Video Deposition and 77 MP3 Audio Files

[Quyen]

A videographer gave me 77 -- no, it's not a typo -- I repeat, seventy-seven (77) MP3 audio files at the end of a depo when I opened his digital audio folder. I asked which file(s) was it. He pointed me to the folder. I said there were too many files, so which one(s). He said ALL of them. 

????????? SERIOUSLY???!!!

I've been reporting for 12+ years now. The most audio files I have ever gotten from a videographer were probably five to six files. He said that is how most reporters want them. Again . . . seriously???!!! It wasn't a daily. It wasn't being sent off to scopists or anything. I prefer one to two files: morning and afternoon.

IF I need the audio, I would have to spend all that time to convert every single one of the 77 MP3 files into a WAV file so it could be synced in Eclipse. THEN I would have to repeatedly try to find/match the time code to the audio file to the transcript. I wouldn't be able to get this job out for six months.

Reporters:  Have you ever gotten this many audio files at YOUR request? Or has any videographer EVER given you this many files to ONE video job? If so, why?

[Janiece Young]

No.  I have never heard of such a thing.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

Never.  200P job last week, VAOFR gave me five MP3 files.  Fine with me.  I llsten to it in Transcription Buddy and don't synch with Catalyst.    How many pages for you with those 77 files?  It's laughable actually and extremely stupid!!

[Quyen]

Thanks. My sentiments exactly. The transcript was about 108 pages. That's one audio file for every 1 1/2 pages!  Needless to say, I was not very happy. But get this . . . he had the nerve to complain about me, saying it was a "nightmare" to work with me, lol.  It was quite the opposite.  First thing he did, when we walked into the conference room, was complain and trash-talk the firm for not assigning him more often.  Huh. Wonder why.

[Lisa Moskowitz]

I have to say that I've been thinking about this and LMAO all morning long.  I've never heard of anything so ridiculous.  And what was it specifically that was a nightmare about working with you?  The fact that you complained about 77 files?  This is just hysterical.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

This is the most incompetent moron of a VAOFR that I can ever imagine.   He clearly doesn't know how to operate his equipment.  And beyond that, he's an ignorant SNAKE and never to be trusted.  If you do have to see his disgusting face again, let us know how you handle it!

[Janet]

That's ridiculous!  I've never heard of such a thing. 

[Ana Dub]

When I worked for one agency, their videographers always gave us the mp3s in multiple small files. Their thinking was that it would be easier to manipulate the files and find the spot you needed. I almost never use videographer's files because I plug my microphone directly into videographer's feed. Audio quality is excellent and no need to do conversion. I use a splitter so I can plug my headphones in too. If I did have to use their files, I would load it into ExpressScribe program and set it to play continuously.

[Mary K. Corcoran]

No, never that many.  It should only be if there is a lunch break or a long break, and he has turned off the digital recorder, and then turned it back on instead of pausing, and it creates a new file, so there should only be one or two.  I've found with videographers that I don't normally work with, I will discuss it at the beginning of the deposition so we're both on the same page as far as getting an audio from them.  I ALWAYS run my own digital recorder in addition, because there have been more times than I can count that the videographer forgets to turn on the digital recorder for 10 minutes at the beginning or something like that.  I, too, use Express Scribe to listen with a foot pedal for video depos.

[Quyen]

I used to never have to ask the videographer to supply the audio a certain way/format. It was just a given and done automatically. Lately, every videographer seems to do it his/her own way. Before, they would actually ask me how many files I want: one for every disk change, morning/afternoon, etc. Some are still using cassettes -- ugh! And now one (the only one I know of--ever) doesn't even provide audio at all unless the reporter actually requests it at the beginning. I've NEVER had to do that, so didn't even think to do so. Whether I use it or not, I always want the audio for video depos.

I don't know, but seems most of the videographers I've worked with lately are not as good as they used to be. They're often argumentative and uncooperative and just don't give a sh!t. There is only literally a handful that I like working with.

[Quyen]

What is this ExpressScribe and Transcription Buddy some have mentioned here? I've never heard of them.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

I use Transcription Buddy to listen to non-audiosynch audio files.

http://www.libertyrecording.com/TB_main_Player.htm

I listen to my digital recorder audio and VAOFR's audio during my scoping because:

1.  I can slow it down slower than audiosynch

2.  I can easily make a small emailable sound bite to send to people to say "what did you say here?"

3.  I frequently bookmark spots with a note "awkward; exactly verbatim" so that if I'm ever questioned later about it, I can find it and easily make a sound bite to send out.  I've never been questioned later but I'm prepared if I am.

4.  I do a second read-thru using audiosynch and there's been a few times when audiosynch dropped a few words that were clearly on my other audio.  Strange.  Did not call Catalyst on that.  Just glad I have the other audio.

I use keystrokes, no pedal.  

[Janiece Young]

Marge,

Is there a charge for this software or is it free?

Janiece