Thursday, October 05, 2006
Foot-pedal Transcription using the Mac
I did my first long (20+ minutes) transcription today, so it seems appropriate to write about the software/hardware combination I'm using.
To recap, briefly: I'm recording phone conversations onto my Mac using a variety of inexpensive parts from Radio Shack and a Griffin iMic. The resulting file is Quicktime audio (a .mov file).
To handle hands-free playback (so I can transcribe as I control playback), I looked for a foot-peal controller for the Quicktime player. There aren't a lot of options out there, but fortunately the one I chose seems solid: the pedal unit is from VPedal, a mysterious company (there's no "about us" link on their site) that makes a good-quality foot pedal with a USB connector. The VPedal cost about $75 (shipped; the usual price is $75 + $15 shipping, but I caught a sale).
The software, a free download called VPedal Omni, controls Quicktime playback. The software works exactly as advertised, and I really like all the aspects of playback it can control -- not just the playback speed and length of rewind when you take your foot off the pedal, but also the fast forward and rewind speeds. The only bad thing I can say about this software is that it has the absolute ugliest dock icon imaginable.
One other quibble, if not a complaint: I plug the VPedal into a cheapo Targus USB hub -- one that has a flashing LED on the USB port when it's in use. When the VPedal is plugged in -- even when it's inactive -- its port is flashing. For that reason, I've taken to unplugging the VPedal and setting it aside when not in use. That's probably a good strategy anyway, just to keep it off the floor and out of the way.
I found transcribing from a digital file to be a little bit different than working with tape. Faster play does not add a chipmunk effect to the tone; because of that, fast-forward can sort of be understood, so getting through pleasantries and embarrassing ramblings by yours truly -- which don't need transcription -- should be easier and faster. (Rewind is still unintelligible.) I'm looking forward to doing more transcription with the new setup.
To recap, briefly: I'm recording phone conversations onto my Mac using a variety of inexpensive parts from Radio Shack and a Griffin iMic. The resulting file is Quicktime audio (a .mov file).
To handle hands-free playback (so I can transcribe as I control playback), I looked for a foot-peal controller for the Quicktime player. There aren't a lot of options out there, but fortunately the one I chose seems solid: the pedal unit is from VPedal, a mysterious company (there's no "about us" link on their site) that makes a good-quality foot pedal with a USB connector. The VPedal cost about $75 (shipped; the usual price is $75 + $15 shipping, but I caught a sale).
The software, a free download called VPedal Omni, controls Quicktime playback. The software works exactly as advertised, and I really like all the aspects of playback it can control -- not just the playback speed and length of rewind when you take your foot off the pedal, but also the fast forward and rewind speeds. The only bad thing I can say about this software is that it has the absolute ugliest dock icon imaginable.
One other quibble, if not a complaint: I plug the VPedal into a cheapo Targus USB hub -- one that has a flashing LED on the USB port when it's in use. When the VPedal is plugged in -- even when it's inactive -- its port is flashing. For that reason, I've taken to unplugging the VPedal and setting it aside when not in use. That's probably a good strategy anyway, just to keep it off the floor and out of the way.
I found transcribing from a digital file to be a little bit different than working with tape. Faster play does not add a chipmunk effect to the tone; because of that, fast-forward can sort of be understood, so getting through pleasantries and embarrassing ramblings by yours truly -- which don't need transcription -- should be easier and faster. (Rewind is still unintelligible.) I'm looking forward to doing more transcription with the new setup.
