Rev.com Freelancers FAQs

Where can I set my default preferences for transcription orders?

These options are found in your AccountSettings page underOrder Preferences > Transcription Settings. Click the blueEdit button to modify these.

here

***Please note that any changes you make here will apply to all orders going forward. If you want to apply one of these settings to only some orders, those options can be selected at checkout instead.

You can adjust the following in your transcription settings:

Preferred transcript file type - choose from:

Microsoft Word DOCX

Plain Text TXT

PDF

Rush all orders

Additional $1 per audio minute to receive transcripts up to 5x faster

Speaker names may be inconsistent

Only applies to orders placed through the desktop site

Learn more about Rush here

Shorten turnaround for all orders

Free service to deliver transcripts up to 2x faster

Speaker names may be inconsistent

Applies to files > 30 minutes in length

Enable timestamps for all orders

Additional $0.25 per audio minute

Learn more about timestamps here

Enable verbatim for all orders

Additional $0.25 per audio minute

Learn more about verbatim here

Add instant first draft to all orders

Additional $0.10 per audio minute

Learn more about instant first draft

Informal spelling

On by default

Uncheck to convert certain text to formal spelling (e.g. "gonna" becomes "going to")

You can also choose whether to have transcripts delivered in paragraph or table format. See examples below.

What is Line?

Rev's Line editor lets you start with a rough draft generated using Rev’s speech-recognition technology. Rev's other transcription editor, TC Editor, does not start with a rough draft.

What do I need to do with this Line draft?

Please edit the draft and retype as needed to produce a polished transcript that accurately reflects the audio and which follows Rev’s style guidelines. ALWAYS listen all the way through to the end of the audio file to ensure that the final transcript is accurate and complete. Do NOT overly rely on the draft. Please:

Transcribe what the draft did not accurately capture and retype as needed

Attribute what is being said to the correct speaker

Correct mishears and typos

Correct punctuation, using standard U.S. punctuation rules

Addinaudibleand crosstalk tags with correct timestamps where appropriate

Which browser/device works best with Line?

Please use the latest version of Google Chrome. Firefox may be used as a backup browser as needed. Please use a computer with a keyboard or a laptop, not a mobile device nor tablet.

How do I create and/or delete a speaker label?

Select Enter twice to create a new speaker label. To edit the speaker name, select the pencil icon, type the name and select Enter to save the changes. To delete a speaker label in the file, place your cursor at the start of the paragraph and select Backspace or Delete.

How can I correct the automated time at the start of a paragraph?

The automated timecodes seen at the start of paragraphs that appear above the text cannot be adjusted. However, any notation tags in brackets in the file should contain correct timestamps. For example, [inaudible] is incorrect. Add correct times where indiscernible speech starts, hour:minutes:seconds, such as [inaudible 00:10:59].

How can I play, pause and rewind the audio?

Select Tab to play and pause. To play the audio at the cursor location, select Esc. To rewind the audio, select Shift + Tab.

How can I slow down the audio?

You can adjust the audio speeds in Playback Settings in the right-hand panel in Line. Click on the speed and move the slider to left to slow down, which is recommended for relistening to difficult audio. To speed up the audio, move the slider to the right, which is recommended for proofreading.

Can I useExpressScribe?

Line is not compatible with foot pedal software.

I added speaker names to my order, but they weren't used in my transcript. How do I fix this?

We strive to always include the names provided, but there may be times when our team is unable to do so.

For example, if the transcriptionist is unable to tell which person each name should go with or otherwise has trouble identifying them, they will use speaker numbers instead (Speaker 1, Speaker 2). If there were similar voices that couldn't be distinguished, Male or Female may be used.

Another reason your labels may not be correct is if you ordered Rush or submitted a long file (>2 hours). These files are split into segments to be worked on, which can result in speaker labels being incorrect in the final file.

While we don't guarantee speaker labeling, we have a quick and easy way to modify the labels in your completed transcript.

Click any speaker label in your transcript to open the edit screen

Delete the current label in the edit box, then enter your new label

If you want to change ALL labels with this name to your new label (e.g. change all Speaker 1 to Jeff), check the box that saysChange allCurrentSpeakerLabel to:

Hit the Enter key or click outside of the edit box to apply the change

That's it! Your labels will now be updated throughout your transcript.

You also have the option toremove all speaker labels when you download your transcript. Click the three-dot menu in the upper right of the transcript editor, then clickExport.Uncheckthe box that saysInclude speaker names and click the blue Export button. The downloaded copy of your transcript will not contain any speaker names.

All of our transcriptionists, captioners, and translators are independent contractors and therefore Rev does not withhold taxes from your earnings.

We are not tax experts and cannot give you any advice on how to handle your taxes. You should consult a local accountant to assist you in this area.

Due to recent changes in IRS regulations, we do not send 1099-MISC forms since payments are made via PayPal. Even if you made more than $600 last year, any tax information or paperwork you require should be provided by PayPal directly.

More information can be found here:

http://payroll.intuit.com/support/kb/2001238.html?cid=1099_em

Here is the relevant tax information from the IRS website:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/td_9496_final_reg.pdf

How do I adjust the timestamps to match my burned-in timecode?

You can offset the start time of your timestamps easily in our online editor. Underneath the playback bar, click the blue link that saysOffset.

888-369-0701

This opens a pop-up that allows you to adjust the start time of your file, down to the second. By default, all files are delivered with 00:00:00 timestamps. If you had running timecode that started at 24 minutes, you would change this to 00:24:00.

When you clickApply, all timestamps in the transcript will shift to the new start time you set. In this case, our first timestamp was previously 00:09, and after applying the offset it's 24:09.

You can also adjust timestamps when downloading a file from your order page, which can be accessed in your Order History. Click your order number, then clickDownload next to the file name. You will see the option to offset the timestamps at the bottom of the popup that appears. Once you've set the new start time, click the red Download button and your downloaded transcript will contain your offset timestamps.

Individual timestamps within the transcript are not editable, and any offset changes will apply to the entire transcript.

What if I need to move the timestamps backward?

While we offer this for our caption files, we're unable to apply anegative offset for timestamps in a transcript (moving the start time backward instead of forward).

What if the timecodes in my file jump and aren't continuous?

