Automatic transcription using f4x

The f4x transcription service is provided by the E-Science Office for researchers in the Faculty of Education and makes it possible to have audio files (e.g., interviews) automatically transcribed into text files. The resulting raw transcripts can then be edited in MaxQDA.

The service is only available for faculty members.

NEW

From now on, you have the opportunity to generate automatic transcriptions even more efficiently and independently. For legal reasons, the use of the f4x transcription service was previously reserved exclusively for the eScience office. This has changed and you can now install two new products for DSGVO-compliant automatic transcription from the RRZ portal:

1. MaxQDA 24: If you work with MaxQDA 24, you can perform the transcription directly in the software. You can purchase the required number of hours here in the RRZ portal: MaxQDA hourly quota
2. f4 software: Alternatively, you can use the QDA software f4 (without ‘x’), which offers integrated f4x transcription (hourly quota required). This software is also available in the RRZ shop: f4 Software

A free option is the open source project noScribe. This software is installed locally on your computer and is therefore freely available to all students. The transcripts created are compatible with MaxQDA, among others.

How the transcription service works

1. Fill out the order form and send us the encrypted files (mp3, wav, mp4, or m4a up to 2 GB per file) UHHCloud. ATTENTION: UHHShare will no longer be supported from 1st March 2025!
2. We take care of the transcription and provide you with the written raw data in one of the file formats listed above.
3. You review the transcripts and add any necessary information required by your transcription guidelines.

Important information

• Rights to process data: data processing by third parties in the cloud requires all necessary rights be in place
• Limited usability: f4x service currently only available via the E-Science Office given current internal and legal requirements
• f4x for students: students not able to use this service via the E-Science Office but can purchase discounted time allotments directly from the provider
• Note about quality: quality of the raw transcripts can be affected by poor quality of audio recordings, regional dialects, and simultaneous speech— we can advise on how to optimize audio recordings

If you have any questions, special requirements for a transcription, or you need suitable hardware for your recordings, don’t hesitate to contact us.