7 May 2009 - 10:08Transcribing a podcast via eLance

Recently I’ve given two podcast interviews for ProCasts (Startup-Success Screencasting, How to Start Screencasting).

A user had asked if a written transcript would be available, knowing that not everyone likes listening to 45 minutes of discussion I figured a transcript would be a smart idea (and letting Google read the text couldn’t hurt too).

I returned to eLance as I had no way of judging whether the transcript companies advertising in Google were any good.  I posted a job description with a 2 week limit and received 34 proposals with an average bid of $61USD.  The majority of the bids were from the US rather than the Far East, compared to my previous use of eLance.

Sharon (nctranscription) offered a bid of $50USD for the 45 minute podcast (I added the second 9 minute podcast into the job later).  She had a couple of questions and returned the finished transcript almost overnight.  I’m very happy with her work, you can see both the transcripts in the blog entries: Startup-Success Screencasting, How to Start Screencasting.

Bob Walsh (47hats) also recommends CastingWords.

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Ian applies Artificial Intelligence as an Artificial Intelligence Researcher for companies (Mor Consulting), co-founded the StrongSteam A.I. datamining toolkit, co-authored SocialTies, programs Python, writes The Screencasting Handbook and is also a sea-side dweller and consumer of fine coffees.