Audio and video transcripts

A 'transcript' in NVivo is text related to an audio or video file. It can include:

• A transcription of the words spoken in the file
• Descriptions of what is occurring at different times in the file
• Notes or observations relevant to particular times in the file
• Notes about the media content in general, not specific to any time range

In NVivo, transcripts are made up of the following elements:

1Transcript entry that is made up of timespan, content and speaker. You can have multiple transcript entries with the same timespan—for example, you could have one entry for dialog and another for body language.

2Timespan is the duration of time—Start Time to End Time—for a transcript entry. For example, Jane spoke about the new issues from the two minute point to the ten minute point (0:02:0-0:10:0). You can enter the start time or end time directly into a transcript or let NVivo create them when you are transcribing. Create transcripts

3Content column (field) contains the transcript text. You can code the text in this column.

4Custom columns (fields) that you can add to the transcripts in your project. They contain additional information that you might want to capture, such as speaker name.

NOTE  You may have a transcript without an accompanying audio or video file—for example, a text-based interview. You can import this type of transcript as a document file.

Ways of creating transcripts

There are a number of ways that you can add a transcript to your audio or video files. You can:

• Import an existing transcript from a text file—once the transcript is imported you can add, edit or delete transcript entries. Import transcripts
• Create a transcript within NVivo by transcribing the file yourself as you play the media. Create transcripts
• Have your media files automatically transcribed with the integrated transcription service NVivo Transcription. The completed transcripts will be available within NVivo to import into your project.

Working in a transcript

After you create or import a transcript you can

• Code text in the Content column
• Filter the transcript to focus on pertinent content
• Select an entry and play the associated section of media
• Synchronize the media and the transcript—as the media plays the transcript automatically scrolls
• Format the text in the Content column (change fonts, text colors and apply bold, italics or underline)
• Add, delete or edit the text in transcript rows
• Delete or copy transcript rows (see below)

Do I need a transcript?

Since you can code directly on the media timeline, you may not need a transcript. However, when you open a code, you will only see the timespan—for example, the timespan 0:20.0 - 0:50.0 is coded to the code conflict.

Transcripts are useful if you want to include your audio or video files in Word Frequency or Text Search queries.

You can leave the transcript blank or hide it if required.