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Posts here say you need about $2 per audio minute to

Posted By: make it worth your while. nm on 2007-04-17
In Reply to: Getting paid by audio hour - Amylou

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You'd do better to bill by the audio minute; I'd bill $0.75 per minute of audio.
x
1.70 regular minute, 2.25 stat per minute. sm
I do all cardiology.
audio
I just left them for the second and final time due to extremely bad audio files.  I was assured this second go-round that the problem had been corrected but was not.  I spent the biggest part of the first week - lasted about 3 days - trying to hear dictators, mainly ESL.  The people I dealt with were terrific; benefits are some of the best; audio extremely poor.  I figured no money could be made under those circumstances.
AUDIO HOURS
Can anyone give me any idea what to charge for an audio hour of transcription and how much time this equals out to? I was offered a freelance job of 30 hours of audio hours for TAT of 2 days and have never done this before.  It is television production work. Thanks for any help!!!!
There is no way to do 30 audio hours

I can usually transcribe 1 hour of dictation, my easy stuff, in 1-1/2 to 2 hours.  Even if you have really easy stuff to do, on the low end it would probably take at least 60 hours to transcribe, and mayve 90!  Geez..even if you could transcribe it in real time...taking only 30 hours to transcribe those 30 hours, you'd be putting in 2 15 hour days to do it.  Realistically, for 30 hours of dictation you would 60-90 hours of work.


How's the audio quality with TT? nm
x
Patti - about audio
Thanks for your input. I haven't taken the job yet, as I wanted to get some advice from others. Of course, the sample test he had me take was extremely clear! The calm before the storm! He said he would pay me $50 per audio hour. I'm thinking, if it takes me over 2 hours to do an audio hour, it probably isn't worth it. Maybe I'll just have to try it first and tell him up front what my plan is. Do you think $50 sounds fair?
Everything audio I was sent was horrible..
xx
Really bad audio and account--sm
Was a verbatim account and really bad dictators, lots of heavy ESL. So, yes.  Very hard to make good line counts under those working conditions.
medgarde audio
I was wondering if anyone else has ever applied to medgarde and had trouble playing the sound files?! I have been trying to get it to play for a day, and I updated the media player... I'm just curious if anyone else had this problem and what they did to fix it.
the audio is horrible on the new system....
I had my husband listen to a little bit of one of the doctors and even he said it sounded like mush. I bought an expensive pair of noise cancelling headphones and it is still terrible. I can handle the software, but the audio is another thing. I am ready to resign. Grrrrr.
I have had zero problems with ESL/audio quality/whatever. TT is the best so far for me.
nm 
Getting paid by audio hour
I have not gotten paid by audio hour before and just wondered if anyone has an idea what good pay per audio hour is? It's straight typing for seminars/speakers. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Good luck with audio
I have done seminars/speakers, etc and never again unless I listen to the tapes or whatever first.   It all depends on where they put the microphone and their euipment. I got stuck doing a seminar and found out it was all about building a chip in a computer and had all orientals at the seminar  - worse nightmare that there was.  You would have to see how many lines you would get in an hour worth of the audio to figure out a fair price -- not in an hour of typing for you but the audio and the difficulty.   I had 10 tapes from a 2  day seminar  -- 60 minute tapes not all were filled on each side and their bill was well over 1200.  Had another on the use of animal with sexually abused children for therapy, 8 to 10 hours of audio and that one was also over $1000.  But I charged by line.  It took about 4 hours to do each hour of audio when it was good recordings and up to 5 to 6 when poor.  We did average about $25 per hour when typing but adding in the QA and listening again to make sure we did not miss anything brought it down to under $20.  So then it would be a charge of about $80 per audio hour -- rough estimate.  Again too many variables and I would not charge or be paid that way. 
I agree on the audio. Not sure what causes their problems with this. nm
:
DocQ audio from keyboard
CTRL + SPACEBAR to toggle on and off for play, CTRL + comma and CTRL + period for rewind and fast forward. Once you've tried it for a half a shift, you'll never want to see your footpedal again!
Unless your audio can speed up more than mine
I would say the person (people) telling you 3x as much as straight are just outright lying. I think I mentioned my speed, high also but never have tripled on VR and I keep my audio at full speed, cannot do more than the audio allows. I am very satisfied in the long run with Escription. I had so many straight reports yesterday, usually do the op notes but mostly discharge summaries on the weekends sometimes and so many ESLs, I could have pulled my hair out. What is strange, sometimes a particular dictator on VR and sometimes not? Don’t get that but wish all were. Good luck!
A wav pedal for the audio transcription part....(sm)

