How Much Does Audio Transcription Cost? (Tips for Cheaper Outsourcing)

I want to outsource to minimize effort.

However, complete delegation (sending raw audio data without proper explanation) is strictly forbidden.

In addition to the glossary and delivery format mentioned above, consider:

• Original audio content and specifications
• Purpose of the transcription data
• Desired quality
• Inclusion of timestamps
• Deadline (preferably with milestones)

In short, provide as much information as possible

It's best to summarize as much detail as possible and organize it clearly.

While this kind of preparation might seem like a hassle, it's actually a necessary expense when you consider the potential for unnecessary burdens or problems later on.

As mentioned earlier, clarifying your objective often leads to insights like, "Hmm, maybe I don't need to hire a professional for this after all..."

The One Trick to Getting Audio Transcription Done Cheaply

Get high-quality transcription done as cheaply as possible, while still adhering to fair market rates.

Believe it or not, there's a way to achieve this dream.

That is,

Combining AI and human effort

This is the technique.

As mentioned earlier, transcription broadly consists of three stages:

• Verbatim transcription (transcribing every word exactly as spoken)
• "Kebab-tori" (removing filler words and unnecessary sounds)
• Text normalization (converting spoken language to written language)

By outsourcing these to different parties, you can achieve high-quality transcription.

The recommended combination is:

• Verbatim transcription: AI
• "Kebab-tori": Individual freelancer
• Text normalization: High-priced individual freelancer or do it yourself

Let's explain each in detail.

[STEP1] Verbatim Transcription: AI

The progress of AI recently has been remarkable, and for the verbatim transcription stage, you can achieve higher quality than by hiring an individual through crowdsourcing.

*Especially if you cannot prepare the "glossary" introduced in the previous section, AI, which often has built-in dictionary data for technical terms, may be superior.

Compared to verbatim transcription by a reputable professional service, there are certainly minor areas where AI falls short. However, unless you need absolutely precise, word-for-word data, there's no need to choose an expensive service.

Some professional services reportedly use tool-based methods for verbatim transcription before "kebab-tori" or text normalization. In such cases, it's significantly cheaper to use AI directly yourself.

Delegate all tasks that AI (machines) excel at, and let humans focus on tasks only humans can do.

For AI Transcription, 'Mojiokoshi-san' is Recommended

When choosing an AI transcription tool for the first time, 'Mojiokoshi-san' is highly recommended.

Mojiokoshi-san offers high-accuracy and fast transcription using the latest AI.

Furthermore, you can choose between two types of AI, each with distinct features:

• PerfectVoice: Supports over 100 languages, including Japanese and English.
• AmiVoice: Features speaker diarization (transcribes by speaker).

This allows it to handle various scenarios, such as foreign language transcription and meeting transcription.

You can use it for free for up to 3 minutes without registration or login, so it's recommended to try 'Mojiokoshi-san' first.

[STEP2] "Kebab-tori": Individual Freelancer

For tasks like removing filler words such as "uh" or "um," and correcting typos, it's easy to hire an individual freelancer at a low cost. Even on crowdsourcing sites where quality can vary, you can generally ensure a certain level of quality.

As a tip, if you can pre-remove sections that are unlikely to need "kebab-tori" during the verbatim transcription stage, it will reduce the workload and save costs.

When making a request, it's a good idea to approach individuals who regularly accept transcription jobs on crowdsourcing sites and ask, "Could you do just the 'kebab-tori' for a lower price?"

[STEP3]

Editing and Polishing: High-Priced Freelancers or DIY

While simply converting spoken language to written language is one thing, summarizing and rephrasing content for clarity requires considerable skill.

Therefore, it's best to clearly separate the editing and polishing phase and entrust it to a reliable freelancer, even if it means a slightly higher cost.

*Even then, it will still be cheaper than hiring a professional agency for the entire process from raw transcription to editing.

If you have enough time, another recommended approach is to handle the editing and polishing yourself.

Someone who is familiar with the original audio data and understands the context of the conversation can sometimes summarize it better than a writing expert.

Aim to Become an "Outsourcing Master" in 3 Steps!

By breaking down the work into smaller tasks like this, you can keep the total cost down while selecting the most suitable service for each task, which can significantly improve quality.

Someone who is good at outsourcing is someone who knows the optimal tools and personnel for each task and can appropriately delegate responsibilities.

Why not aim to become such an "outsourcing master" yourself?

Summary

By effectively utilizing transcription outsourcing services, you can achieve higher quality work at a much better cost-performance ratio than doing it yourself.

But outsourcing costs money...

Even if you've been hesitant, if you compare the time and effort cost of transcribing yourself with the final quality, you'll surely realize the hidden losses you're incurring.

Leave it to the experts. Use the time freed up by outsourcing to focus on more important tasks that only you can do.

The method of combining AI and human effort introduced at the end of the article is a very useful technique that can be applied beyond transcription, so make sure to master it.

For AI transcription services, we recommend trying "Mojiokoshi-san."