It's terrible when Luddites pose as "knowledge workers." Obviously, a machine transcription is not the same a good trained (in transcription, linguistics, and subject matter)human. But, I also have read some "human" transcriptions that give the machine stiff competition in howlers.Currently, very good transciption programs are a good cheap way to establish a rough draft of a recording. Humans need to be involved at some point (depends on funds and institutional needs)and paricularly in the editing phase. Unfortunately most oral histories are not worth either the time it took to record them, nor the time to transcribe them. Most folks unfortunately are pretty inacticulate and most oral historians are pretty poor interviewers. Given all that, a software transcription as a first draft is not a bad choice. Peace, Nick     

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Ivan D. Steen" <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Nov 4, 2007 8:28 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] tape recorders for oral histories
>
>I've never seen any transcribing software I would use for oral history. 
>Transcribing oral history is not just a matter of putting words on a page.
> It takes intelligence, skill, and an understanding of language to produce
>a good transcript.
>
>Ivan D. Steen
>Director
>Oral History Program
>Department of History
>University at Albany, State University of New York
>
>
>> I would suggest you look into a digital recorder.  First, you don't have
>> to
>> buy any tapes & second there is now software you can buy that will do the
>> transcribing in no time.  That is what makes Oral Histories so labor
>> intensive.
>>
>>
>>
>> Peter Lundskow
>>
>> Boulder History Museum
>>
>>
>>
>>   _____
>>
>> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Kate Mockler
>> Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 7:41 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] tape recorders for oral histories
>>
>>
>>
>> Good morning!
>>
>> We are going to be starting an oral history project soon, but are in need
>> of
>> a small, portable tape recorder. Does anyone have any recommendations for
>> brands or sources? We are interested in the kind that hold the
>> standard-size
>> tapes, not the micro ones. Thanks in advance!
>>
>> Kate Mockler
>> Curator of Education and Exhibits
>> Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
>> 180 Thompson St.
>> North Tonawanda, NY 14120
>> (716) 693-1885
>>
>>   _____
>>
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>> OLAOF00020000000970> !
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