Getting Started Using Express Scribe

Transcription

1 Sociolinguistics Brown Bag revision history: ABW 1/2012, M. Rasing 2/2007 Getting Started Using Express Scribe Express Scribe is a free audio playback program that will allow you to transcribe your recordings. You will find it most useful for handling conversational recordings. It has a variable speed playback and can be controlled with your keyboard or using a foot pedal. It can be downloaded from: The Express Scribe Main window: Throughout this manual, numbered items in the instructions refer to numbered circles on the ExpressScribe Main window screenshot, above. I. When you first launch Express Scribe: 1. Load and play your audiofile. Express Scribe recognizes a large variety of sound file formats including.wav or.aif files. These are the easiest files to load. Other soundfiles that may be loaded onto Express Scribe are listed at the above website. Drag a soundfile (.wav or mp3 1

2 formats) onto the main window pane. Files should appear in the file list with their recording date, time and duration information. Loading your audiofile is fairly straightforward. Audiofiles can either be located by clicking the load icon in the main toolbar or more easily by simply dragging the file from your directory window to the Express Scribe file menu. By then clicking on the sound file in the menu, it should begin to play. Note: When you work, you will typically use one of two methods for audio playback: either using a footpedal (Fig 2), or the function keys on your computer for manual manipulation of audio playback buttons on the screen (Fig 3). See section, Setting up the foot pedal for use with your computer below on configuring and using a footpedal. Click preferences > hot keys to see settings for function keys. Fig. 2 WAV USB footpedal Fig. 3 Audio playback buttons 2. Creating a transcription file. While ExpressScribe has its own word processing box, this is a Notes (or dictation) box, and is not really intended for typing a transcription. It may be of use for your field notes, or comments about where you ve ended your last session, etc. It will open each time you select the soundfile from the main window, and saved each time you exit ExpressScribe, and so it should be used for at a glance information. Transcription in Express Scribe is not recommended (at least in the version of software currently available). Transcription is done outside of ExpressScribe, in Microsoft Word (or other word processor). There is a convenient way to open an external software program directly from Express scribe. You can then use your foot-pedal or system-wide hotkeys to control Express Scribe (and thus playback, rewinding, and fast forwarding of your recording) while working outside of Express Scribe. First, you can automate creation and management of a base template file 2

3 and save it in the directory where you want Express Scribe to store documents: To set the default directory for your template files: Click Preferences (2) > Disk usage. To set the directory for the template file: Click Preferences (2) > Other. You will see the following display (Fig. 4). Check use a word processor document based on this file to generate a new document for transcription that will open each time you open a new file. Fig. 4: Screenshot of Preferences dialogue for template association. Now, each time you load a new audiofile into ExpressScribe, you can click on the Document icon (3) to create a new template file for your new transcription. You will later save this template as a transcription file, then associate this new transcription with your audiofile. II. Daily Working with Express Scribe: 1. Opening a pre-existing transcription file: It is not necessary to Open both ExpressScribe and your word processor each time you work. Once you have followed the instructions above to load a soundfile, and opened the template document, you can associate a transcription with that soundfile, which will open each time you begin your work. To associate a file with an audiofile: Open a template document in your word processor as directed in the instructions above. Now, save the template file with a new name (preferably one that matches the audiofile). Save this file in your word processor (your system should open the folder specified in ExpressScribe for that document). Now, in Express Scribe, associate the new transcription file with your audiofile: File>Attach file e.g., Users/abw/Library/Application Support/NCH software/scribe/current 3

4 If the document already exists it will be opened. If the document does not exist, Express Scribe copies the base file. Now, each time you open your audiofile in ExpressScribe, you can easily open your associated file: File>Load attachment list Note: CMD-L Load dictation file will not load your word processing file, but the dictation file for storing metadata about the recording and transcription. 2. Playback audio while working in the word processor: If you have opened your transcription document in the word processor using the ExpressScribe, and configured your foot-pedal properly, you should be able to operate the audiofile controls while working in your word processor. This will allow you to type timestamps and text while operating the audio controls with your foot (hands-free). File>Load attachment list If the method above does not work reliably, you will have to open both ExpressScribe and your word processing program on your desktop, and arrange your windows on-screen so you can move back-and-forth between them by clicking to activate windows. You may need to work with the Hot-keys to operate your audio player controls. 3. Setting Preferences Setting Hot-keys: The function keys that are listed under control in the main menu of Express Scribe may not work as expected. If this is the case, go to settings and then control (or to hot keys set-up under the main control option). The hot keys that are listed there are the ones that your computer is actually set to. By clicking on the keys that are listed, you can also change the function of each key if you choose to. Playback speed: The speed of the playback can be adjusted using the slider bar on the bottom-left of the Express Scribe program. This will adjust the speed if you are using the program manually with the hot keys, or also if you are using the foot pedals. (This is important as the foot pedals control play, rewind, and fast forward but play at a constant speed.) By setting the playback speed, the playback will remain constant even if you rewind or fast forward. 4

5 4. Foot Pedal operation 1. Follow the manufacturer s instructions for configuring your wav pedal. (Sociolab users may consult instructions for our *USB* VEC footpedals, located in the foot pedal box) Note: If you use MAC, no additional drivers are needed. Connection of the footpedal to the USB port and opening ExpressScribe will result in automatic detection of this peripheral device. If you use a PC, you will need to install the free, required driver download from NCH SwiftSound. Configuring the footpedal is done by clicking on Preferences (2) > Pedals: Preferences > Pedals *make sure box enable foot pedal controller is checked. 2. Pressing down on the central button (PLAY) on the foot pedal, will start/stop playback. 3. Pressing down and holding the FF button (left) will advance/cue the recording. Lifting foot up will resume normal playback. 4. Similarly, pressing down and holding the REW button (right) will rewind/cue the recording. Lifting foot up will resume normal playback 5. Overall playback speed can be adjusted at the bottom-right corner of the Express scribe program. Auto backstep on stop: This is a particularly nice feature. In playback mode, each time you release the play button of the footpedal, the audio recording will jump back a specified amount of time to allow you to review material you have transcribed, and determine where you left off typing. Enter an amount of tie to jump back in the preferences window (Fig. 6) Fig. 6 Auto backup on stop. 5