We're currently offering aburned-in timecode beta trial. If you're a part of this beta group, our system will attempt to automatically match all timestamps in the file to the timecode on screen, even if it isn't continuous. This applies to video files that have on-screen timecode only. Keep in mind that this is still a beta feature and may not always work as expected.

To opt in to this beta group, please email [email protected] or give us a call atand we would be glad to get you added. There is no charge for this service. The timecode matching will apply to all orders going forward but is not retroactive.

Can you honor start or stop times for my transcript if I only need part of the audio transcribed?

Sometimes you may need only a portion of an audio file transcribed. All charges are based on the runtime of the file, and we don't want you to pay for anything you don't need.

While we're not able to honor start or stop times, you can trim your file before sending it to us so that only the portion you need is transcribed.

To easily trim a file, we suggest using the free program WavePad. Here are the instructions:

Open the audio file in WavePad

Select the portion of audio you want to delete

Click the "Cut" icon

Save your trimmed audio file (we recommend using a new name for it so that you still have the full copy available)

Watch the video below to see it in action

How long will it take to get my translation back?

The turnaround time of your translation order depends on the language and page count.

Languages

Page Count

Equivalent Words

Estimated Turnaround

Spanish, French, Portuguese (Brazil), German, Arabic, and Russian

1-3 pages

< 750 words

24 hours

4-8 pages

750 - 2000 words

48 hours

9+ pages

> 2000 words

additional 48 hours per750-2000 words

All other languages

Any size

Any size

See formulas below

Note: turnaround times exclude weekends & holidays

For the following languages, each character is considered a word: Cantonese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), and Japanese.

Formulas for turnaround estimates

If you'd like to calculate a more specific estimate than what is listed above, you can use the following formulas to do so. Please keep in mind that we consider a page to be 250 words/numbers or less, one-sided, and standard 8.5" x 11" dimensions or smaller. Each page is counted individually and it is not based on a cumulative total.

Certified Orders

First, divide the total number of pages by 4

Next, divide the total number of pages by 3

These two results (rounded up) will give you an estimated turnaround range

Example:

Your order contains 25 pages

25/4=6.25, round to 7

25/3=8.33, round to 9

Your estimated turnaround is 7 to 9 days

Business Orders

For business orders we use the same formula as certified, but you must first determine thepage count equivalent of your order. We consider a page to be no more than 250 words, so the formula below is used to calculate page count equivalent.

First, divide the total number of words in your order by 250

Next, round this number up to determine the page count equivalent

Use the same formula as certified orders (above) to calculate your estimated turnaround range

Example:

Your order contains 4,333 words

4333/250=17.33, round to 18

18/4=4.5, round to 5

18/3=6

Your estimated turnaround is 5 to 6 days

How much does a translation cost?

We offer two different types of translations: certified and business. If you're not sure which one you need, click here to learn more about each type of order and which one might be the best fit for your needs.

Certified Orders

We charge$33 per page for a certified translation.We consider a page to be 250 words/numbers or less, one-sided, and standard 8.5" x 11" dimensions or smaller. Each page is counted individually and it is not based on a cumulative total.

I only submitted one page but you're charging me for two. Why?

If a page exceeds the word count limit, it will be priced accordingly. For example, a single page with 300 words on it will be considered two pages and cost $66. A single page with 700 words on it would be considered three pages and cost $99.

For the following languages, each character is considered a word: Cantonese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), and Japanese.

Because pages are not based on a cumulative total, the page count for a single page will not carry over to the next page. For example, the first page of your document may have 400 words (two pages by density), and the second page of your document may only have 25 words (one page by density). This would be considered a three-page order and would be priced at $99, even though thetotal number of words is under 500.

Business Orders

We charge$0.10 per word for a business translation. Word count is cumulative across pages. For business orders, there is a minimum charge of $20.

Please note that numbers are also included in word counts for both certified and business translations.

Absolutely NOT!

One of the best things about working with Rev is there is NO upfront cost to you.

There are absolutely no setup costs, hidden fees, or whatever else other companies may call them.

All you need is a computer and an internet connection. Even our transcription editor is free to use and customizable to accommodateyour preferences.

Simply put, we pay YOU for the work you perform!

Rev rewards good work! Below you will find a breakdown of the three tierswe offer our transcriptionists.

Rookie Level

When you first start, you will be at our Rookie level. As a Rookie, your first 45 minutes of work will be reviewed and graded by our review team.

You will be able to work on shorter transcription projects.

You will be able to see the grader'sfeedback and learn how to transcribe with Rev.

Revver Level

If you meet the requirements, you will be promoted to our Revver level. As a Revver, you will earn 25\% more per audio minute than Rookies.

You will be able to work on any transcription project you want.

You will receive ongoing feedback on a subset of your work.

Revver+ Level

On top of all of the perks from being at Revver level, you will:

Be able to claim new transcription projects before Revvers.

Be eligible to take our grading test. If you pass this test, you will be paid to rate the work of others.

What's the difference between the Transcription service and the Rough Draft service? Which one is the best fit for me?

here

Rev offers two different transcription services, and which one is the best fit will depend on your workflow.

Our Transcription service is human transcription, and each transcript is worked on by one of our transcription team members. This service is $1 per audio minute and offers a 99\% accuracy guarantee. Most files under 30 minutes in length are delivered within 12 hours. For an additional $1 per audio minute, we can expedite the transcript to get it back to you up to 5x faster while still maintaining our 99\% accuracy guarantee. You can place a human transcription order here.

Our Rough Draft is a machine-generated transcriptcreated with our industry-leading speech recognition technology. These transcripts are priced at $0.10 per audio minute and are completed and delivered within minutes of placing your order. The accuracy of our speech algorithm is directly related to the quality of the audio file input. Background noise, volume differences between speakers, accents, etc. will all bring down the output quality quickly. We don't guarantee the accuracy of a Rough Draft transcript. A Rough Draft should be considered a first pass draft and works best with very clear audio. An additional benefit of Rough Draft is that you can download your file in .srt and .vtt caption formats. You can place a machine-generated Rough Draft order .

So which service do you need?

For a high-quality transcript, or for less clear audio files, we would suggest Transcription, our human transcription service. A human transcriptionist is more able to handle the many nuances of speech than current speech recognition technology, and for this reason human transcription is a better fit in some cases.

If your primary concern is getting the file back quickly and accuracy is secondary, or if you're looking to keep costs low and don't mind editing the final file, our Rough Draft service is a great option.

