Transcribe my Media – FIVESQUIDS Transcription Service
Fast, accurate, and confidential transcription and copy typing services from Ben Gamblin, a business services professional with over 15 years of experience. Eliminate the agencies, work direct and reduce your costs.
This special service exclusively available to Fivesquid customers offers the transcription of blocks of eight media minutes for £5.00 – that’s from just 63p per media minute!
Transcriptions are at an intelligent grade, delivered in Microsoft Word format, to the BGPS standard template.
Transcription Reviews Summary
Recording Tips for Better Transcriptions
The quality of your transcription is directly related to the quality of your audio. Don’t leave it to chance – follow these top tips to help you get the best recording, and in turn the best transcribed document!
Fivesquid Core Service
Intelligent
Per 8 minute block
The most popular transcription grade. Excludes obvious mistakes, false starts, stutters, filler words, extraneous sounds etc. Results in a clean, easy to read document ideal for most situations.
Add-On Services for Longer Files
Add 1-9 Minutes
block price
Include this Add-On to cover files between 9-17 minutes in length.
Effective transcription rate:
from 59p per media minute.
Add 10-18 Minutes
block price
Include this Add-On to cover files between 18-26 minutes in length.
Effective transcription rate:
from 58p per media minute.
Add 19-27 Minutes
fixed price per transcript
Include this Add-On to cover files between 27-35 minutes in length.
Effective transcription rate:
from 57p per media minute.
Fivesquid Service Terms and Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do you use automation or artificial intelligence (AI)?
Not at this time, no. All transcriptions are conducted manually.
Automated transcriptions can be variable in the quality of the results, particularly with audio that is less than perfect or with increasing numbers of speakers. Therefore, a machine-generated document still requires proofing, corrections and adjustments to meet the required transcription grade, as well as formatting adjustments to adhere to the template in use.
Given a lot of attention is required on checking automated transcripts, I don’t currently consider it worthwhile compared to manually working through an audio file.
Having said that, if you have a machine-generated transcription that you would like proofread, corrected, and formatted, I am happy to provide that service.
Can you work with audio cassettes, minidiscs, or video tapes?
Minidiscs can be accommodated with an additional charge to cover return postage and the dubbing to a digital format. You will have the option to receive a copy of the dubbed digital audio copy of your tape/disc which will be delivered via a secure download in MP3 (audio) format.
Currently audio cassettes or video tapes cannot be accepted. However, if there is enough interest in the dubbing and transcribing of tapes then it may be a service offered in the future. So, do send a message expressing an interest.
Media will be returned using Royal Mail Special Delivery postage. Clients are responsible for the method and cost of sending media to me.
Do you offer discounts for students or large volume projects?
The service offered through Fivesquid is already a very low cost service. Saying that, if you do have a particularly high volume then let me know, and I’ll see what I can do through a custom service quotation.
Do you retain any information or data relating to a transcription project?
Audio/video and any resulting transcribed documents are not retained on BGPS systems for any longer than 48 hours after the completion of a project, unless otherwise requested and agreed.
Project metadata (that is, information about a transcription project) is retained. This data describes what the project was in broad terms (for example, “a television interview delivered as a digital video file”) and my work on that project (such as start and end times for a working session and how much audio was transcribed within it). This data allows me to calculate the average number of audio minutes transcribed in a working hour and in turn, allows me to better estimate how long similar projects might take and whether I have capacity for more work.
Some client information also needs to be retained as part of financial record-keeping, including name, contact details, and invoices. This will only be retained for the legally mandated minimum period.
Data retained:
Client Name, Project Title, Transcription Grade, Media Type, Timestamp (yes/no), Tracking (yes/no), Count of Speakers, Cost per Minute Charged, Date Awarded, Deadline Date, Completed Date, Audio Start/End Times, Working Session Start/End Times, Document Word Count at Session End, Clarity Information.
Information Calculated:
Media Duration, Total Cost, Length of Media Transcribed So Far, Total Working Time, Audio Minutes Transcribed per Working Hour, Estimated Working Time Remaining, Equivalent Cost per Hour, Words Typed per Minute (project overall), Session Length, Audio Transcribed in Session, Words Typed in Session, Percent Completed in Session, Transcription Rate, Words Typed per Minute (session).
How do you maintain confidentiality?
Confidentiality of work is taken very seriously. Whilst a project is underway, I store media on a machine used solely for the purpose and that is not accessible to any other person. Work is conducted in an office environment where the screen cannot be seen by other people, and headphones are used to ensure the audio cannot be overheard. No third party is privy to your media or the transcribed document, except where required to disclose by UK law.
When a job is concluded, I will retain media for 24-48 hours unless otherwise requested. After this time, audio/video files and the completed transcription will be deleted.
I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ZA035992) under the Data Protection Act.
Will you sign a non-disclosure agreement?
In principle, yes. A standard BGPS non-disclosure agreement is available which can be signed and held on file by both parties. Client generated NDAs may also be accepted, subject to the terms of the document.
Client NDAs should be provided in an editable Microsoft Word format. The document will be digitally signed and returned as a read-only PDF. BGPS operates a paperless office, and as such documents cannot be printed. If you require a hardcopy NDA or if your file is not editable, you will need to send it via post enclosing a prepaid return envelope.
Signed NDAs will be held on file electronically.
Who are you?
I am Ben Gamblin, formerly from Essex, and now living and working in Warwickshire as an independent business services professional.
Before choosing to become self-employed in 2012, I worked at Essex County Council for seven years in a business support team providing excellent and reliable back-office and administrative services to various departments including Trading Standards and Highways. Prior to that, I worked through an agency providing similar services on a temporary basis.
All in all, I have over eight years of employed experience in business services in addition to the time spent working as a sole trader since 2012.
What is your experience?
I spent over eight years working for Essex County Council providing business services. As part of that job, in addition to the general handling of confidential data and minuting sensitive meetings, I was required to conduct the transcription of various interviews under caution (PACE) for Trading Standards.
More recently, I have provided freelance services to various clients transcribing audio and video files including inter-governmental meetings, television documentary interviews, academic research interviews, internal company meetings, general dictation, focus groups and telephone interviews.
