Doing Oral History on a Shoestring

Transcription files are essential for an oral history project and need to be properly managed by the project team for several reasons:

1. Accessibility and searchability: Transcription files provide a written record of the oral history interview, making the content more accessible to a wider audience. They allow researchers, students, and the general public to quickly scan and search for specific information, quotes, or themes within the interview without having to listen to the entire audio or video recording.
2. Preservation and long-term access: While audio and video recordings can deteriorate over time or become obsolete due to changing technology, transcription files provide a stable, long-term means of preserving the content of the oral history. They ensure that the information remains accessible for future generations, even if the original recordings are lost or damaged.
3. Analysis and research: Transcription files facilitate the analysis and research process by allowing researchers to easily review, compare, and annotate the content of multiple interviews. They can be coded, tagged, or indexed to identify common themes, patterns, or connections across different narrators' experiences.
4. Publication and dissemination: Transcription files are often used as the basis for publications, exhibits, or educational materials related to the oral history project. They provide an easy way to quote or reference specific passages from the interviews and can be edited or adapted for different purposes.
5. Translation and language access: Transcription files can be translated into different languages, making the content of the oral history accessible to a broader, multilingual audience. This is particularly important for projects that aim to document the experiences of diverse communities or reach an international audience.
6. Legal and ethical considerations: In some cases, transcription files may be necessary for legal or ethical reasons, such as providing evidence in court cases or obtaining informed consent from narrators. Having accurate and complete transcriptions can help ensure that the project adheres to relevant laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines.

To effectively manage transcription files, the project team should establish clear protocols for transcription, quality control, file naming and organization, and long-term storage and preservation. This may involve using specialized software, creating backups, and ensuring that files are stored in secure, accessible locations. Proper management of transcription files is crucial for the success and long-term impact of an oral history project.

Transcription files can come in various file types and sizes, depending on the specific requirements and resources of the oral history project. Here are some common file types and their average sizes:

Transcription Files:

• Plain Text (.txt): Plain text files are the simplest and most lightweight format for transcriptions. They contain only the text content without any formatting. Average file sizes are usually quite small, ranging from a few KB to a few hundred KB, depending on the length of the interview.
• Rich Text Format (.rtf): RTF files support basic text formatting, such as bold, italic, and underline, while maintaining compatibility across different platforms. Average file sizes are slightly larger than plain text files, typically ranging from a few hundred KB to a few MB.
• Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx): Microsoft Word files are commonly used for transcriptions due to their rich formatting options and compatibility with various word processing software. Average file sizes can range from a few hundred KB to several MB, depending on the length of the interview and the amount of formatting applied.
• PDF (.pdf): PDF files are a universal format that preserves the layout and formatting of the transcription document. They can be created from various source files, such as Word or RTF. Average file sizes can range from a few hundred KB to several MB, depending on the length of the interview and whether the PDF includes embedded images or other media.

It's important to note that the actual file sizes may vary based on factors such as the length and complexity of the transcription. When managing these files, it's essential to consider the trade-offs between quality, file size, and long-term preservation requirements. The project team should establish guidelines for file formats, naming conventions, and storage practices to ensure consistency and accessibility throughout the oral history project.

These software options are recommendations to help you make decisions about approaches to transcription creation.

Software	Artificial Intelligence Used or Not	Price	Considerations
Trint	Yes	$60 per month subscription	Automation will not be perfect. You will need to review.<br>- Pretty good for non-English transcripts
Express Scribe	No	$60 per year	Highly recommended for transcribing by hand<br>- Allows playback at less than 100% play speeds<br>- Eliminates the need to use a computer mouse
Zoom	Yes	$15.99 per month subscription	Only works if you do Zoom recorded interviews.<br>- Automation will not be perfect. You will need to review.<br>- Fine with non-English transcripts