Whether a stenographer or digital reporter, the role is the same: to capture and verify an accurate record. It’s simply the method of capture that varies.
Here’s a breakdown of the methods used to create the record of a legal proceeding:
Stenographers
are specially trained professionals who use a stenotype keyboard to write shorthand to create the verbatim record. This method allows stenographers to type over 200-250 words per minute to capture accurate proceedings.
Digital reporting
involves using skilled professionals and state-of-the-art recording systems and software to capture an accurate, verbatim record of the legal proceedings. The digital reporter is extensively trained to use a sophisticated recording system to provide auditory and visual confidence monitoring, as well as redundant backup systems, to ensure a complete record is captured.
Voice writers
capture and produce an accurate record of legal proceedings, relying on dictation and the use of special technology and equipment, including microphones and noise-cancelling masks, to capture and transcribe speech in real-time.
As part of capturing the record, voice writers, stenographers and digital reporters use versions of CAT software to convert either phonetic shorthand (in the case of stenographers) or audio (in the case digital) into readable text. After the proceeding, the reporter – steno or digital – will often work with scopists, proofers, or transcriptionists to create the final transcript.
Multiple methods of capture have proven to be beneficial in today’s fast-paced environment. Finding traditional stenographers on very short notice can be difficult in light of the nationwide shortage. Digital reporters fill the void and supplement the traditional court reporter pool.
At the end of the day, all methods of capture are produced by professionals using state-of-the-art recording equipment for accuracy.