I honestly don't know if you NEED one or not...there may have been manual 'play/pause' buttons you could click on with a mouse, but I cannot remember for sure, so don't quote me on that.  Reference books are definitely handy...I had to break open my AAMT rule book for a couple of things I wasn't 100% sure on, and even had to pull out my old dusty Dorland's that I've been using as a foot rest for some obsure thing I couldn't get a definitive answer off the 'net from. 


Like I said, I enjoyed taking the test because I've honestly never tested before.   I've only been doing transcription for 5 years now, and it was always with the same company, and still have oodles to learn.  The part I enjoyed most though was the actual sample transcriptions.  Fun to hear other voices and accents and type up material I never got exposed to before.


Just give it a shot!  After you finish a 'block' of testing, it asks you if you want to stop and come back to it later or keep going.  When you first sign up for the testing, it assigns you a log-in and password, solely for that purpose that if you need to take a break or plain ol' stop, you have that option. 


I shoulda asked the interviewer how I did.  No part of the test said anything like, 'Sorry, but you stink and you can go away now.'  I guess if you pass one part it feels you are good to go onto the next?  No idea honestly. 


Go on...just do it. 


The two ladies that I talked to, both before and after testing, were very nice and I'm sure it's a great company.  I just knew where I really wanted to be is all. 



I work for the DSG-2 side. One account has some bad audio sm
some of the time-not all.  Otherwise I am happy where I am.  I cannot speak for the other side which has different accounts. 
Sick and tired of poor audio quality (sm)

that seems to get worse and worse as the days go by?  Remember when we were told that switching from tapes to digital would make all the difference in the world with regard to clarity and our production?   Remember when we were paid more and had plenty of work?  Remember when there was no working on Sundays or holidays? 


Why is EVERYTHING MT going to the dumpster?


Why do these MTSOs accept reports dictated on cell phones?  Can't they write in their contracts that cell phone dictation is not clear and it can also be intercepted by others and therefore unacceptable?  Why don't the QA personnel who read our flagged comments about awful audio pass this information on to the client so that it can be fixed?  It's getting worse and worse.


Back in the days when I had my own accounts, one of my dictators asked me to please tell him as soon as his equipment malfunctioned (in those days, it was batteries running low or a tape that needed to be tossed and replaced).  He said there was no need for the MT to suffer with poor audio reports when there is a simple fix.  So, what's the difference here when the idiots dictate on cell phones?  Or there is a hospital phone with a short in it?  Why can't these things be fixed?   


My plea:  If you are a QA person or MTSO getting repeated complaints about specific dictators' dictations being garbled or unclear, won't you please notify, and keep notifying the client until they are brought up to par.  How about sticking up for the MTs for a change rather than protecting the client all the time!?  In the end you are protecting everyone, including the poor patients whose reports are being dictated and transcribed. 


I'm tired of MTs taking all the blame for this industry's downfall.  If MTSOs and clients demand 2-hour turn-around time, how about improving the technology to make your unending demands more attainable?  It's 2006.  There is no excuse for the garbage I have to listen to day after day.  No excuse at all. 


 


Wasn't just fast, the audio quality (re-recording)
2
DocQ, hmmm, how to play audio from keyboard??
Can you share.  Didn't know, worked on platform twice and nobody ever said this.???  Can you share?
Posts from April said everyone gets 8.5 cpl/newbie or experienced. Recent posts said
s
A few posts about them about 3/4 of the way down this page between the DSG & Diskriter posts. nm
s
per minute

I get paid per minute of dictation.  $1.00 to 1.35 per minute.  100-120 minutes in an 8 hour shift is average or 16-20 minutes of dictation per hour.


