What is Voice Writing?

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 Voice writers are professionals who have been highly trained to capture the spoken word with the capability to convert it into text by means of computer-aided transcription software. You will find them in official courtrooms, depositions, and providing real-time translation services for broadcast captioning on nationally-televised channels; in colleges and arenas in which translation services are requested for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.  Voice writing is an approved method in over 80% of the United States as well as federal courts, military courts, and Congress.

Voice writers receive skill-focused training on how to use their voices to capture the record. Upon completion of training, voice writers are then tested to meet their state's qualifications.  These requirements vary from state to state.  In Texas, you must pass the Texas CSR (Certified Shorthand Reporter) examination.

Voice writers use their voices to keep an accurate recording of proceedings equivalent to machine writers who use of their hands to do the same. Voice writers are then able to prepare verbatim transcripts of proceedings by use of their voice notes. Voice notes are not simply just a mimic of the spoken word. Voice notes contain pertinent information that allows the voice writer to accurately transcribe proceedings and produce a transcript.  These notes include things like punctuation, speaker IDs, and other formatting pieces of a transcript.

By use of state-of-the-art technology, voice writers are able to provide real-time access to proceedings simultaneously. Real-time transcription access enables attorneys and judges to have a simultaneous feed through their electronic devices and receive immediate access to the proceeding’s transcript.

Real-time access also allows deaf and hard-of-hearing persons to be able to instantly receive real-time translation feeds of court proceedings, classroom lectures and seminars. Broadcast captioning and real-time translation services of religious ceremonies, local news, television shows, and movies are made instantly available by voice writers and stenographers alike.