Why should scopists get extra for a video depo?

[Kerry F]

Some agencies I work for let me charge extra for video, some don't.  If I am already paying a scopist for full audio, why do they want even more for video?  I don't think it is right.  I am not that about "okay" being in there.

And also, almost every scopist I've used I've ever used goes too, too fast and that is why they miss so much.  Same with proofers.  They often go too fast.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I don't pay twice for a full listen, only once.  There has to be a misunderstanding I would think.  A full listen is a full listen.  Why would you pay twice for it?  I'm confused.

I don't have my scopists do full audio if the job is not videotaped.  It's weird, but I write clean and don't put in the false starts.  When I get a job back from my scopist after a full audio listen, mostly they are putting in all the stutters and false starts.  I think it looks way better with my rough with all of that not in there but it needs to sync with the audio, so there you go!

[Kerry F]

Kelli,

About half the scopists I get prices from charge $1.25 for full audio and $1.40 or more for video scoping.  And I follow a friend's preference on false starts, even on video (unless you have a real stutterer talking) that one or two word false starts I leave off.  I never put in the stutters or partial word unless I need to for clarification.  People don't want to read through that.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I appreciate that they don't want to read through that but if it is a videotaped depo, I put in partial words and "all" stutters; everything goes in that transcript if it's said.  It has to sync with the audio.  Maybe the witness was nervous and stuttered a lot; that needs to be reflected in the record and goes to state of mind.  Maybe the witness stutters when he/she is lying.  Probably a good idea to have it in the transcript.

To each their own I guess.

[Mary Ann Payonk]

Two things.  First, the problems, issues, things you describe, Kerry, are widespread in the scoping world.  There are a ton of scopists out there, but damn few who are good.  That's just the way it is.  The other thing, Kelli, you mention that the transcript has to sync with the audio.  Did you know that you can leave out your false starts and cleaning up and it will not affect the sync'ing one bit?  If you omit false starts on regular work but leave them in on video work, there's really no need to differentiate - you can leave them out on both.  The only problem you'll encounter is an anal retentive agency who is going to see you only suttered an uh-huh five times instead of six and throw the transcript back to you.  Hey, it happens.  But don't worry so much about matching up every grunt & groan to a videotaped deposition.

[Kerry F]

Totally agree Mary Ann.  It will sync fine with some junk left out.  If a witness or an attorney does stutter a lot, then that's different.  I really don't like some of the judgment calls we have to make sometimes, but that's the way it is.  Personally, I think a transcript just looks awful with "ums" and grunts and one or two word false starts and it's a PITA to edit it that way.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I have heard our office had an attorney in trial and he went nuts that the reporter's transcript did not sync with the video at all.  She had to make a ton of corrections.  I don't ever want that to be me, so I add everything.  

I've also had many videographers tell me you're supposed to add everything.  I guess we're getting conflicting sides on the issue.  Sure would be much easier to leave that crap out, I agree.

[Kerry F]

Kelli, I've never been told of an issue with something not syncing.  It's a minute amount of words that are being edited out. 

[Judy]

Kelli, if the transcript didn't sync with the audio, that was the AGENCY's fault for not going through the transcript and fine tuning it. 

When the sync'd transcript comes out of the software, it needs to be tweaked.  The audio is NEVER spot on.  It's obvious where it's off too, so it's not like the employee doing the syncing has to go over it word for word, second for second. 

Sounds like the agency just ran it through the syncing software and didn't do the rest of the job.

And as far as videographers telling you what you should or should not add, the majority of videographers have NEVER sync'd a transcript.  Most syncing goes on at the CR agency, not through the videographer.  I imagine as large as the firm that you work for is, that they definitely do it in-house.

 

 

 

 

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Judy, in this scenario I'm talking about, the reporter I'm talking about never even listened to the audio and left out a ton of stuff.  That's not the office's responsibility to add all those false starts and words that are left out.  That is definitely the reporter's responsibility.

[Joyce Davis]

Kerry, I answered your question sent privately.  Hope you got it.

[Kerry F]

Joyce, no I didn't get any message

[Rachel Artis]

When you say go to fast, do you mean listens to audio to fast?