In sum:

Transcription

Completed by a human transcriptionist

$1 per audio minute

12-hour turnaround for files < 30 minutes (optional rush service available)

99\% accuracy guaranteed

.docx, .pdf, .txt formats

Rough Draft

Machine-generated

$0.10 per audio minute

Delivered in minutes

No accuracy guarantee; output greatly dependent on audio quality

.docx, .pdf, .txt, .srt, and .vtt formats

How

* We pay via PayPal. Visit their site to sign up for a free account, if you don't have one already.

* We pay in U.S. Dollars (USD).

* No invoicing required, we send payment to you, with no fees.

* Sharing a Paypal account with a spouse or partner is allowed.

When

* Payments are sent every Mondayfor work completed the prior week.

* A week is defined as Sunday 00:00 GMT to Saturday 23:59 GMT.

*The exact timing of the payments on Monday can vary slightly; usually the payment is madebetween 20:00 GMT and 23:30 GMT.

Absolutely! We have captioning tutorials to help you get started captioning with Rev.

FAQs

Touring our site and workspace

Claiming projects (captioning jobs)

Using Dash, Rev's captioning editor

Referencing the Style Guide

Tracking your metrics

And much more!

Here's how to access the training materials once you'reonboarded:

How do I add resource information to my order?

Our transcriptionists love it when a file has resource information with it. This makes it easier to identify (and accurately transcribe) challenging or industry-specific terminology and correctly label speakers by name in the file. This information can be added just after the payment has finished processing. The system will then prompt for additional resource information.Please keep in mind that once you navigate away from the receipt page, information can no longer be added to the order.

Click here

Click any item to jump to that section:

Adding a Glossary

Identifying Accents

Adding Speaker Names

Adding a Glossary

Click the greenAdd a glossary button to enter any terminology that may be helpful to the transcriptionist who works on your file. The most helpful kinds of glossary terms are niche or industry-specific words that may not be as familiar, as well as proper nouns. Words and names that are familiar to most people, such as Twitter or auditorium, don't need to be added.

If you plan to submit future orders that will contain similar terminology, you can give your glossary a name to save it to your account. Saved glossaries will appear in the right-hand column for future orders, and you can add them to a new order with a single click.

When you've added all of your terms, click the redApply button to attach the glossary to your order.

Note: Please do not use the glossary section to add instructions to your order. Our transcription team is required to follow our internal style guide and cannot honor any special requests.

Identifying Accents

If your file contains accents, you can identify these when you submit your order. We will flag your file with the appropriate accent to ensure that only transcriptionists who are comfortable with that accent work on your order. This can help speed up turnaround time as well. Currently, you can choose from the following accents:

American - Neutral

American - Southern

Asian

Australian

British

Indian

Other

Unknown

Click the purple Accents button to select the accents in your file.If you have multiple files in your order that all contain the same accent(s), you can check Apply accents to all files in my order at the bottom of the accent list.When you've selected all applicable accents, click the redSave button to apply to your order.

Adding Speaker Names

We always do our best to label speakers by name in your transcript. We encourage you to provide these names when you place your order so that our team can accurately identify and label who is speaking. Click the blueAdd speaker names button to enter the speakers in your file.

To help our transcriptionists identify speakers, we encourage you to use thespeaker details option. Click the blue plus sign (+) next to any speaker name, enter identifying information, then hitEnter to save the details to that name. Once all names and details are added, clickthe redApply button.

We strive to always include the names provided, but there may be times when our team is unable to do so. For example, if the transcriptionist is unable to tell which person each name should go with or otherwise has trouble identifying them, they will use speaker numbers instead (Speaker 1, Speaker 2). If there were similar voices that couldn't be distinguished, Male or Female may be used.

While we don't guarantee speaker labeling, we have a quick and easy way to modify the labels in your completed transcript. to learn more about editing speaker labels in a completed transcript.

Please provide ALL projects in editable Word format, regardless of business or certified project specifications. Our system will intuitively convert certified projects to PDF format upon delivery to the customer, so that there is no need to spend your valuable time on messy conversions.

The exception to this rule, is when a customer specifically requests a different file type for BUSINESS projects ONLY. For example, on a business project, a customer may provide an MS Excel file with a blank translations column, and a column of source phrases, and ask that we translate the phrases directly into the translations column; or provide an editable Powerpoint presentation and ask that we translate within the Powerpoint file directly.

Again, these exceptions apply to business projects ONLY. Certified translations are only deliverable to the customer in PDF format, and should be submitted only in DOCX format to ensure a seamless conversion to PDF.

You may work when you wish.

One of the perks of being a freelance agent with Rev is that you are in charge of your schedule. We don’t require you to work a "set" schedule or a specific number of hours.We encourage all of our freelancers to work at their convenience when they’re available to do so. There's no penalty for taking time off for vacations or any other personal needs.The only volume requirements are when you wish to advance to access more perks such as first access to all new jobs.

You’re able to preview projects before claiming. Please submit only complete, client-ready files by the deadline.

What file formats can you accept, and how large can my files be?

We accept all major audio and video file formats, including:

MP3

MP4

WMV

AIF

M4A

MOV

AVI

VOB

AMR

WMA

OGG

WAV

We can also accept URLs to a file as long as they are publicly accessible and the file is downloadable.

Each individual file has a size limit of 5 GB. If any file in your order is larger than 5 GB, we recommend compressing the file before uploading it.

As a reminder, please always transcribe the audio that you hear. Your final transcript should match the audio exactly.You may, for example, delete all current content in the transcript and transcribe from scratch.

Sometimes technology products misbehave. If you experience technical issues with the Editor or the Rev workspace, try these fixes. Together, these fixes solve 99\% of Revver technical problems.

Please note that if you have a really old computer or a poor internet connection, Rev's site and tools likely will never work well for you. Rev recommends using the most up to date version of Google Chrome or Firefox as your browser for compatibility with Dash.

Technical troubleshooting, in rough order of priority:

Close any programs / apps you're not actively using

Close any browser windows / tabs you're not actively using

Quit and restart the browser

Clear browser temporary caches such as browsing history and temporary files

Restart the computer, to reset all temporary storage (it's amazing how often this helps!!)

