We talk a lot about transcripts around these parts. We’re in the speech-to-text business, after all! But it occurs to us that if you’re a first-time user, you might ask “What does a transcript look like?” Or you might not know what to expect from your transcript.

For instance, there are many different types of formats. An interview transcript example looks quite a bit different from an example of a transcript from, say, the legal world.

Since we provide transcripts for any sort of audio track, from podcasts to verbal notes, below we break down the various types of transcripts you might see out in the wild, and offer examples so you know what to expect.

Interview Transcripts 101

An interview transcript is the text version of a verbal interview, transcribed from either an audio or video recording. It will typically include speaker names, timestamps from the recording, and (in most cases) is produced in a Q&A format. That format depends on the nature of the interviewers and the conversation, though. Interview transcripts can be produced verbatim or non-verbatim. We’ll get into what those terms mean later on.

Interviews can be conducted for any number of reasons, but most require an accurate transcription. Examples include:

• Job interviews can be recorded for later review of potential candidates.
• Documentarians interview people on camera and off, and use text transcriptions to find the important passages and quotes.
• Marketers can transcribe interviews with consumers for testimonials, case studies, or product research.
• Podcast transcription allows podcasters to easily pull together episode summaries and highlight clips.

The possibilities are endless, but when it comes time to put the information to use, a text transcription can make finding the info, quotes, or passages you need much easier.

An interview transcription with timestamps might look like this:

Legal Transcript Examples

The legal profession generates reams of information, much of which is verbal. In many cases, the information is sensitive and needs to be recorded accurately. This is where legal transcription comes in.

It’s important to note the difference between transcription and dictation, because both are common in the legal world. Dictation is the act of recording a person’s words live. For instance, a lawyer speaking to an assistant who writes their words down, or someone speaking into a voice recorder. Legal transcription, on the other hand, is turning a recorded voice into text.

Courtroom transcription is a vital service that requires pinpoint accuracy. Court reporting agencies require configurable ASCII-formatted transcripts for a variety of reasons, such as easy searchability and compatibility with other formats. Rev creates customizable transcripts that are jurisdictionally formatted ASCII files compatible with all major court reporting software. This means all you have to do is pop your legal transcript from Rev in the mail and you’re all set.

Legal transcription examples might look something like this:

Examples of Translated Transcripts

A translated transcript is a transcript that was originally created in one language and is then recreated in another. For instance, a Spanish speaker was recorded and transcribed, but the transcription needed to be read by an English-only speaker, so it was translated. Any type of transcript can be translated, from general interviews to courtroom depositions.

Verbatim vs. Non-Verbatim Transcription

There are two types of transcription, and both have their places.

Non-verbatim transcription is an accurate text record of the words that were recorded, however, they are slightly streamlined to eliminate stops, starts, stutters, and other non-essential sounds that clutter the audio. This is the most common form of transcription, and is easy for an editor to use.

Verbatim transcription, however, includes every cough, tick, sound, and interjection. It’s used when you need an exact representation of what was said and how the speaker said it. Such as when:

• Quoting a source directly
• Operating or interviewing a focus group
• Reviewing interviews from a study or other research
• Prepping legal documents
• Making a legal statement

Rev offers both verbatim and non-verbatim transcription. Our AI services are mostly verbatim, while our human services provide the slightly edited non-verbatim transcription that is used by most editors.

Here is an example of a transcription in both verbatim and non-verbatim formats:

A Guide to Academic Transcripts

Academic transcripts are another vital service requiring extreme accuracy. Please note that while they, too, require absolute accuracy, we’re not talking about academic records here. We’re talking about note-taking in class. Academic transcription allows students to review text versions of conferences and lessons for further study. It’s become common for college students to record lectures as opposed to taking notes by hand, and a thorough transcription of those lectures is vital to the student’s success.

In most cases, a student would need an academic transcription produced quickly for study, so a Rev AI service would be an efficient and cost-effective way to achieve that. Otherwise, a student would have to waste valuable time transcribing by hand when they could be studying the material.

Medical Transcripts

Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals take large amounts of important notes, often via voice recorder. Medical transcription is the process of typing voice records from healthcare professionals into text files. To get the most thorough analysis of their notes, accurate transcription is a must for medical professionals.

Medical transcription is vital for accurate medical records, and lives might truly depend on it. Legally, doctors are required to keep accurate medical records of all their patients. These records show the medical history and health information of patients, allowing them to get proper care when they see other practitioners. Medical transcription is the best way to keep those records straight.

Privacy is a major concern with medical transcripts, which is why Rev’s AI transcription is compliant with the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which establishes national standards to protect individuals’ medical records. Rev AI transcription services have all of the appropriate safeguards in place to protect the security and confidentiality.

What Transcription Format Is Right For Me?

Determining what transcription format is right for you is directly related to the type of work you’re doing. Although an interview can fall into almost any category, for the most part, your work or industry dictates what you need.

The choice between verbatim and non-verbatim transcription is a bit more nuanced. You might need a verbatim transcript when quoting a source (especially important for journalists) or when transcribing a courtroom deposition. Non-verbatim transcription is for projects that don’t require knowing every noise, tic, or stutter, such as academic lecture notes or podcast transcription.

When you decide what kind of transcription you need, it’s also important to use a service that can meet those needs. Though many types of transcriptions are similar, there are quirks and nuances within each. A service that knows those differences and can produce transcripts in the format required by the industry can save you a lot of headaches.

Rev’s AI, for example, can handle content of all types, regardless of technical jargon or language barriers (like accents). When more specialization is required, we also feature a deep roster of transcriptionists with experiences across all industries.

Tips for Formatting Your Transcript Correctly

If you opt not to use a professional transcription service (even a free one), there are a few formatting tips you should consider to make your life easier when writing your transcript.

Check out the examples we’ve peppered throughout this article for specific formatting ideas, but in general, be sure to include:

• Speaker names
• Timestamps from audio or video track
• Paragraph breaks when speakers or tips change
• Slight stage direction, if possible watching video (gestures, emphasis, etc)
• Dates and location

Transcribe Easily (and Accurately) With Rev

Luckily, the days of having to type your own transcription are long gone. Rev offers AI transcription services for fast and cost-effective transcription and human transcription options for 99% accurate transcripts. Whichever service suits your needs, Rev is there to make your audio files work for you in the way you need them.