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logging/transcription help/question
hi folks. here’s a question for you.
i’ve got a client who wants to have his assinstants log and fully transcribe several hours of speech-based video, word for word.
he is a non-video person, but basically needs to be able to access clips (presumably based on timecode,) by looking at text. my initial instinct was to have the assistants (who know how to log and capture,) log everything in small clips and use the “log comment” field to add the transcription. then you do a batch export and the client gets the thing as an excel spreadsheet which he can use for paper-editing. if he wants, he can even delete “rows” from the spreadsheet, and his assistants can re-import the new spreadsheet and use that for batch capture.the above way works, but it aint elegant. the problem is, the assistants are going to have to log everything in really short clips, probably a new clip every sentence or two, and that still is a lot of text for the “comment” field. (or any of the fields in the browser, for that matter.) it’s also a lot of text to fit into an excel cell, although those can be adjusted.
so can anyone think of a better way? i’m basically a consultant on this deal. the client has final cut express, which doesn’t seem to even export batch lists (which makes sense since i guess the whole timecode functionality is somewhat crippled in express.) he’s willing to upgrade to f.c. pro for this stuff, since it will be a long, ongoing project. is there anything else that will work better for transcription? plugins or standalone software? the actual editing functionality can be minimal. he could even capture big clips in f.c. express and export quicktime for transcription elsewhere. the main thing is the ability for him to read text and have it correspond with the timecode on some video which can then be accessed relatively easily.
thanks for your help.
-nate
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2 Replies
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I’d have the whole thing transribed and just type-in a close approximation of the timecodes every paragraph or so.
Example:
(00:10:32:00)
Good morrow to you, magistrate.
Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage.
(00:10:32:30)
China Clipper calling Alameda.
Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage.
(00:10:33:10)
Watson, come here, I want you.
Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. Blah blath yadda yadda yap yap rubbish and garbage. -
[nate ford] “is there anything else that will work better for transcription? plugins or standalone software? the actual editing functionality can be minimal. he could even capture big clips in f.c. express and export quicktime for transcription elsewhere.”
Two programs come to mind. First there’s a company called “Pilotware”. They make logging software which is widely used in the reality TV field here in LA. Check out their web site. http://www.pilotware.com
Second, there’s a company called “Teresis” which provides a more “turn key” approach combining digitizing, logging, transcriptions, and media management. Check out their website at http://www.teresis.com
Both of these solutions are gonna cost money, and if your client doesn’t even have a full copy of FCP I doubt that they’re gonna wanna spring for this software. But hey, if you’re a consultant, then advise them to stop being cheap and get the right tool for the job.
Mark
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