Sociolinguistics Brown Bag

revision history: ABW 1/2012, M. Rasing 2/2007

Getting Started Using Express Scribe

Express Scribe is a free audio playback program that will allow you
to transcribe your recordings. You will find it most useful for handling
conversational recordings. It has a variable speed playback and can be
controlled with your keyboard or using a foot pedal. It can be
downloaded from:
http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/
The Express Scribe Main window:
1.

2.
3.

Throughout this manual, numbered items in the instructions refer to

numbered circles on the ExpressScribe Main window screenshot, above.
I. When you first launch Express Scribe:
1. Load and play your audiofile. Express Scribe recognizes a large
variety of sound file formats including .wav or .aif files. These are the
easiest files to load. Other soundfiles that may be loaded onto Express
Scribe are listed at the above website. Drag a soundfile (.wav or mp3

formats) onto the main window pane. Files should appear in the file list
with their recording date, time and duration information.
Loading your audiofile is fairly straightforward. Audiofiles can either be
located by clicking the load icon in the main toolbar or more easily by
simply dragging the file from your directory window to the Express Scribe
file menu.
By then clicking on the sound file in the menu, it should begin to play.
Note: When you work, you will typically use one of two methods for audio
playback: either using a footpedal (Fig 2), or the function keys on your
computer for manual manipulation of audio playback buttons on the
screen (Fig 3). See section, Setting up the foot pedal for use with your
computer below on configuring and using a footpedal. Click
preferences > hot keys to see settings for function keys.

Fig. 2 WAV USB footpedal

Fig. 3 Audio playback buttons

2. Creating a transcription file. While ExpressScribe has its own word

processing box, this is a Notes (or dictation) box, and is not really
intended for typing a transcription. It may be of use for your field notes,
or comments about where youve ended your last session, etc. It will
open each time you select the soundfile from the main window, and
saved each time you exit ExpressScribe, and so it should be used for at a
glance information.
Transcription in Express Scribe is not recommended (at least in the
version of software currently available). Transcription is done outside of
ExpressScribe, in Microsoft Word (or other word processor). There is a
convenient way to open an external software program directly from
Express scribe. You can then use your foot-pedal or system-wide hotkeys to control Express Scribe (and thus playback, rewinding, and fast
forwarding of your recording) while working outside of Express Scribe.
First, you can automate creation and management of a base template file

and save it in the directory where you want Express Scribe to store
documents:
To set the default directory for your template files:
Click Preferences (2) > Disk usage.
To set the directory for the template file:
Click Preferences (2) > Other. You will see the following display (Fig. 4).
Check use a word processor document based on this file to generate a
new document for transcription that will open each time you open a new
file.

Fig. 4: Screenshot of Preferences dialogue for template association.

Now, each time you load a new audiofile into ExpressScribe, you can click
on the Document icon (3) to create a new template file for your new
transcription. You will later save this template as a transcription file,
then associate this new transcription with your audiofile.
II. Daily Working with Express Scribe:
1. Opening a pre-existing transcription file: It is not necessary to Open
both ExpressScribe and your word processor each time you work. Once
you have followed the instructions above to load a soundfile, and opened
the template document, you can associate a transcription with that
soundfile, which will open each time you begin your work.
To associate a file with an audiofile:
Open a template document in your word processor as directed in the
instructions above. Now, save the template file with a new name
(preferably one that matches the audiofile). Save this file in your word
processor (your system should open the folder specified in ExpressScribe
for that document). Now, in Express Scribe, associate the new
transcription file with your audiofile:
File>Attach file
e.g., Users/abw/Library/Application Support/NCH
software/scribe/current
3


If the document already exists it will be opened. If the document does not exist,
Express Scribe copies the base file.
Now, each time you open your audiofile in ExpressScribe, you can easily
open your associated file:
File>Load attachment list
Note: CMD-L Load dictation file will not load your word processing file,
but the dictation file for storing metadata about the recording and
transcription.
2. Playback audio while working in the word processor:
If you have opened your transcription document in the word processor
using the ExpressScribe, and configured your foot-pedal properly, you
should be able to operate the audiofile controls while working in your
word processor. This will allow you to type timestamps and text while
operating the audio controls with your foot (hands-free).
File>Load attachment list
If the method above does not work reliably, you will have to open both
ExpressScribe and your word processing program on your desktop, and
arrange your windows on-screen so you can move back-and-forth
between them by clicking to activate windows. You may need to work
with the Hot-keys to operate your audio player controls.
3. Setting Preferences
Setting Hot-keys: The function keys that are listed under control
in the main menu of Express Scribe may not work as expected. If this is
the case, go to settings and then control (or to hot keys set-up under
the main control option). The hot keys that are listed there are the ones
that your computer is actually set to. By clicking on the keys that are
listed, you can also change the function of each key if you choose to.
Playback speed: The speed of the playback can be adjusted using
the slider bar on the bottom-left of the Express Scribe program. This will
adjust the speed if you are using the program manually with the hot
keys, or also if you are using the foot pedals. (This is important as the
foot pedals control play, rewind, and fast forward but play at a constant
speed.) By setting the playback speed, the playback will remain constant
even if you rewind or fast forward.

4. Foot Pedal operation

1. Follow the manufacturers instructions for configuring your wav pedal.
(Sociolab users may consult instructions for our *USB* VEC footpedals,
located in the foot pedal box)
Note: If you use MAC, no additional drivers are needed. Connection of the
footpedal to the USB port and opening ExpressScribe will result in
automatic detection of this peripheral device. If you use a PC,
you will need to install the free, required driver download from NCH
SwiftSound.
Configuring the footpedal is done by clicking on Preferences (2) > Pedals:
Preferences > Pedals

*make sure box enable foot pedal controller is checked.
2. Pressing down on the central button (PLAY) on the foot pedal, will
start/stop playback.
3. Pressing down and holding the FF button (left) will advance/cue the
recording. Lifting foot up will resume normal playback.
4. Similarly, pressing down and holding the REW button (right) will
rewind/cue the recording. Lifting foot up will resume normal playback
5. Overall playback speed can be adjusted at the bottom-right corner of
the Express scribe program.
Auto backstep on stop:
This is a particularly nice feature. In playback mode, each time you
release the play button of the footpedal, the audio recording will jump
back a specified amount of time to allow you to review material you have
transcribed, and determine where you left off typing. Enter an amount of
tie to jump back in the preferences window (Fig. 6)

Fig. 6 Auto backup on stop.