pay by the minute
I also used to work this way. I worked in house by the hour and we had a quota of dictated minutes we were supposed to meet. Then we started doing it at home and were compensated by the minute. It was awesome! Unfortunately they went with voice recognition and it came to a tragic end. I still miss it. I get paid by the line now and make probably a third less at least than back then. So very sad. Anyone have any idea if this company is hiring for radiology and what they pay per minute? TIA.
minute nor
too heated.
If pay comes out to 1.00, or less per minute is very low...sm
1.25 and up would be good pay per minute... and 200 per day if quite a bit to get through on an average. Good luck!
Pay per minute...
I work for a hospital that pays us per minute of dictation.  It is the entire dictation, whether the doc is sitting thinking, talking to someone else in the room or whatever, a 14 minute report is billed as a 14 minute report.  The pay scale I make is $1.30 per minute after 450 minutes, under 450 minutes $1.25 per minute.  I am sure the hospital itself charges more than that per minute, so I guess it would depend on whether you have your own account or are considering working for a hospital or other company. 
Pay per minute...
It is absolutely more lucrative than by the line for me anyway. I almost went bankrupt working for 8 cpl.
More like $1.00 - to 1.25 per minute
Keep in mind the 3 x rule: For every minute of dictation, it takes roughly 3 minutes to transcribe. So if you want to earn $20/hr (example) you have to charge $1.00 per minute. If you factor in even 5 minutes and hour for taxes/interruption/breaks etc., you need to bump it to $1.25 to clear $20/hr.
It says pay is 0.85 per minute.
Seems kind of low to me.
By the minute vs. cpl.......
I was at a meeting the other day where 2 docs were discussing paying their MTs by the minute versus by the line.  It was the first I, personally, had heard of such a thing.  The more I thought about it, the more appealing it sounded to me to be paid by the minute, particularly after I had to listen to a resident literally eat their way through a 37 minute dictation, which ultimately yielded me only about 62 lines.  I was furious!  I would have at least been paid for my time on that report had I been paid by the minute to transcribe it.  I am sure it all balances out in the end, whether one is paid by the line or the minute, considering some docs fly through their dictation without even taking a breath or bothering to enunciate or structure an intelligent sentence.  I would love to hear from any MTs who are, in fact, being paid by the minute.
Pay per minute

I would appreciate information from anyone who is compensated per minute of dictation.  Thank you.


$1.00 per minute
I have worked like this before. The operative reports you get will be between 0.9 to 2.0 minutes and there will be 30-40 lines for one report. You will go broke.
minute pay
I once worked for a company that paid by the dictated minute and I really liked it. Seemed like a good way to pay. The company had a pay scale so that the more minutes you typed per week, the more per minute you got. The bottom line, of course, is how much will we be paid per line or per minute.
That's too low for per-minute pay.
Think about this: A 3-minute report, say you get 1-1/2 to 2 pages. They would pay you $3. There could be 50-80 lines, which at 8 cpl would be $4 to $6.40. A dollar a dictated minute is much too low.
Not at $1/minute.
x
by the minute...
i do legal by the minute and it generally takes 2 to 3 times the amount of time.  So if you get an hour of dictation, it's probably going to take you 2 1/2 to 3 hours to do it, depending on the dictator and sound quality.  Could be more, but not usually less than double the time... hope this helps!
per minute pay
Try and figure it out this way....60 minutes of dictation will take apx 3-4 hours typing...so hopefully that will help figure out per hour.
That is low 1.00/minute is even low..
which would be 60.00 for an hour of dictation..
Hey wait a minute....
This all originally started way down below with a positive post about Transcend in answer to a question about the company.  Then, the naysayers hop on and start blah blah blahing all over the place.  So, I believe the trouble started at your door.
Pay by dictated minute.
What is a reasonable pay for dictated minute?  What is reasonable to expect to be transcribed minutes of dictation in 8-hour shift?  Anyone know?
Okay, wait a minute
Well, you know, now that I check out my first apology, I see I didnt apologize before to you, just JMO.  I thought I had apologized to both of you.  So, I am also sorry if I said anything that hurt your feelings.  And thank you for  your apology also. 
Now wait a minute...
I am management remember?   not an MT!
Radiology per minute

I get paid per minute and was wondering if anyone could tell me some companies that pay by the dictated minute for radiology and have benefits. I am happy with the amount of money I am making and the company but would really like a job with benefits.


