clouded our view, and little pieces of reality now seem to be raining down in all directions.

What Tom is referring to is the state of our economy, which has put the business world in a tailspin and is affecting each and every one of us daily. It is driving each one of us to look at our jobs in a new light, putting our creative energy to use and taking the initiative to innovate in our respective fields and to streamline operations.

One of the ways many companies are choosing to streamline these days is to cut back on corporate travel and to hold meetings via conference calls and collaboration calls either over the telephone or on the web. While this presents a great cost savings over travel, it can inundate us with more information, creating even more flurries of snow flakes to cloud our view.

Keep the snow flakes in neat piles by transcribing your online events and conference calls. Just be sure to record your call and then send us the audio file. Or, make us one of the attendees and you can record the call directly to our servers. We will return a neatly typed transcript to your in-box so that you can track all of the details of what was said and keep the piles of your business neatly organized.