Transcription Mode

Status: Current Last updated: 2026-03-30 13:40 EDT

Create new CHAT transcripts from audio by typing utterance text while the audio plays, then stamping timing bullets at utterance boundaries. Transcription mode turns VS Code into a transcription workstation — the CLAN equivalent of Transcribe mode.

Prerequisites

The .cha file must contain an @Media: header pointing to an audio or video file. The media file must be findable by the extension’s resolver (see Media Resolution). A minimal starting file looks like:

@UTF8
@Begin
@Languages: eng
@Participants: CHI Target_Child
@Media: interview, audio
*CHI:
@End

Starting Transcription Mode

Open the .cha file
Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P)
Search for TalkBank: Start Transcription Mode
Audio begins playing from the start of the file

The waveform panel opens automatically to provide visual reference.

Workflow

The core transcription loop is:

Listen to the audio as it plays
Type the speaker’s utterance text on the current *SPK: line
Press F4 to stamp a timing bullet and advance

When you press F4:

A timing bullet is inserted at the end of the current utterance line, marking the time span from the previous stamp (or file start) to the current playback position: go home .
The cursor automatically advances to a new *SPK: line, ready for the next utterance
The speaker code on the new line uses the configured default speaker

Repeat until the recording is complete
Open the Command Palette and search for TalkBank: Stop Transcription Mode

[VIDEO: 60s demo of transcription workflow with F4 stamping) Capture this: start transcription mode on a short audio file. Type 3-4 utterances, pressing F4 after each one. Show the timing bullets being inserted and new speaker lines being created. Include the waveform panel in the recording.

Key Commands During Transcription

Shortcut	Command	Description
`F4`	Stamp timing bullet	Insert bullet with current time range, advance to next line
`F8`	Rewind	Jump back by `rewindSeconds` to re-listen
`F5`	Loop	Toggle looping of the current playback region

Configuration

Setting	Type	Default	Description
`talkbank.transcription.defaultSpeaker`	string	`CHI`	Speaker code inserted on new utterance lines (e.g., `CHI`, `MOT`, `INV`)
`talkbank.transcription.rewindSeconds`	number	`2`	Seconds to rewind when pressing F8. Minimum: 0.5

Example Configuration

For an investigator transcribing an adult interview:

{
  "talkbank.transcription.defaultSpeaker": "INV",
  "talkbank.transcription.rewindSeconds": 3
}

Foot-Pedal and Custom Keybindings

USB foot pedals are commonly used in transcription to control playback without taking hands off the keyboard. To remap transcription keys for a foot pedal:

Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P)
Search for TalkBank: Configure Transcription Keybindings
The VS Code keybindings editor opens, pre-filtered to TalkBank transcription commands
Click the pencil icon next to any command to assign a new keybinding

This is the recommended way to map foot-pedal buttons to F4 (stamp), F8 (rewind), and F5 (loop). Most USB foot pedals present as standard keyboard devices and can be mapped to any VS Code keybinding.

See Keyboard Shortcuts for more on customizing keybindings.

Tips

Use the waveform panel for visual reference. The waveform shows where you are in the recording and helps you identify utterance boundaries by looking at silence gaps between speech regions.
Rewind generously. The default 2-second rewind (F8) lets you re-hear the end of an utterance. For fast or overlapping speech, increase rewindSeconds to 3 or 4.
Slow down playback using the speed slider on the media panel. Dropping to 0.5x or 0.75x gives you more time to type without pausing.
Edit timing after transcription. Transcription mode creates an initial pass. Use Walker Mode afterward to review each segment and adjust timing bullets as needed.

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