DOTE - Make transcription fun again

DOTE is a new type of transcription software developed by the BigSoftVideo team. It is tailored for transcribing social conduct, conversation and multimodal interaction for research purposes. DOTE has been designed to support two specific standards of transcription for qualitative research, which are commonly used in conversation analysis, for example. DOTE has some of the features commonly found in other software -- such as video playback, a timeline and a visual waveform, synced playback -- but these features are streamlined and easier to use in DOTE. Moreover, it has enhanced features that do not exist in any legacy software so far, including transcript parsing, smart auto-completion, transcript heuristics, 360 video support, video-cues, export to publishable document (and subtitles), rich support for clipping and annotations, and version control. There are many more features and enhancements planned for the future. Our motto is make transcription fun again!😜

DOTE Key Features

Media

Import and activate synced audio and video recordings of an event and play them simultaneously

Video formats

Play 2D and 360-degree video formats with zoom/pan functionality

Cinematic

Automate cinematic views of your video media with zoom/pan/jump cut functionality

Heuristics

Parse your transcript for errors and warnings, with built-in realignment and autocompletion

Versions

Two backup systems to keep track of earlier versions of your transcript and restore them if necessary

Export

Export your transcript as a publishable document or as subtitles, with stylistic formatting and smart line numbering

Sharing

Easily share your projects, media and/or transcripts with others

Conventions

Get timely assistance with Jeffersonian and Mondadaian conventions, or go your own way

Tailorable

Tailor the interface, your transcripts and your media to your liking

What does DOTE stand for?

DOTE stands for Distributed Open Transcription Environment:
  • DOTE implements easy-to-use, robust, single-user checkpoint and autobackup systems based on distributed version control.
  • DOTE is open in the sense that the transcript is always accessible as a plain text file and all the formatting is transparent and non-proprietary.
  • DOTE provides an environment to support smart transcription, much like an Integrated Development Environment does for software coding. It is the first of a new breed of Integrated Transcription Environment (ITE) that enhances the craft of manual transcription of qualitative video data for research purposes.

Is DOTE for you?

If you want a fully featured, easy-to-use, cross-platform desktop transcription editor that supports contemporary audiovisual media as well as the craft and complete workflow from creating and revising a script-based transcript through to exporting a publishable transcript in a recognised style (using Jeffersonian or Mondadaian conventions), then DOTE is for you.

However, if you wish to inhabit and analyse your 360 video data in a more immersive virtual environment in which transcripts as such play a minor role, then try the AVA360VR software package, our immersive tool for annotating, visualising and analysing 360-degree videos in Virtual Reality. For instance, try VolCapping, in which you can annotate your data and share your proto-analyses with others in 3D. Note that DOTE transcript projects are also straightforwardly compatible with, and importable in, AVA360VR.

If you prefer software that primarily supports CAQDAS and statistical analytics, then DOTE is not for you. If you would like to create a score-based transcript with fine-timing across subtier categories, then DOTE is not for you. Try ELAN, instead. If you would like to create a graphic comic transcript, then try Comic Life.

Use the Media Manager tool to import, activate and format your audio-visual sources

Transcribe following Mondadaian conventions using the helpful Editor to guide you

What Editions are on offer?

We offer several Editions, each of which includes DOTE:
  1. There is the Free Edition that gives anyone access to a restricted version of DOTE
  2. There is the Pro Edition, in which all features of DOTE are unlocked
  3. There is Pro Community Edition, which also allows users to be more involved in our development community and receive better quality support.
  4. There are other Editions that give access to DOTE(and DOTEbase) for specific purposes, such as for internal use in Aalborg University

By purchasing an Edition license, you will not only be getting a wonderful toolkit that supports your transcription practices, you will also be contributing financially to further development of the software. All of the money from license purchases (after tax) goes to Aalborg University, of which a substantial proportion goes straight back into BigSoftVideo development.

A brief glimpse of the Editor in action

Which platforms are supported?

DOTE has native desktop support for Windows 10 and 11, as well as for macOS, including the new Apple Silicon with M-series processor.
It cannot be installed on a smartphone nor a tablet running Android or iOS.

Export your publishable transcript with smart line numbering and formatting (in this case, Mondadaian style)

How do I try DOTE ?

If you wish to try the basic features of DOTE, you can download a free version of DOTE and install it. The free version has some limitations and the premium features are locked. Nevertheless, anyone can try our Demo Lego Project or create their own short transcripts from inception through to export. Just follow the online help guide and video tutorials.

To allow unlimited transcripts and to unlock the premium features, you will need to purchase a DOTE Pro license. Furthermore, to join the Pro Community there is an additional fee for extra benefits.

How do I cite DOTE ?

We would appreciate that you cite DOTE when you have used it to create transcripts for publication or presentation. DOTE can be cited in the following ways (in Chicago Author-Date 17th edition style):
  • McIlvenny, Paul (Producer), Davidsen, Jacob Gorm (Producer), Kovács, Artúr Barnabás (Developer), & Stein, Alexander (Developer). (2022). DOTE: Distributed Open Transcription Environment. Computer programme, Github. https://github.com/BigSoftVideo/DOTE/
  • McIlvenny, Paul (2022). Guide for DOTE Users. Software documentation, Github Docs. https://bigsoftvideo.github.io/DOTE/
  • McIlvenny, Paul & Davidsen, Jacob Gorm (2022). DOTE Video Tutorials. YouTube.