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

The timestamp 00:05:30 is clear only when the reader knows which file it belongs to. In a project with several interviews, camera views, or exported segments, each clip may start at zero. A transcript that omits file transitions can therefore contain correct numbers that are impossible to use reliably.

Create a simple source convention before the first detailed pass. It should remain understandable if the document is printed or separated from the folder where you originally worked.

Build a source list

Assign a short, stable label to each recording and retain its exact filename beside that label. For example, Clip A can refer to one complete source filename while Clip B refers to another. Use identifiers already required by the project when available instead of inventing a competing system.

Include enough information to distinguish similar exports. A filename ending in “final” may not be sufficient if several versions exist. Keep working copies organized and avoid overwriting a reviewed file with a different export under the same name.

Mark every transition in the document

Begin each clip section with its label and source filename. Explain once that the elapsed clock restarts for each file. If your notes alternate frequently between clips, include the short clip label beside individual references rather than relying only on a heading several pages earlier.

An example working reference is “Clip B — video position 00:05:30.” The label is part of your document convention; do not assume the player automatically inserts your complete project identifier with every timestamp.

Establish recording clocks independently

Opening a new file must not borrow the previous recording's timing reference. In Martel, Set Recording Time attaches a known date/time and media position to the selected recording. Check the status after a file change and establish a reference only when you have valid information for that file.

Two cameras showing the same event may have different clock settings. Do not force their displayed times to agree by guessing an offset. Record what you know, how you verified it, and any remaining uncertainty.

Review simultaneous footage carefully

Elapsed position alone does not synchronize recordings that began at different times. If you need to compare an event across two views, identify the corresponding moment in each source and document both references. A shared recording-clock label is useful only if the relationship has been established.

Keep descriptions tied to their viewpoints. One camera may show an action that another misses, while the second carries clearer audio. Avoid writing as though every observation came from a single uninterrupted recording.

Resume the right work, not just any open file

Martel can remember a recording's playback position. At the next session, verify the loaded filename and match it to the document section before continuing. Reopen the correct transcript through its word processor and compare the last completed passage with the saved media checkpoint.

For a team handoff, include a small progress list naming the last reviewed position in each clip. This remains useful if another person uses a different computer or the files are moved to a new location.

Audit the references before delivery

Sample at least one early and one late reference from every clip. Confirm that the receiving reviewer can identify the right file and navigate to the intended passage. Check transitions separately because that is where a previous file's label or clock convention is most easily carried forward by mistake.

Save the transcript and source list together according to the project's workflow. Keep the original recordings unchanged and explain any edited versions used during review.