Using Dictation Equipment to Transcribe Class Notes

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I am one of those students who records every lecture (with professor approval). I find that I learn better if I mostly listen in class (I jot down some notes or draw diagrams professors write on the board). I can not learn while I am furiously writing (or typing) what she says, instead I will go home, and while it is fresh in my mind, I will re listen to the lecture, type notes, research things I do not understand and really try to understand everything the teacher has said - I use this retyping as study time and it helps me retain the information!

I had an idea while at work today. The legal assistants where I work use dictation programs to listen to recordings, and they control the recording with a foot pedal (and are able to stop, fast forward and even rewind with their feet). This would be so much more efficient then what I have to do which is take my hands off my keyboard to stop or rewind my digital recorder. My question is this, I see I can pick up a foot pedal on ebay inexpensively; however I can not find good information as to the software that is required, or if you need a special type of recorder. Any other student ever tried this??? I am all about squeezing spare seconds out of my day wherever I can find them.

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Specializes in Hospice.

It's a machine, a dictation machine, no software. I used to be a legal assistant. What a GREAT idea though. It uses microcassettes just like a mini recorder.

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Specializes in OR.

Lori's right; I used to use one when I was an Executive Assistant. There is an alternative, if you record your lectures digitally and use Google Chrome as a browser. There's an app on Google Chrome for that! You can get information on it here: Transcribe: An Awesome Chrome App for Transcribing Audio , or go right to it here: Transcribe - free online tool to help with transcription of interviews and audio clips . I've used it before -- you use the esc key to start/stop the recording, and you can speed it up or slow it down and type while you're doing it all. Since it's free, I'd give that a try before you buy a full Dictaphone or something similar.

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Lori's right; I used to use one when I was an Executive Assistant. There is an alternative, if you record your lectures digitally and use Google Chrome as a browser. There's an app on Google Chrome for that! You can get information on it here: Transcribe: An Awesome Chrome App for Transcribing Audio , or go right to it here: Transcribe - free online tool to help with transcription of interviews and audio clips . I've used it before -- you use the esc key to start/stop the recording, and you can speed it up or slow it down and type while you're doing it all. Since it's free, I'd give that a try before you buy a full Dictaphone or something similar.

This is an awesome idea! I might have to play around with this, this summer! My laptop does not have a microphone, but I like how this program will allow you to upload from digital recorder. Thanks for the amazing idea... you might have just changed my life!

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I did medical transcription in the past as a side job from home and the lady I worked with would email me wave or MP3 files that I would save and open in a program I downloaded called Express Scribe. For those jobs I used the Olympus AS-2300 PC Transcription DSS foot pedal hooked up to my computer. If you are thinking of using the old school Dictaphone with a micro-cassette, I used the Sony M-2020 machine. Just a few suggestions of machines that worked well for me:)

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I did medical transcription in the past as a side job from home and the lady I worked with would email me wave or MP3 files that I would save and open in a program I downloaded called Express Scribe. For those jobs I used the Olympus AS-2300 PC Transcription DSS foot pedal hooked up to my computer. If you are thinking of using the old school Dictaphone with a micro-cassette, I used the Sony M-2020 machine. Just a few suggestions of machines that worked well for me:)

I have a digital recorder that I use already so I can download the lectures to my computer! It sounds like Express Scribe is the way to go! Thank you so much for the information!

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I have a digital recorder that I use already so I can download the lectures to my computer! It sounds like Express Scribe is the way to go! Thank you so much for the information!

Awesome! I'm glad that info helped!

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My friend used to record lectures (I love keeping notes). I think he tried using a software to transcript notes but there were too many mistakes in the end. He hired this Academic Transcription because he didn't have time to do it himself.

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