Video Transcription

Archival:
• home movies
• film/television studio archives
• video documentation

Legal/Forensic:
• security/surveillance videos
• missing persons/children
• hostage videos

Video transcription is an efficient way to find out what is being said on a video in which the speakers, for whatever reasons, are not intelligible to a listener.

Having a Video Transcribed

VHS tapes or DVDs are mailed to me at my office in Seattle, Washington, where I view and transcribe your video footage. I then email you with my assessment and a written transcript. If your video is too sensitive or valuable to be sent to me, and/or if you live in the Seattle area, I can travel to your location to view and transcribe your video. 

Videos that are in a computer file format are almost always compressed, which compromises image quality. It is always best to use uncompressed video whenever possible.  However, if a compressed file is all that you have, it may still be clear enough for transcription, depending on other factors.

How do I know if my video is lipreadable?

Before you send your video, I will ask you several questions to determine if your footage is likely to be lipreadable. Think about the following factors when looking over your video: How big is the speaker's face, relative to the frame of the image? Is there any camera movement? Does the speaker move his/her head much while talking? Is the footage under or over exposed? How is the lighting on the speaker? Is the speaker speaking English? Can you clearly see the speaker's lips? What is the quality of the video image? Is it blurry or pixilated?

You are welcome to contact me via email any time with questions you may have about your video, to determine if it is likely to be lipreadable. 

Expert Opinion

For transcription of videos being used for legal evidence in a trial or hearing, I am also available to provide consultation, or to appear as an expert witness.

For more information, feel free to contact me.