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1. Digital recordings are better quality than tape recordings Im not aware of any exceptions to this rule!
2. If you are dictating a Dictaphone style microphone (inside the recorder) is fine, but otherwise an external microphone is better, although modern machines are becoming better.
3. Whether dictation, interview or group do make sure that if at all possible you are in a quiet environment
4. Beware of air conditioning! The hum from air conditioning units can be picked up on recordings and seriously reduce the quality of your recording thus increasing background noise an increasing time taken to transcribe.
5. With analogue recorders in particular, if using an external microphone place it as far away as possible from the recorder as it can pick up on the machines fan and drastically reduce the recording quality
6. In interviews if youre worried the microphone might not pick up both interviewer and interviewees, always put it closer to the interviewee. You will be able to fill in your own voice later if its inaudible on the recording!
7. When recording over the telephone dont just hold the microphone up to the earpiece and hope that will do. It really, really wont! There are cheaply and easily available telephone recording devices that do a very good job!
8. If recording more than two or three voices e.g. a focus group, do have more than one external microphone. With just one you are likely to fail to pick up some of the voices clearly.
9. If making a digital recording do make sure you use a recorder that has a facility for transferring files to a PC. Some, called note takers do not have the facility. You will have to send the entire machine to your transcriptionist, which obviously has a number of disadvantages!
10. Check your recorder is recording before proceeding with the recording!

Penguin Transcription (http://www.penguin-transcription.co.uk), part of Penguin Office Services, offers an affordable transcription service by tailoring each quote to the exact requirements of the client. The more information the client can provide us with, and the better the quality of the recording for transcription, the more affordable the transcription service will be. Why not visit our site and fill in an enquiry form at http://www.penguin-transcription.co.uk/PTS_enquiry_form.html to receive a quote for your transcription requirements.

This article is copyright, Anne Hickley, 2007.

Now that winter is fast approaching, staying warm inside our homes become more important. One of the most common ways of keeping warm is by using gas space heaters. It not only takes the chill out of the air, but space heaters cost a little less than running the furnace all the time. But with that said, a gas space heater can also be dangerous if not used properly. Here are some tips to keep you both warm and safe.

1. One of the biggest concerns with using gas as a heating source is being sure you have good ventilation. Gas gives off dangerous fumes that you don't' want to breathe in.

2. Be sure that nothing flammable is around your gas space heater. This is big because a heater can easily become a fire hazard if precautions are not taken to keep the area clear around the heater.

3. Have a safe model of space heater. Don't try to get another year out of an old outdated gas space heater. Old units often develop leaks or create excessive fumes that can be dangerous. Also, turn the heater off when you are not home.

4. Watch for any recalls. It's always important to fill out the product registration card that comes with any space heater and mail it in. You need to know that if there would ever be a recall for any reason that you will be notified.

5. Keep children away from any type of space heater, not just gas. Small children and heaters don't mix real well. Be sure to thoroughly explain the dangers of space heaters to your kids. It could very well prevent an accident from happening in the future.

Gas space heaters are an excellent way to add some heat to your home this winter. Use these tips as well as the ones the manufacturer provides and you should never have a problem staying warm and safe this year.

You can find out more about Gas Space Heaters as well as much more information on all types of heaters and heating systems at http://www.Heaters.InfoFromA-Z.com

We have all heard the horrifying story about the family that just barely escaped with their lives, or even worse the family that died in their sleep, there lives ended by a silent killer. The silent killer is CO (Carbon Monoxide). If you don't change or maintain your furnace filter as recommended by the manufacturer you could be putting your family in danger. Your furnace filter is designed to remove dust from air as it passes through your furnace. The longer your furnace filter is installed the dirtier it becomes. This increased loading of the filter with dust causes a resistance to air flow through the filter and reduces air flow.

Gas and oil furnaces, like all heating and air conditioning equipment, are designed to have a certain amount of air flow at all times to operate properly and at highest efficiency. This air flow is measured in CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute). These appliances have a heat exchanger which has the heat source, flame, inside and the air passes over the heat exchanger on the outside. As the air passes over the heat exchanger it picks up the heat from the flame inside.

To get maximum efficiency from these systems the walls of the heat exchanger are made as thin as possible but not so thin that they cannot withstand the heat that they are subjected to during normal operation. This brings us back to the fact that these appliances are designed with minimum air flow requirements.

A furnace filter that remains in the system so long that it begins to negatively impact air flow can be dangerous. As the amount of air flowing over the heat exchanger declines, the operating temperature of the heat exchanger increases. This is when heat exchanger can crack because they are operating above design conditions. The hotter the heat exchanger gets the more it expands when heating and contracts as it cools during the off cycle. This expanding and contracting can become excessive and cause the metal of the heat exchanger warp or crack. A cracked heat exchanger can cause combustion gases to mix with the air in your home.

The good news is that properly designed furnaces have high limit switches that prevent excessive heating of the heat exchanger. These limit switches monitor the temperature at or near the heat exchanger and if the temperature reaches a predetermined set point, the unit will be shut off either until manually reset or until the limit switch senses that the temperature is within safe limits and resets automatically.

A furnace can operate a long time on an auto reset limit switch without anybody even knowing. This means that the furnace is operating at the limits of its design capabilities. Today most limit switches are the manual reset type, designed this way so that the furnace will not operate until it is serviced and the problem corrected.

Don't rely on these safety switches to protect you from disaster. These are mechanical devices which can and do fail to operate properly at times. So reduce your risk by maintaining your furnace filter properly. This means cleaning or changing your furnace filter regularly. It is always best to follow manufacturers guidelines.

Visit us for furnace filter reviews and articles to help you determine which furnace filter is best for your needs. Take part in surveys or have your questions answered.