HELP STATION
[SOFTWARE]
Unable to transcribe audio recording
I recently interviewed a family member for my genealogical research, but when I came to write up the transcription using Express Scribe (www.nch.com.au/scribe/) it says I need a pro licence because the audio files have been recorded in M4A format. Can I avoid this unnecessary expense?
ANNA YOUNG
What you need to do is find a tool that can convert the M4A file into one supported by the free version of the program, such as MP3. We recommend Pazera Free Audio Extractor (www.pazera-software.com/products/ audio-extractor/), which not only supports a wide range of audio files, but can also be used to extract audio from video too. Download and run the portable version, then simply open the folder containing your audio files in File Explorer and drag them into the main program window. Use the options in the right-hand pane to choose your output directory, then select MP3 as the output format under Audio and finally click the Convert button. Once done, you should be able to load the MP3 files into Express Scribe without being prompted to pay for the professional version.
IAN SLEIGHTHOLM