Try switching to Chrome or Firefox (whatever you're not currently using)

Re-install the browser

Plug in to your internet router using a cable instead of using wifi. Don't use a cellphone hotspot

Use a wired instead of wireless keyboard

Disable browser extensions and plugins such as ad blockers, text expanders, and extra toolbars. BrowseFox, Ask, and AOL toolbars are known trouble-makers

Make sure your computer doesn't have any malware, by running this program recommended by many PC (and Mac) repair shops: https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

In Chrome, try: Settings > Show advanced settings > System > unselect ‘Use hardware acceleration’

More ideas can be found here:http://www.howtogeek.com/119191/browser-slow-how-to-make-google-chrome-fast-again/

Can you caption any languages other than English?

At this time we only offer captioning and subtitling forEnglish source videos, though we may add other languages in the future.

If you submit a file that's entirely in a foreign language, we will cancel that file and issue a full refund for it.

If you submit a mixed language file that is in a foreign language but also has some English in it, we will caption the English and note the foreign language with an atmospheric such as (speaking foreign language), but the foreign language will not be captioned.

If you have an English source video and you need subtitles in another language, you can place a subtitle order for that video.

We do not translate foreign speech into English.

Being a great transcriptionist is more than being a fast typist. There are key skills involved. Our top transcriptionists all agree that the skills listed below are vital in producing quality transcripts.

Listening

By having "good ears", you can help identify portions of the audio that are not as clear as other areas. This may be due to background noise, cross talking, or just poor microphone placement. Paying close attention and listening to all that is recordedon the audio, will helpensure that the finishedtranscript is complete & accurate.

Research

Believe it or not, Google can be a transcriptionist's best friend. You may find yourself transcribing an audio file that contains unfamiliar words, proper nouns, or phrases that you are not familiar with. A quick internet search can make sure that you are using the correct words and terminology.

Punctuation

Every great transcriptionist knows the importance of punctuation. By reviewing your work before you submit your final transcript, you can check to make sure that your punctuation is correct and your transcript reads clearly.

All you need to have is a reliable internet connection and a computer with working speakers! That's it!

Some of our transcriptionists also prefer using a foot pedal and a good set of headphones. These aren't mandatory but they canbe very helpful in producing quality transcripts.

Absolutely! We have orientation and tutorials to help you get started at Rev.

FAQs

Touring our site and workspace

Claiming projects (jobs)

Using our Editor

Referencing the Style Guide

Tracking your work

And much, much, more!

Here's how to access the training materials once you've been onboarded.

Our projects pay up to$18 per page (considering a page to be no more than 250 words), or up to$0.09 per word, depending on the language pairing, project details and translation requirements (such as word density, technicality and formatting).

Aside from our competitive pay rates, our unique business model allows translators a wide variety of invaluable secondary benefits. To name a few,translators are able to work comfortably from home and mantain complete control over their work schedule, how much or how little and when they claim projects, and what projects they choose to translate (we do not direct-assign and translators are able to preview all documents before committing). Our incredible support team efficiently "pre-screens" all projects for any issues prior to sending them for translation andhandles all customer communications so that our translators can focus on what it is they do best - translating!

We pay on a weekly schedule, with payouts made every Monday via Paypal. Our payweek runs Sunday through Saturday, with the cut off time being 11:59pm GMT (Greenwich mean time). Projects completed before the Saturday cut off time will be paid out on the Monday immediately following.

Sometimes technology products misbehave. If you experience technical issues with the Editor or the Rev workspace, try these fixes. Together, these fixes solve 99\% of Revver technical problems.

Please note that if you have a really old computer or a poor internet connection, Rev's site and tools likely will never work well for you. Rev recommends using the most up to date version of Google Chrome or Firefox as your browser for compatibility with our Editor.

Technical troubleshooting, in rough order of priority:

Close any programs / apps you're not actively using

Close any browser windows / tabs you're not actively using

Quit and restart the browser

Clear browser temporary caches such as browsing history and temporary files

Restart the computer, to reset all temporary storage (it's amazing how often this helps!!)

Try switching to Chrome or Firefox (whatever you're not currently using)

Re-install the browser

Plug in to your internet router using a cable instead of using wifi. Don't use a cellphone hotspot

Use a wired instead of wireless keyboard

Disable browser extensions and plugins such as ad blockers, text expanders, and extra toolbars. BrowseFox, Ask, and AOL toolbars are known trouble-makers

Make sure your computer doesn't have any malware, by running this program recommended by many PC (and Mac) repair shops: https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

In Chrome, try: Settings > Show advanced settings > System > unselect ‘Use hardware acceleration’

More ideas can be found here:http://www.howtogeek.com/119191/browser-slow-how-to-make-google-chrome-fast-again/

How long will it take to get my transcript back?

Our team will work hard to get your transcript back to you as quickly as possible, without sacrificing quality.

Audio files under 30 minutes long with good quality audio are typically delivered within 12 hours, often much faster. For longer recordings or recordings with complex or challenging audio, it may take longer.

You can add your files to checkout to receive a more specific estimate based on your order size. This estimate is based on real data. The higher your audio quality, the faster you will receive your order.Files with poor audio quality (not clear, inaudible, background noise) may take longer to complete.

Because the quality of audio files can vary greatly, we don't guarantee turnaround time, but we make every effort to get your order back to you within the estimate given at checkout.

If you have a tight deadline, you may be interested in our Rush service that delivers your files back up to 5x faster.

How much does a transcript cost?

We charge just $1 per audio minute for a standard transcript, with no other hidden fees or charges. We never charge you more for multiple speakers, challenging audio, or accents. All transcripts are completed by our human transcription team. You can place a transcription order here.

In addition to our transcription service, we offer several optional add-ons to suit your workflow. Click any name to learn more about that feature.

Rush

+$1.00 per audio minute

Timestamping

+$0.25 per audio minute

Verbatim

+$0.25 per audio minute

Instant First Draft

+$0.10 per audio minute

We also offer a Rough Draft option for$0.10 per audio minute. Rough draftsare generated by our industry-leading speech recognition technology. These transcripts are not worked on by humans and are delivered within minutes of your order being placed. The only difference between this service and the Instant First Draft add-on is that Rough Drafts can be ordered separately from human transcription, while Instant First Drafts are in addition to a human transcription order. You can place an order for a rough draft only here.

How much do captions cost?

We charge just$1 per video minutefor English captions, with no other hidden fees or charges. All available formats are included with your order. It really is that simple.You can place a caption order here.

