SELECTING MEDIA DATA
WITHOUT a TRANSCRIPT

Selecting Media Data Without a Transcript

This Tutorial ScreenCast demonstrates making a selection in media data without a Transcript. This is the first step in coding or categorizing media data when no transcript is available.

You should view either Coding Media Data Without a Transcript or Categorizing Media Data Without a Transcript to learn how to complete the process of creating a Transcript-less Clip in Transana.

When to Work Without a Transcript

You can create Clips in Transana without first doing transcription.  While a Transcript can be very useful as a map to your media data, making it easier to find important portions of the events you recorded, transcription can be time-consuming and expensive. If you will be going over your data only once, working under tight time constraints or with a tight budget, analyzing media data without Transcripts may make sense.

However, if you intend to do careful analysis by going over your media files multiple times, or if you plan to review “older” data in light of theoretical developments that result from your analysis, creating Transcripts in Transana is recommended.

Selection in Media Data without a Transcript

To see the Waveform when working without a Transcript, select Options in the Menu Bar, go to Media Visualization Style, followed by either Waveform (for just the Waveform) or Hybrid (for both the Waveform and coding information).

It is often helpful to zoom in fairly tightly on the Visualization Window when working without a Transcript. Select about a 3 or 5 minute segment in the Visualization Window by holding down your left mouse button and dragging right until you get about 3 to 5 minutes, as reflected by the “Selected” time indicator. Release the mouse button, then press the Zoom In button in the Visualization toolbar.

Right-click in the Visualization Window and listen to the media file as it plays, watching the cursor line as it traverses the waveform. Identify an interesting segment and make the matching selection in the Visualization Window by left-clicking the waveform and dragging to make a selection, using the Waveform as a guide.

You can right-click the Visualization Window to play your selection to double-check that your selection is exactly what you want.