Achieving a good quality transcription is an easy process – providing you understand the basics of your recording device and how best to use it. Here are our 5 top tips:

• The best quality audio comes from high quality recorders – the savings made on cheap recorders are often wiped out by higher transcription costs. Check our recommendations at Which recording devices are best? 

• Make sure you understand how to choose the right settings for your type of recording, otherwise your audio quality may not be clear. Read Using your recorder for advice.
  Poor quality audio can also be caused by lots of extraneous noise – you’ll find many tips at How do I avoid poor quality audio? 

• Recording interviews or discussions can be challenging at times. Helpful hints are at Tips for recording interviews and Can you identify speakers in Q/A interviews and focus groups?
  Better quality audio can also be obtained with certain audio files.MP3 or .WAV file formats nearly always provide the best quality audio – read File formats for more information.