In addition to standard captioning, we also offer a Rush option that gets your files back to you up to 5x faster. If you're under a tight deadline, Rush may be a good fit for you. Rush is an additional $1 per video minute.

Interested in foreign subtitle pricing? Click here.

While the aim oftranscriptionistsis to create an accurate transcript of the English speech heard, the aim of captioners is to recreate the full audio experience for non-hearing viewers which includes capturing the English speech, anysinging, and using atmospherics to describe the music and soundsintegral to the context of the story. Captioners also sync caption groups to the audio. Captionersmust use adjectives to describe mood music, i.e., (bright piano music), and use active verbs to describe relevant sounds heard, i.e., (jet engine roaring) or (audience cheering).

Speaker labeling

Dashes indicate speaker changes. In general, use only a dash "-" and space when it's obvious through visual clues who's speaking. Add a speaker label, [Firstname], if the speaker cannot be visually identied as speaking before being interrupted by another speaker. If the first name is not known, use the most appropriate speaker label such as Instructor, Narrator, Announcer, et cetera.

Proper caption breaking

Caption groups should be created for best readability Start a new caption group after terminal punctuation, period, question mark, exclamation park or a double dash for an abrupt interruption by another speaker or relevant sound. A caption group 1) can never exceed 60 characters in length and 2) should begin and end with natural breaks in the conversation and/or sentence structure. Break before pronouns, adverbs, and prepositional phrases such as: that, who, in order to, not only, as we, in which, where, with, what, how, for, through, until, to, as, of, yet, so, by, as well as conjunctions such as and, nor, but, or, because. Here's an example of good caption breaking:

It's invaluable as far as what it's going to do

for my job security and my options when I get out

of school and start looking for full-time work.

I don't miss school appointments or school plays.

Those are benefits that you can't get in an office.

I'm not sure how it can get much better than that.

On-screen text

Never cover important on-screen text in the lower of the screen with captions. Move the captions to the top of the screen by using a caret "^" at the beginning of any caption group that appears in the same lower at the same time as the pre-existing text, even if it's a split second. In general,use a ^ for interview name plates and descriptions, social media links that appear briey and meant to be seen, storytelling information intentionally placed by the lmmaker and meant to be seen, as well as pre-existing captions and subtitles. Use Shift + 6 for the ^ in the Type stage.

Syncing caption groups

In the sync stage, use the Up or Down Arrow key to sync each caption group so it appears on screen when the audio begins. The start time needs to align with the beginning of the sound. This applies to both atmospherics and speech. Aim for precision, but it’s okay for the start time to be up to a second early or late from the start of the sound.

Lyrics

Lyrics must always be captioned if they're heard. The exception is if prominent dialogue is occurring at the same time. If there's a pause in dialogue where the lyrics are the only discernible audio, caption the lyrics. Add a musical eighth note “” at the start of every caption group containing the lyrics by typing ## followed by a space in Dash.

Why is my order late?

We understand how important deadlines are. While our turnaround times aren't guaranteed,we make every effort to get your order back to you by the estimate that was given at checkout. Generally speaking, we have an upward estimate of a 12-hour turnaround for every 30 minutes of audio. If your order is taking longer than anticipated, it may be due one of the following:

File length

Our 12-hour turnaround estimate is for clearly recorded files that are less than 30 minutes in length. If your file is longer than 30 minutes, it may take longer to complete.

Audio quality

Recording quality greatly impacts turnaround time. Sometimes a recording isn't able to be done in ideal conditions, and factors such as background noise, static, low volume, heavy crosstalk, and other audio challenges can factor in. Our team strives to deliver an accurate transcript for these recordings, and that does mean it may take a bit more time.

Challenging content

If your file contains a lot of niche terminology, it might take the transcriptionist longer to research to ensure the content is being accurately captured. Our glossary feature is a great option for these types of files and can really help speed up the turnaround time. Glossaries can be added during the checkout process.

Accents

The majority of our transcription team is based in North America, so files that are heavily accented might take longer to complete.

My file doesn't meet those criteria. Is something else going on?

We would be glad to check in on your individual order for you! Please contact our support team at [email protected] or by phone at 888-369-0701 and we can give you an update on the current status of your order.

How do I change the appearance of my captions?

The file we deliver contains only the text and the timing of the captions, and any appearance (font, size, etc) is determined by either the video platform you upload to or the video editing software you use to add the captions.

Currently, we're not able to adjust the appearance of your captions within the Rev platform. Keep in mind that the preview you see in your account may not reflect the final appearance of the captions on your video, depending on where it's hosted.

If you're using video editing software you may be able to adjust the appearance and placement of the captions there as well. Some popular caption editing programs are:

Adobe Premiere Pro

Apple Final Cut Pro

Vegas Creative Software

The Rev editor isn't working correctly. How can I fix it?

Note: This article is for technical troubleshooting. For instructions on how to use the editor, check out this article.

We try to keep everything running as smoothly as possible, but we know with technology there may be bumps in the road sometimes.

If the editor loads but isn't working as expected

When you run into technical issues, we recommend a couple of things to try for basic troubleshooting:

First, clear your cache and cookies, then refresh your browser to see if that helps.

If that doesn't resolve the issue, try switching to another browser. We recommend Chrome, or Firefox if you're already using Chrome and are having trouble.

Most of the time, one of these solutions will fix the problem and you will be able to continue working.

Still no luck? Our support team is happy to help! You can email them at [email protected] or give them a call at 888-369-0701. The more detail you can give on what you're experiencing, the faster they will be able to track down what might be going on. Please let them know you've already tried the steps above (and any other troubleshooting you may have done) to save even more time.

If the editor won't load

While we want to ensure the editor works for everyone, we're aware there may be times it may not be the most ideal option for working on a transcript. Some examples of why are the file's size/length or a user's computer memory, both of which can impact the editor's performance and render it unusable. When this happens, you'll receive a message that the transcript couldn't be loaded in the editor.

Other methods of editing transcripts are available, including .docx and .txt files, which can be downloaded from your order page in your account. Our teams developed all of these options, including the editor, free of charge so that the only thing you'll ever pay for is the transcript itself and any add-ons you may want, like timestamps or verbatim. We'll continue to work to improve the editor's performance for longer files.