Thanks


I'd hire you in a NY minute. nm
nm
What is the going rate per minute?

I have no idea what to even charge!  Can someone help?  Thanks!!!!!!!!


Per minute rate
What is the pay range for per minute of transcription? I see more and more people are wanting to pay by the minute instead of the line. Thanks.
Maybe they meant PER MINUTE?
Otherwise - ?????
Hang on a minute...

I'd like to address something that's really bothering me as I see it expressed so frequently -- It's what I call THE GRATITUDE TRICK.


First, I am not trying to find fault with what you wrote.  You sound like a fabulous mom and a very dedicated MT.  I really admire you for the sacrifices you've made to accomplish what you have -- and that goes for everyone out there in the MT world who has done the same.  I mean this sincerely.  I am amazed at what some of you have managed to do and how you continue the struggle now.  Hats off to you all!!! 


But I have to question why do MTs have to make such sacrifices in the first place???  It sounds to me like this has been the case for many years now.  If we are the professionals we claim to be, we deserve the same standard of living that any other professional gets to have who works out of their home.  The perks go across the board for everyone who works from home, no matter what profession--gas savings, wardrobe, etc.  We are no different.  This aspect of what our job is worth income-wise is only a small part of the equation.  The difference for us is that we are not fairly compensated for our work as other professionals are for theirs.  THAT is what sets us apart, not the perks.  


I think this is a way the services have used to keep us in submission for years, and it's dirty playing.  I do not feel grateful to my employer to be able to work from home.  My gratitude goes to God for the technology that allows me to do this.  Heck, I'm saving them money in overhead from working from home, buying and maintaining my own equipment and reference materials, paying my own Internet service fee, etc.  No, THEY are making money OFF OF US.  Yes, businesses do that.  They have to earn a profit.  But it is wrong for them to tell us pretty much to go away and be quiet and count our blessings because they are so kind as to let us work from home, thus making us feel that we should be ashamed for wanting to be paid more.  This is nothing but a mind game.  They are using this way of responding to us to shut us up and we're falling for it.  Next, it will be but at least we hired you and didn't send the work to India!  Little by little we are being demeaned by them as they reduce benefits, demand more in production, etc. all the while telling us how lucky we are to be able to work from home and we're falling for it. 


If our profession (and I keep using the word profession because that is what it is) goes down the drain because of technology, etc. then we can't control that.  But let's not help it along by buying into a mindset that says we're not valuable.   Anyone who has the knowledge and skills to do this job well should see their worth reflected in their paychecks, bottom line.  All the other stuff is just icing on the the cake.  


I think we as a body of professionals and as individuals need to have a much greater sense of self-respect, self-worth to begin with.  We are not the cast-offs of the working world!  If you can do this job well, you are no idiot.  And all of us know, this is anything but an easy job.   Many of you have invested most if not all of your working lives doing transcription.  Companies should be grateful to YOU for working for them.  A qualified MT only increases the company's image. 


Now how to become fairly compensated is a whole 'nother can of worms given what we are up against today.  But I think we need to start valuing ourselves more before we expect to be valued by those for whom we work.  This gratitude to our employer trick they use on us has got to be exposed for the dirty trick that it is and it needs to go!! 


I think a lot of our frustration with this profession comes from such mind games.  If you can keep your employees confused, if you can keep them from feeling they have no right to complain, you've got it made as an employer.  They're under your control.  But in the end it weakens employee morale which results in frequent employee turnover which results in loss of production while new people learn the accounts, etc. so it really backfires on them and is a stupid (to put it nicely) way to run a business.   You can run it right into the ground this way.


Even the benefits packages are somewhat of a joke if you can't afford the insurance.  I'm sure the companies have ways to write off those expenses to their own benefit.  That's another trick they use on us.  My dental insurance won't pay the rent.  Pay me a decent enough salary and I'll get my own dental insurance!


If we have any hope of turning our situation around, we need to be able to see the tactics that are being used against us.  Just trying to point out some red flags here as I see them.