I've been using this tool in studio as well as in clinics, and people seem to get it really quickly. There are so many posts about transcribing here, so I thought I'd share.
Audacity is a completely free audio editor (
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) that does some amazing things. Here's the method I've been using with the kids, with great results.
Import the track.
Note the start time on your staff paper, to save time.
Place the cursor at the downbeat of the top of your transcription.
Hit space bar once to start, and again to stop.
Listen to ONLY as much as you can really grasp. Keep listening, space bar, and space bar. Don't move ahead (even one note) until you've really, really got it. No shame in going note by note.
In fact, note by note can actually save alot of time.
You can also highlight the problem area and space bar will only play the selected area.
Isolation of problems is key. Don't waste time fooling yourself!
When you've finished a bar, place the cursor at the top of the next one.
The program allows you to boost specific frequencies, aka bass. Nice.
You can also slow down problem spots. (Highlight the spot, effect> change tempo.) Extra nice.
Transcription tips from one of the best:
Listen.
Sing.
Play.
Write.
Stick to this order and transcribing is incredibly easy.
Only deal with what you can hear 100% at any point. 90% of guys make huge mistakes starting out. Just look at your transcriptions from decades past...
Anything you need to know about this program is available online. Other programs do the same stuff, but this program is FREE and fantastically easy to use.
Good luck!