Please make sure you're using the latest version of Google Chrome on a computer with a keyboard or laptop, not a mobile device or tablet. The most efficient way to caption is using these two main steps:

Type and break caption groups in the Type mode (Dash opens automatically in the Type mode)

Sync and proofread in the Sync mode (click on the Sync button in the top right in Dash)

How to type captions

The first step in Dash is transcribing the video (typing out the English-language speech or lyrics and relevant atmospherics) while breaking the text into caption groups by using the Enter key.Your caption group will wrap to a second line and turn red when it is too long. Please use proper caption breaking. More information here. Use your Tab key to play and pause the video. Use Shift +Tab to rewind.You can edit caption text at any time byclicking in the text in the captions beneath the video.

How to sync caption groups

After you're done typing, you can move to the syncing step using the Sync button in the upper right corner of Dash. Use the Up or Down Arrow key to sync a caption so that the audio matches the beginning of every caption group.If you sync a caption at anincorrect time,you can undothe action byusingControl + Zor use the Left or Rightarrows tonudge thecaption groupsalong thetimeline.

Sync each caption group so it appears on-screen when the audio begins. Align withthe startof the sound (speech and/or atmospherics), withina second. Dash automatically sets the end times for a caption group.For the best reading rate, caption groups should be highlighted in green or yellow.

How to flip caption groups to the top of the screen

You'll need to check for caption groups overlapping with on-screen text in the syncing step.To determine if on-screen text requires the caption group to be moved to the top third of the screen:

Use the bottom white horizontal line to identify if the pre-existing on-screen text falls within the lower third of the screen.

Use the “show captions” button, on the syncing step, to display captions. If the caption overlaps with on-screen text in the lower third, use Shift + 6to flip up the caption to the top of the screen in the Type mode. You'll see a blue ^ to the left of the caption group in the Type mode. Also, you can flip up caption in the Sync mode by using the backslash "\". this Help Center article.

I cannot see my next caption to sync. Is there a way to correct this?

Sometimes the video size is larger than normal and it will expand large enough to push the caption list in the syncing step off the screen. To minimize the video size, grab the six white dots in the lower, left-hand corner and drag toward the middle.

Please ensure your captions are accurate and complete.For more details about captioning, please visit

We provide two types of translations: Certified and Business.

Certified Translations

Our certified translations guarantee the translation's acceptance by all US authorities, excluding the DMV (or other Drivers Servicing Departments), and offer a money-back guarantee in the case of rejection. We certify our translations on behalf of you, our translators, so that personal details such as your name and other information never need be disclosed to the customer. The certification page includes our statement confirming your expertise as a translator, and the accuracy of the translation, our ATA member seal, and a digital signature from a representative of our company, all on our Rev letterhead.

Certified translations should always be completed on a Rev certification template in whatever language the project has been translated to, i.e., an English to Spanish order, should include a certification template in Spanish.

Certified translationsprojects are assessed and paid to translators on a PER PAGE basis.

Business Translations

Our business translations do not include our business letterhead, nor our certification, and are delivered to the customer in an editable MS Word format so that they can edit at their own discretion. Our business translations are not guaranteed for acceptance by authorities. Business translation projects are assessed and paid to translators on a PER WORD basis.

Please note that all ALL projects should be submitted in editable Word format, both business and certified alike. Our system will intuitively convert certified projects to PDF format upon delivery to the customer, so that there is no need to spend your valuable time on messy conversions.

How do I embed the captions into my video?

The end product for captions is what is known as asidecar file. It's a text-based file that you then add to your video by uploading the caption file to the online platform where your video is hosted. Viewers can toggle these captions on or off.

You can find instructions for adding the sidecar file to major social media platforms in this article.

There may be some cases where you want the captions burned into the video itself. At this time we don't offer burned-in captions (also known asopen captionsorforced captions), but youcanstill use our caption file if you want to burn the captions in using third-party software.

A couple of popular programs are Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple Final Cut Pro. If you're looking for a free alternative to these, we suggest trying HandBrake. We've included instructions here on how to use HandBrake to burn captions into a video.*

ImportantNote:The instructions below are for Windows users. If you're using Handbrake on a Mac, please see this post for screenshots and instructions.

Using HandBrake to Burn Captions Into a Video

First, you will need to download the free HandBrake software from this link. Open the program, then clickFile: Open a single video file.

Select your video file, then click the Subtitles tab. Note:You may see an item titled "Foreign Audio Scan," but if your video file contains only English you can click the red X on the far right to remove this.

ClickImport SRT and select the .srt file you downloaded from Rev. When the file loads, double check to ensure that the Char Code (encoding) is set toUTF-8, andcheck the box that saysBurn In. Both of these options are essential to burn the captions into the video correctly.

At the bottom of the screen, give your video a name and click Browsetochoose where to save it on your computer. We recommend giving this a different name than your original video so that you still have a caption-free copy (remember, these captions will beburned into the video itself).

Once you've selected the path where you will save the video, clickthe green arrow that saysStart Encode at the top of the screen.

That's it! You will see a green progress bar indicating how far along the encoding process is. Keep in mind that the larger/longer your video, the longer this will take. Once the encoding process is complete, you can open your video on your computer, and the captions will be burned in.

Watch the video below for a realtime walkthrough of burning in captions using HandBrake.

*For any help using third party software, please contact their respective support teams.We would love to troubleshoot, but they're in a much better position to do so.

How do I see the orders I've placed and download a receipt for my order?

You can access your Transaction History from the upper right menu in your account.

Order History

From this page, you can see all orders placed and the priced paid for them, as well as any refunds. You can adjust the display date at the top of the screen and download aCSV of your transaction history.

If you need to print an individual receipt, click on any order number in your Transaction History, then clickPrint Receipt at the top of the order page. You can save the page that opens as a PDF. Order pages can also be accessed from your .

How do I change the email address for my account?

You can easily update your email address by visiting your settings page and clickingChange next to your email address.

Enter your new address, re-enter to confirm, then click the redChange Email button to complete the update.

That's it! You're all set.

How do I upload the document I need to have translated?

To place a translation order, visit https://www.rev.com/checkout/translationtype. You can choose between Certified and Business translations. To learn more about the differences between these two services, check out this article.

Once you know which translation type you need, click the redPlace Order button. On the next page, click the redAdd File button. A window will appear for you to select your document. You can add multiple files to a single order.

