By Martel Electronics · November 10, 2026 · Manual transcription and review

Body-camera footage often combines speech, movement, changing viewpoints, and a visible clock. A useful transcript needs to distinguish what was said, what was observed, and how the reader can find the moment again. Start with the exported file you are authorized to review and a clear timing convention.

This workflow uses ordinary video playback and a manually verified recording-time reference. It does not depend on a particular camera manufacturer's private metadata or evidence system.

Identify the export before transcribing

Record the exact source filename and any assigned clip identifier in the document header. Note whether you are reviewing a complete recording or an excerpt. If a separate system manages the official source, retain its approved reference according to your organization's process; do not replace that process with a filename invented only for the transcript.

Open the file in Martel and confirm that the picture, sound, and duration are usable. A familiar extension such as MP4 does not establish that every encoded stream or protected export will play. Resolve playback problems before writing detailed notes.

Begin with elapsed video position

Elapsed markers work even when the recording clock is unavailable or uncertain. At [Video 00:05:30], the reader knows where to navigate within that specific file. Pairing that value with a clip identifier is especially helpful when several recordings begin at zero.

Do not infer event time from a download date, file modification date, or the current computer clock. Those dates may describe file handling rather than the recorded event.

Add a recording clock only with a reference

If a readable on-screen clock or a verified log supplies a known moment, pause there and use Set Recording Time. Enter the date and time corresponding to that media position. Include a known offset; otherwise leave the zone unspecified.

Document the reference source. “Matches the camera display at 00:02:00” is different from a claim that the camera was synchronized to an external clock. Compare a second point farther into the file, and recheck after any apparent cut or clock jump.

Separate speech from visual observation

Use speaker labels supported by the recording or the project's established identification. When a speaker cannot be identified, follow the project's uncertainty convention rather than assigning a name from context alone. Distinguish words heard from a description such as [person moves out of view].

Pause and enlarge the picture when a visual detail matters. Keep descriptions limited to what is observable. For example, “person points toward the doorway” is different from an inference about intention. A timestamp makes the observation reviewable; it does not establish the interpretation.

Use the pedal for controlled review

Rewind a short passage, listen again, and type in your chosen word processor. Use Ctrl+T or an explicitly assigned timestamp pedal button for deliberate markers. Automatic intervals can help a longer working transcript, but a key visual event may need a manually selected position.

Before handoff, check markers near the beginning, middle, and end, as well as either side of a discontinuity. Save the document separately and preserve the source recording unchanged. Follow the receiving organization's requirements for official transcripts, disclosure, and record handling; this equipment workflow does not itself certify a transcript or establish admissibility.