Some companies charge by the page, by the line, by the minute and the rates depend on the quality of the file, the subject matter, number of speakers, accents, etc. At Keystrokes, there is no additional charge for any of these items. Because of our incredible staff of talented transcribers, charging by the labor hour is comparable or less than most of our competitors.
What if I don't need the entire audio file transcribed?
Our guarantee that you pay for only the portion of audio you need. Why pay more if you only need the “meat” of the file and not the extraneous stuff? Shouldn’t the total cost be less if there are portions that do not need to be typed or if your file just needs to be paraphrased? Not only are we talented, but we THINK about what we type. Real transcribers— 100% human, all based in the United States. Contact us and find out what your project will cost!
Do you use automated or machine transcription?
We don’t use voice recognition for transcription. Nothing fake here! But don’t just take our word for it. Check out these real-life examples of automated transcriptions using Advanced Google Technology.
What can I do to ensure I get a good transcript?
Getting a good transcript starts at the source—the recorded audio or video file. Before you do anything else, read this. These tips will save you a lot of headaches (and ear aches) later, not to mention a quality transcript. If you’re pondering what the best solution is for your particular project, just let us know. We’ll guide you through every step—free!
Does Keystrokes offer foreign language transcription?
Also known as "monolingual transcription." If your project calls for transcription in one of these languages, then you’ve come to the right place. Don’t see your language? Just ask!
Spanish (Latin American or European)
French (European or Canadian)
German
Italian
Portuguese (Brazilian or Portugal)
Japanese
Korean
German
Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin)
Vietnamese
Taiwanese
Dutch
...and more
What are on-the-fly-translations?
This is simultaneous translation while transcribing your audio or video. This method is faster and less expensive than having your file transcribed in its original language first. However, while this cuts out having to transcribe in the native language first, it may not be the right solution for you. Audio or video that is full of grammatically challenged speakers, contains compromised audio or accents, or is more technical in nature usually fair better with the native language transcript first. Frankly, it’s just more accurate. Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll walk you through the minefield unscathed.
02. Translation
What is your process for ensuring accuracy?
Translation projects are proofread TWICE. First, by a separate translator, and then reviewed by a final proofreader for fluidity and comprehension.
Arabic (different dialects, including Saudi, Iraqi, Yemen, Egyptian)
Maori
Bosnian
Nepali
Burmese
Norwegian
Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin)
Oromifa/Omoro
Czech
Persian
Danish
Polish
Dutch
Portuguese (Portugal or Brazil)
Finnish
Russian
French (Parisian, Canadian, DRC)
Senegalese
German
Slovak
Greek
Spanish (Latin American or European)
Haitian
Swahili
Hausa
Swedish
Hebrew
Tagalog
Hindi
Taiwanese
Indonesian
Thai
Italian
Turkish
Japanese
Ukrainian
Khmer
Urdu
Kinyarwanda
Vietnamese
Who will I contact at Keystrokes if I need support?
You will work with one project manager (PM) throughout the entire job who will ensure that your every need is met. Your PM will stay in close communication with you in case there are questions, or to handle any last minute schedule or workflow changes you may have.
What are on-the-fly-translations?
This is simultaneous translation while transcribing your audio or video. This method is faster and less expensive than having your file transcribed in its original language first. However, while this cuts out having to transcribe in the native language first, it may not be the right solution for you. Audio or video that is full of grammatically challenged speakers, contains compromised audio or accents, or is more technical in nature usually fair better with the native language transcript first. Frankly, it’s just more accurate. Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll walk you through the minefield unscathed.
03. Subtitling & Captions
What is the difference between subtitling and captioning?
Essentially, subtitles assume an audience can hear the audio, but need the dialogue provided in text form as well. This is usually used for foreign language subtitles. For example, a film is in Mandarin, but the subtitles are in English. Captions (AKA closed captions) assumes an audience cannot hear the audio and needs a text description of what they would otherwise be hearing. That would include not only dialogue, but also sounds like music, doors creaking, music cues, etc.
How do I know which one I need?
The main thing to note is “who is your audience” and what medium are you posting your media? For instance, if your audience is everybody, including the deaf and hearing-impaired, then captions would be ideal. It’s also a good idea to include captions if you’re posting on social media like Facebook or Instagram because most people keep their sound off. If you’re intending to include audiences globally, then subtitles in foreign language(s) is important so that people in non-English speaking countries can also enjoy your video or film. Ideally, it’s a good idea to have both captions and subtitles if you can afford it. At the very least, captions should always be included so that you are not excluding a large part of your audience. If you want to do subtitles as well, but have a tight budget, think about choosing the most common language(s) to include a wider audience (e.g., Spanish and Mandarin). In summary, captions and subtitles expand your audience. Audiences that would otherwise not be able to fully comprehend your video because, say, of a linguistic barrier or hearing impairment, can now enjoy them.
Can I use the transcript I created from the video to create subtitles or captions?
Yes and no. YES, a transcript is a handy tool to have. It should be as accurate to the video or film. But keep in mind, in both captions and subtitles, the wording may need to be truncated or changed slightly in order to fit the parameters of creating the final caption or subtitle. In summary, providing an accurate transcript will save you some money. If you don’t have one available, don’t worry—we’ll provide you with a transcript that you can review for accuracy.
How many characters per line should there be?
Usually, in captions or subtitles, there is a two-line maximum with a character count ranging from 60 to 75 characters, some as high as 82 characters per subtitle block (or 42 characters per line). Netflix’scharacter count is one of the highest. However, keep in mind certain languages should only keep less than 30 characters per line (usually character-languages like Korean or Japanese). With such restrictions, a good foreign language subtitler or captioner will be able to interpret the original text so it makes sense to the target audience and flow the text so that it’s comfortable to read onscreen.
What does “final render” mean?
This is a term common in the industry, but it is also referred to as “open captions.” It means that the captions (or subtitles) are visible on the screen and you cannot “turn them off.” These days, most people prefer the option to turn the captions off if they want to. However, if you’re posting on a platform like Instagram or Twitter, you will need open captions because you cannot upload a separate close caption file that allows your audience to turn off the captions if they want to. If you’d like to keep the captions or subtitles on, we will “final render” your video so that the captions or subtitles are permanently visible.
