Coding and Transcribing Audio Files

You can transcribe and code audio files in NVivo. In the sections below you will be find the basic techniques for transcribing and coding audio files in NVivo.

Transcribing Audio Files - Transcribe mode

To transcribe an audio file in NVivo, first open the audio file by double-clicking the file. Then click "Edit" button. Finally, click the "Transcribe" icon in the top menu.

Click here to see video - Transcribe mode

The Edit button is clicked and Transcribe mode is selected as Play Mode

Transcribing Audio Files - Play Speed

It can sometimes be useful to slow down the playback speed when transcribing audio files. You can easily do this by dragging down the "Play Speed" button in the top menu.

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Play Speed is turned down from 100% to 50%

Transcribing Audio Files - F4 / F8 Keyboard Shortcuts

When transcribing audio files we recommend that you use the F4 and F8 keyboard shortcuts for the quickest possible workflow (some computers require that you to click fn + F4 / F8). F4 is the same as the "Play / Pause" button in the top menu. F4 starts playback of the audio file at the same time as it creates a new text box where you can type your transcript. You can also pause playback with F4. F8 is the same as the "Stop" button in the top menu. F8 stops playback and closes any currently open text box. The next time you start playback with F4, a new text box will be created. This allows you to divide your transcript into, for example, question and answer text boxes.

Click here to see video - F4 / F8 Keyboard Shortcuts

Text is transcribed using the F4 and F8 hotkeys

Transcribing Audio Files - Coding Transcription

Once you have transcribed an audio file, you can code your transcript in the same way as regular text documents. The video below demonstrates the standard coding technique (Highlight + Right-click + Code Selection...), but other coding techniques such as Drag-Drop and Quick Coding Bar can also be used. See the "Coding Text Documents" module for more information.

Click here to see video - Coding Transcription

Transcribed text is coded using the right-click method for coding text.

Transcribing Audio Files - Exporting Transcripts as Plain Text Documents

Once you have transcribed your audio file, you can easily export the transcription as a plain text document. The export will retain both the text transcript and any codes you may have added to the transcript. The only part that will be excluded in the export is the audio file itself. This can be useful if, for example, you want to anonymize participants in an interview audio recording.

To export the transcribed audio file as a plain text document, first select the relevant audio file and then click "Copy". Click on the "Clipboard" button in the top menu followed by "Paste Special". Finall check the "Paste as document" box and click "OK". You will now find a plain text version of your transcript under "Files". You can now choose whether or not to delete the original audio file.

Click here to see video - Exporting Transcripts as Plain Text Documents

Audio file is copied, "paste special" is selected from the clipboard and the "paste as document" button is selected.

Coding Audio Files Without Transcribing

You can also code audio files without having to transcribe them. Even though the most common audio file workflow in NVivo is to code the transcription of an audio file, it can sometimes be necessary to code the sound in the audio file itself. This applies to sounds that cannot easily be transcribed such as, for example, sound effects or emotional outbursts during interviews.

To code an audio file without transcribing it, simply highlight the section of the audio track you want to code and then use the same coding techniques as for text documents. The video below demonstrates the standard coding technique (Highlight + Right-click + Code Selection...), but other coding techniques such as Drag-Drop and Quick Coding Bar can also be used. See the "Coding Text Documents" module for more information.

Click here to see video - Coding Audio Files Without Transcribing

A part of the audio file wave form is selected and coded