f4 Online Manual
You can use the transcription functions to type transcripts completely manually or to correct voice-recognized transcripts.
To create a new empty transcript, click on the plus symbol in the list of texts and select “new text”. You can give the text any name you like and write a first comment/reference to it.
Note: The text area can be displayed in a special mode for fixed page width. This mode makes it possible to display exact speaker overlaps, and line breaks are displayed regardless of the screen or window size. To activate this mode, click on Settings… in the menu and then on “Fixed width and font for exact speaker overlaps” in the “Display” tab
You can add existing transcripts to the project using the plus symbol in the list of texts and the “Import text(s)” option. All texts must be in RTF or DOCX data format. The texts must not contain any images or tables, as these are not displayed and adopted in f4. PDF, XLSX or other formats cannot be imported.
You can select the associated media file in the field for “Linked media file” or in the play bar in the text window under “Open media file”. Media files are not saved in the project, but only “linked”. If you want to use the project on another computer, the media files must be stored in a location with exactly the same path and name or linked again.
Transcripts converted with speech recognition in f4 are automatically listed here as soon as speech recognition has been successfully completed and you have clicked on the “Accept text” button in the bottom left-hand area. These have then also automatically set the link to the appropriate media file (provided it is still in the same place on the hard disk).
You can control playback using the F4 (play/pause), F3 (rewind) and F5 (fast forward) buttons.
Note: If you are working on a notebook, the F buttons may be assigned special functions (volume, brightness, etc.) depending on the manufacturer. Press the FN key on the keyboard at the same time or try to set the F keys as the default in your computer’s system settings.
Each paragraph in an interview transcript typically begins with the name of the person speaking or an appropriate abbreviation (e.g. “Tony Anonymo:” or “B1:”). f4 supports you in creating and correcting personal names.
If a finished transcript is imported, f4 automatically recognizes personal names and displays the recognized persons as a list in the list of texts.
Note: For recognition, it is necessary that the personal names in the transcript end with a colon.
You can create personal names for each text. To do this, click on the plus symbol that appears when you move the mouse over the text name. You can change the name of the person by clicking on the three dots next to the person’s name or delete the person.
With the help of the “Automatic functions”, personal names can be inserted automatically while typing. This is particularly important when typing the transcript manually.
In texts from speech recognition, the assignments of persons are sometimes incorrect or missing. To assign, click on the correct person name or press the hotkey next to the person name. Alt+1 stands for the first person, Alt+2 for the second etc.
If the cursor is at the beginning of a paragraph, the entire paragraph is assigned.
If the cursor is in the text, a change of person is inserted at this point.
If a text passage is marked, this passage is assigned to another person.
You can create frequently used phrases as text modules. These are then inserted automatically by entering the abbreviation + space.
Note: These functions can only be used in transcription mode
Click on the three dots next to “Text modules” and select “New text module”
Move the mouse over the relevant text module and select the pencil icon to edit or the trash can to delete.
You can also use the following abbreviations in the text modules:
Example: If you create a text module “(unv. %time%)”, this then generates “(unv. #09:23:33-1#)” in the text.
Note: These functions can only be used in transcription mode
This function automatically sets the person name at the beginning of the paragraph when you press “Enter”. The first two personal names in the text are always used.
If there are more than 2 people, use the manual adjustment of the person names (see above)
Note: Paragraphs without speaker name
If you need a paragraph without automatic insertion in between, hold down the Alt key while pressing ENTER.
Automatically sets time stamps at the beginning or end of a paragraph when “Enter” is pressed.
You can adjust where time marks are set (beginning, end or both) in the options under “Transcription”.
This is a function for correcting texts. Play the audio file while you proofread. If you find an error, simply click on the appropriate place. This mode automatically pauses playback for as long as you are typing and then resumes playback automatically after a short pause.
Timestamps are an important orientation in the transcript and enable quick reference to the original source, even during later analysis. Click on a time marker to play the audio track at the corresponding point.
The automatic setting of time stamps is described under “Time stamps at Enter”.
You can use the F8 key to insert time stamps at any position, e.g. an incomprehensible passage.
In the settings under “Transcription” you will find the option “Set time stamps automatically”. This automatically calculates time stamps for the transcript. Depending on the setting selected in the Timestamps menu item, the timestamps are inserted at the beginning and/or end of each paragraph.
Note: Set 2-3 time markers by hand (hotkey F8) at the beginning, middle and end of the transcript. These manually set time markers significantly increase accuracy.
When transcribing, it usually makes sense to slow down the playback tempo. This allows you to adjust the tempo to your writing speed and you don’t have to interrupt playback as often. During the correction run, however, it is advisable to speed up playback.
You can adjust the playback speed and volume using the cogwheel symbol on the playback bar. This setting then applies to all texts and media files.
You can use compatible footswitches via Plug & Play to control playback. By default, playback starts when the switch is pressed down and stops when it is released.
Our office, science and science II foot controls are compatible
Also Scythe USB 1,2,3; Olympus RS-28(H), RS-31(H); Philips LFH 2310, LFH 2330, LFH 5220, ACC2310, ACC2330 and Grundig 540 USB
You can configure the assignment of some footswitches in the settings under Transcription.
If you have loaded a video file, the video window always remains in the foreground by default. You can minimize this or adjust the size of the video in the window frame with the mouse.
