It can be done both ways. There are platforms out there

• All things being equal, do you prefer to work with a C-phone or use WAV files over the internet? sm - anon
  • I have only used C-phone too but I have listened to - wav files sent to me by other people to
    • You know, I never even thought about the mobility aspect..sm - OP
      • Love wav files. No extra phone line needed, - me
        • Okay, I am going to show my ignorance, but don't you still have to have a foot pedal and...sm - anon
          • Foot pedal connects to the back of the computer, not outlet - me
          • Yes, you have a footpedal and headphones - but they
  • It's better sound for one thing. C-phones are just old dinosaur technology. - NMx
  • WAV files are better. No dialing in. No tying up your phone line. - no worries
    • I have a question. Do you download the sound - files to your computer or are you
      • It can be done both ways. There are platforms out there - either or
        • which companies use - ftp? sm
          • Smaller MTSOs. They're tough to find. - ICMT
            • If you know of any and (sm) - thanks
        • I use Bayscribe and I'm pretty sure it IS real time. - Thank you for explaining. nm
          • I have a good idea most of us - sm - MTK

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Platforms are programs usually provided by the company.  Examples are Emdat, escription, or when you hear the term "proprietary software".  Oh, I think another one, is Bytescribe, but don't quote me on that. 

Express Scribe is considered a "player" for dss, wav files (digital recordings).  The doc will dictate either directly into a microphone on the computer or he/she may have a handheld digital recorder.  A lot of times these dss or wave files are provided to you through an FTP site.  If you read this post, I have found that any word that is underlined and in a different color, if you click on that word, there is also an explanation of these terms.  Very helpful indeed! 

Do not feel that you are ignorant.  There are still transcriptionists transcribing from tapes (me included).  I only wish I knew about this board long before I learned about it.  There are some nice people that will try to help you.  Good luck in your "at home" MT'ing....  

If each company has their own platform, why do they list "experience preferred in..." that platform on their classifieds?  How could you have experience if you had never worked for them before?

Is MS Word experience recommended for most services?

I don't know anything about WP5.1 and FlashForward. Maybe I used them and didn't know it!  But when I used a DOS-based program - or, before that, a dedicated word processor - I could rack up the lines in nothing flat.

Now we get yelled at to produce more, produce more, while they tie our hands behind our backs with the idiotic software they provide us with.  What are we supposed to do in that position - type with our noses?

I have Emdat and Transurfer on this computer and all attempts to get jobs in DQS have been thwarted.  No idea why.  Never had this problem before.  Voice file just shows "buffering" and never goes beyond that.  If anyone knows a fix, I would love to hear it.  Thanks!

Hi all - I'm looking for a transcription platform for my small company. I've looked into EMDAT, Intrascript, and Medquist. I've seen a reference here regarding I-text, but I can't seem to find them on Google. Do you have any other platform recommendations? Also, do you know their contact info?

Thanks!

What are the good platforms?  I currently work in MS Word and upload my reports after completing each one. 

Thanks

Once you land the 2nd job, the tech person should be able to help. 

Or do you prefer typing in your own Word program and emailing encrypted files?  Do you prefer to use C-phone to access the dictation, or wav pedal?  I'm seriously thinking it might be better to use a platform where MTs can go online to access the dictation and the platform to type into and I am looking for ones that MTs like and consider MT friendly.  So...what have you used and which ones do you like best?  I did do a search, but I'm asking again.  Obviously, being a small MTSO some of the larger platforms might be beyond my reach, but I'm looking for opinions.

Would like to know what platforms are user-friendly and which ones slow you down.  Currently working on one that slooooows me down so much!!! 

I used to work for a Jewish lawyer and received Jewish holidays off (paid), along with all other paid holidays (including Christmas.)

The difference is that Christmas is a FEDERAL holiday, in fact, the ONLY religious FEDERAL holiday where most people are paid regardless of their religious beliefs.  So people of other religious beliefs celebrate the *secular* Christmas, which is supposed to mean happiness, charity, gift-giving and especially tolerance.  Your post gives me the impression that you want to investigate and judge every American's religious beliefs and deprive them of the holiday if their beliefs don't match yours.  This is a pretty scary thought, especially because of the recently discovered practice of the government's illegal wire-tapping and spying of Americans under the guise of terrorism.

So maybe this issue isn't really about Christmas at all.  Maybe it's just about personal freedom, and personally, I find what's happening in this country to Americans almost as terrifying as the terrorists themselves. 

I didn't see Frontline but have read and discussed the WalMart issue in depth over the years.

As I understand it, what separates WalMart from other large department and grocery stores is their business practices. WalMart dictates the price they're going to pay manufacturers for the goods going on the WalMart shelf. If the manufacturer doesn't cut his price to meet WalMart's demands, the store will just move on and stock a different company's brand. (So maybe Bounty cut a deal to get their product distributed thru WalMart but Marcal paper towels couldn't, for example.) The manufacturer is then faced with having to trim his margins while producing more to meet the higher distribution of having WalMart's business. Some companies are much more able and willing to do that than others.

But there is a mentality there that I just personally have a problem with.

To me it's like the hospital telling the MTSO that they're only going to pay 10 cents a line, period. The MTSO will have to slash her profits and likely the rates she's giving to her ICs or employees in order to keep the work coming in. OR, the MTSO may decide it makes more sense for her to get ICs that are willing to work at a much lesser rate (like those in India) so she can keep her business profits steady. This forces the MTSO's hand in a way that I feel is unjust, as her options are quite limited. No business owner or worker wants to go backward income-wise as the years pass, but this is the kind of thing that WalMart is doing to business people. It sounds to me like many hospitals and physician practices do business the WalMart way, and I think we need to walk the talk. If you shop at WalMart to save a few cents, do so knowing that you're supporting a company policy in the process. I do shop there on occassion, I admit, but I keep it to a minimum because I don't want to contribute to WalMart's success. 

Good opportunity, while I have the soapbox, is to share something that has been on my mind for years as this offshoring issue has snowballed. I think the saddest outcome of all this is the illwill that has been fostered among so many us. Some of us get on a high horse about where we shop and don't shop, others resent that they have to run from to store to store, cutting coupons, just to get by every month and they last thing they want is to be preached at. Often there seems that there's not enough compassion or understanding, and to me, this devisiveness among people is just a horrible outcome as the loss of American jobs.

I also cringe when I read posts that just reek of bigotry toward Indians, Pakistanis, Canadians, etc. who wind up with work because a company thousounds of miles away made a business decision. Everyday working people, whether they're in Bangalore, Ontario, or Erie PA, do what's best for themselves and their families. I hope that no matter where we each stand on this complex issue that we don't allow ourselves to become mean-spirited and bitter people over it.