Once you've uploaded your file(s), choose the number of pages or words in your order, then select the language you are translating. At this time, we translate to and from English. You can see the full list of languages we translate here.

If your document has any handwritten names, we recommend typing these into the optionalNames and Places box. You can also add Optional Information, such as preferred phrasing, acronym explanations, or other comments for the translator.

Once you've added your documents and all pertinent information, click the redNext button, enter your payment information, then clickPlace Order to complete the process.

Five Tips to Improve Your Recorded Audio Quality

providing speaker names and glossary terms

A good transcription starts with a good audio recording. Our transcriptionists are pros, but even they can’t work miracles with all audio. Many times there are recording factors in your control that will give you clearer audio and hence a better transcript:

1. Record in a quiet environment, free of ambient noise

Avoid public places like coffee shops and the outdoors.

Choose a location where you are unlikely to be disturbed.

Close all doors and windows in your room.

Dampen sound where possible. Carpeted rooms reduce echo and eliminate furniture scraping on the floor.

Avoid or turn off noisy electronics such as clocks, “buzzing” fluorescent lights.

2. Pay attention to your microphone

Place the microphone close to the speaker(s).

Place the microphone away from sources of noise such as projector fans and computer keyboards.

Use a good microphone to reduce static, “popping”, and background noise.

Use the right style of microphone. Omni-directional mics record sound from all directions, while unidirectional mics record from only one direction.

Use the right tool for the job. For example, try an app for recording phone calls instead of placing a tape recorder next to a speakerphone.

3. Pay attention to speech diction

Speak slowly, clearly, and loudly.

Enunciate your words. Try to avoid slurring, stuttering, and swallowing the ends of phrases.

Ask speakers with strong non-US accents to especially slow down and enunciate

4. Manage groups effectively

Clearly state names whenever possible to keep track of who is speaking.

Speak one at a time.

Avoid interrupting and talking over one-another.

Make sure you have enough mics to clearly pick up every speaker.

5. Test your setup

Make a test recording and listen to it. The speech should sound clear.

Experiment with recording equipment and environments, to find which work best for you.

Bonus!

If possible, we highly recommend at checkout as these are very helpful to our transcription team, especially with more challenging files.

How do I know which subtitle file format to use?

When you order foreign subtitles with Rev,all of our subtitle formats are included for free. Below is a compilation of major platforms and file formats they accept.

Facebook

Facebook ready SubRip (.srt)

YouTube

SubRip (.srt),Cheetah .CAP (.cap),WebVTT (.vtt),Timed Text (.ttml)

Vimeo

WebVTT (.vtt),SubRip (.srt),Timed Text (.ttml),Scenarist (.scc)

Amazon

SubRip (.srt),Timed Text (.ttml),Scenarist (.scc)

Netflix

Timed Text (.ttml), DXFP (.dxfp)

Adobe (Premiere Pro)

Scenarist (.scc), MacCaption (.mcc),Timed Text (.ttml)

Apple (Final Cut Pro)

Scenarist (.scc)

For more information on how to download files from your completed caption order, see this article.

Some Helpful Notes

Languages with characters (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, etc.) are incompatible with the following file formats: Cheetah .cap, MacCaption .mcc, and Scenarist .scc.

If your subtitle file isn't being accepted and you're told that the subtitlesdrift slowly out of sync, try using theNDF version of the .scc file. This will often correct the issue. You can also use the .srt file.

If your file is in a frame rateother than 29.97and your subtitles are out of sync, you can try downloading your subtitle file in an alternate frame rate. We offer both our.mccand.stlformats in multiple frame rates, and the.srtformat is based on runtime rather than frame rate.

For Facebook, ensure you're using theFacebook ready SubRiprather than the regular .srt. A standard .srt file will not work with Facebook due to their file naming requirements.

If you're working with ahigh-definitionvideo, we recommend using the.mccfile format if possible since this is specifically designed for high-res videos.

How do I place a Rush order, and how fast will I have it back?

With Rush, all files in your order are delivered up to 5x faster than our standard turnaround. Files are prioritized for completion and completed by our top transcriptionists. Unlike instant first draft, the rush transcript you receive will be the polished, human-completed version.

Here's how it works:

Long files are split into multiple segments so that our team of transcriptionists can work on it at the same time.

We then combine the segments and deliver them to you in a single document.

Because of this, speaker names may be inconsistent for files over 30 minutes. You can modify these in our free online editor after your file is completed.

You can receive a rush transcript for anadditional $1.00 per audio minute. To order a rush transcript, select the checkbox next to Rush after your file uploads at checkout.

Note:The rush option must be selected at checkout, before the order is placed. We aren't able to add rush to an existing order.

What formats can I download my transcript in?

When your order is complete, we'll send you an email with a link back to our free online editor. Here, you can easily make any modifications to your transcript prior to downloading the file.

When you're ready to download your transcript, click Export in the editor and a popup will appear. You'll be able to choose from the following formats by clicking the arrow on the right side of theFile Output Formatbox:

Microsoft Word (.docx)

PDF (.pdf)

Plain Text (.txt)

Do you offer a solution for large businesses and high volume orders?

We do! Visit our Enterprise page to learn more about what we offer and connect with a sales team member.

Will you sign an NDA?

We would be glad to provide you with a signed copy of our standard NDA. Please email [email protected] to request this.

How do I edit my captions in the free online editing tool?

Our caption editor makes reviewing your file a breeze. You can listen along with the audio, adjust caption group timing and length, and even alter more nuanced things like US/UK English.

Order History

It can be accessed by clicking any file name on your My Files page, or by clickingView and Editnext to the file name on your order page, accessible through your.

Editing Your Captions

If you want to make any changes to either the text or the timing of the file, you can easily do so. Below your video is a listing of the different caption groups in your file. To edit the text, click into the caption group you want to make changes to, then edit like you would in a normal word processor.

You can also adjust the timing and placement of the caption group. On the timeline between the video and the caption groups, you can either drag an entire caption group to a different start time, or you can just adjust the timing of it to make it longer or shorter.

You can also drag a caption group to the top of the video screen if you prefer it in the upper third.

In addition to editing the text and timing, you can alsomerge caption groups andcreate new caption groups. If you hover to the left between the caption group you wish to merge, a small icon will appear. Click the merge icon to join the two groups together, or the + icon to add a new caption group.

If you need to split a caption into two groups, place your cursor where you want the caption to split, then hit Enter.

To delete a caption group, hover over that caption group and click the X icon.

In the menu to the left of the caption editor, you can:

Reload the original captions (reverts any changes you've made)

Remove or adjust the formatting of the atmospherics in your file

Switch between formal and informal language

Switch between US and UK English

Remove gaps between caption groups

Check spelling

Find and replace

View keyboard shortcuts

When you're done making changes, click the redDownload button to download your file, or Share to share access to the editor with someone.

How can I download my transcript as a Word or PDF file?

When your transcript is complete, you will receive an email with a link to our free online editor. This allows you to review the transcript while listening to the audio and easily make any changes you wish. The editor can also be accessed by clicking the file name on your My Files page.

When you're ready to download the transcript as a Word, PDF, or TXT file, this can be done from multiple places in your account.

Downloading from the Editor

Downloading from Order History

Downloading from My Files

Downloading from the Editor

Click thethree dots in the upper right corner of the editor, then clickExport.

the editor

When you click Export, a popup appears. You can from the following formats by clicking the arrow on the right side of the File Output Format box:

Microsoft Word (.docx)

PDF (.pdf)

Plain Text (.txt)

In addition to selecting the format, you can choose to include/exclude speaker names from your downloaded transcript. If you purchased timestamps, you can also include/exclude these from the transcript.

If you've highlighted certain parts of your transcript and want to export onlythose sections, you can check the box that saysExport highlighted sections only. If you export the entire transcript, highlights will be retained in the downloaded transcript.

Once you've selected the output format and export options you need, click the blueExportbutton to download your transcript to your computer.

Downloading from Order History

You can also download the transcript from your Order History page. This is a great option if you need to download multiple transcripts from a single order.

Access your order by clicking the order number on your Order History page. If you're downloading an individual transcript, clickDownload next to the file name. If you'd like to download all transcripts in an order, scroll to the bottom of the file name list and clickDownload all documents as ZIP.

Downloading from My Files

Finally, you can download your file directly from the My Files page. Click the ellipsis menu (...) next to the file name, then select Download. As with downloading from, a pop-up appears allowing you to select specific options before downloading.

How do I edit my transcript in the free online editing tool?

Our transcription editor makes reviewing transcripts a breeze. You can listen along with the audio, make edits, highlight, and even take notes*.

this article

It can be accessed by clicking any file name on your My Files page, or by clickingView and Edit next to the file name on your order page, accessible through your Order History.

Using the Playback Controls

In the upper left of the editor you have your playback controls. You can play the audio, skip back 5 seconds, increase the playback speed, and control the volume. This is also where you can offset your timestamps if needed and take notes*, either for yourself or to share with team members.

We have a couple of keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys) that make playback a little easier. Instead of moving your mouse and hitting play and pause all the time, you can hit theTab key to start and stop the audio. If you need to skip back 5 seconds, you can hitShift + Tab.

If you need to jump around in the transcript while reviewing, you can click the timestamp next to any speaker name and the audio will jump to that point and begin playing. If you ordered timestamps with your transcript, you can click on anyword in the transcript and the audio will jump there.

Editing Your Transcript

The editor works just like any other word processor, and you can click right into the transcript and start typing, deleting, and highlighting. When you highlight a word with your mouse, a pop-up of options will appear. You can:

Play the audio from that point (for orders with timestamps )

Highlight the text

Strikethrough the text

Leave an in-line note*

Any changes you make are saved automatically.In the upper right, you can see when your transcript was last saved, and you can click the ellipsis menu (...) for more options. These include:

Find and replace to make quick changes through the transcript

Toggle read-along tracking on and off

Keyboard shortcut hints

Reset the transcript (revertsall changes made)

Export (download)

If you run into any issues while using the editor, check out for common troubleshooting tips.

*Notes are saved in the editor only and do not reflect in the downloaded transcript

Panopto and Rev customers are now able to place Rev caption orders from within Panopto. Completed caption files will be automatically pushed back to the appropriate video in Panopto.

To get started, you'll need to connect your Panopto account to a Rev account.

Create a Rev account

Create a Rev.com account by visiting https://www.rev.com/account/auth/register If you already have a Rev.com account, proceed to the next step.

Ensure your Rev account has a payment source

To place orders, you'll have to do one of the following:

- Load some pre-pay credit onto your Rev account. Go to your account Billing Settings and click "Add More" next to the Prepay Balance section.

- Become an invoice customer. You'll receive a bill at the end of the month and have 30 days to pay. Fill out this form: http://rev.com/invoicing-form

If filling out the invoicing form, on the "Do you use the following video platforms?" field, choose Panopto. You'll receive an email from Rev when you're approved for invoicing.

This article

Get your Rev API User Key

You can generate your API user key from your Settings page. If you have never generated a key before, clickGenerate.Save your API Key somewhere safe; you will only be able to see it once. If you lose it, you’ll need to generate a new one by clickingRegenerate. This will invalidate your old API Key.

Your API Key will be used to link Panopto and Rev in a step below.

Link your Rev.com and Panopto accounts

Login to Panopto with your Admin account.

Go to System -> Caption Services.

At the top, you will see a Caption Services description. Below it, click on New.

Select Rev from the list as your caption provider.

For “Service Name,” enter your preferred name for Rev - e.g., “School of Business Captions”

For “Private Key,” enter the Rev API key you received previously.

Check “Enable this provider.”

***

At this point, you have linked your Rev and Panopto accounts! contains information on how to place caption orders within Panopto.

What is the difference between captions and subtitles?

Great question!

Our caption service takes anEnglish source video and createsEnglish captions that can be toggled on and off by the viewer. In other words, a caption order is English > English.

Our foreign subtitle service takes anEnglish source video and createscaptions in another language, such as Spanish, Chinese, or Portuguese. You can view the full list of languages we offer here. In other words, a subtitle order is English > Foreign Language.

What if my video is in a language other than English?

At this time we only offer captioning forEnglish source videos, though we may add other languages in the future.We do not translate foreign speech into English. You can learn more about how we treat foreign language in a video here.

Where can I download the original audio or video file that I sent?

You can always download the media file you sent to us from your order page, which can be accessed from your Order History.

Navigate to your Order History.

Click the order number for the file you wish to download.

Scroll down below your list of completed transcripts for that order until you seeOriginal Documents.

Click the name of the file to begin downloading.