News/Articles
Law Office Computing Verdict: Synchron is recommended to attorneys.
Law Office Computing (Oct/Nov ’04)
Verdict: Synchron is recommended to attorneys.
View PDF of Law Office Computing Article
by Brett Burney, the legal practice support
coordinator for Thompson Hine
If you are not videotaping your depositions these days, then you are not taking full advantage of the available technology. Judges and juries like to watch someone talk, rather than read from a transcript. This technology was out of reach a few years ago, but it’s reasonably accessible these days with offerings from companies such as Synchron Voice and Video.
Synchron offers several services to help you prepare your video depositions for trial. Synchron can synchronize the video and the text transcript of your deposition together, which allows you to create persuasive video clips to show a judge or jury.
There are a multitude of studies that prove the effectiveness of using multimedia in the courtroom. Today’s society, from which juries are formed, is conditioned for TV and flashy presentations. They appreciate a good show and get bored quickly with tedious documents and toneless deposition transcripts. Judges and juries expect more in today’s tech-savvy world.
One of the easiest areas where an attorney can gain a multimedia advantage is through videotaping depositions. Hire a videographer for your next deposition, in addition to a court reporter, and request the video in digital format as opposed to the old analog VHS format. The standard format for digital video today is MPEG-1. A few days after your deposition is over, you will receive an official version of the transcript in ASCII format (a text file) and the digital video on a CD or DVD.
Synchron can then help you go from video depositions to maximize your multimedia experience.
The goal is to get the words of the official transcript synchronized to the video of the same deposition. The advantages of having this done are tremendous. When you get these two files synchronized, you
can import them into a trial presentation application such as Verdict Systems’ Sanction or InData’s TrialDirec-tor and simply highlight sections of the text transcript to create video clips.
The synchronization is done at Synchron’s facilities after you send the company your transcript and video file. You download a free utility called “SyncUploader” from Synchron’s Web site to transport your files to Synchron, which will send the finished synchronized transcripts back to you over a secure, encrypted connection. This utility also will process your video so only the audio portion of the file is uploaded. This really can save you valuable Internet bandwidth and time.
Once Synchron has your text transcript and the audio from your video, it works its magic. The company’s founder has his roots in voice recognition software and decided it would be a good area to apply his craft. The work is done by computers (which makes it affordable), but you always can elect to have it proofed by a human for a few dollars more.
AutoSync checks for completed jobs to send back and forth, but once the transcript and media is uploaded, you don’t need to keep SyncUploader on. Customers can choose to receive an e-mail notifying them of the job completion, and SyncUploader can be launched at a later time to receive the synchronized transcripts. Once Synchron is done with your video and transcript, it delivers the completed files right back to your computer, in whatever format you requested (Sanction, TrialDirector, LiveNote Technologies’ LiveNote, etc.)
I found the service to be effortless. I launched AutoSync, put in my username and password and was welcomed with a screen asking for my first upload.
I found a video of a recent deposition along with the accompanying text transcript and hit send. The AutoSync box showed me the progress as it uploaded my transcript and created an audio file of my video. At that point, all I had to do was wait for the file to be finished. Sure enough, it was ready by the next day. Synchron tries to stick to a 24-hour turnaround and can handle a large number of jobs at one time.
When I launched AutoSync again, it told me a completed file was ready to download. When the download was done, I clicked a button that opened the folder where the files were stored. Since I use Sanction, all I had to do was drag the appropriate file from that folder into Sanction and viola — I had a fully synchronized video file.
I found the synchronization to be amazingly accurate, although I did have to tweak my individual clips to get them just right. I have to do this anyway, regardless of what method I use to synchronize the text and video. As long as Synchron can get me an accurate synchronization I can work with, the savings are fantastic. I highly recommend using Synchron for your next multimedia adventure. The folks at Synchron are helpful and will respond to any questions you have.
Synchron Voice & Video Doubles AutoSync Processing Capacity
Demand for Internet-based Synchronization is on the Rise
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – May 24, 2004 – Synchron Voice and Video, a Minneapolis-based company that provides video transcript AutoSync services, manual synchronization, video encoding and audio processing services to the legal industry, announced today that they have expanded operations and doubled their AutoSync processing capacity. Synchron now has the capability to AutoSync over 400 hours per day.
“Synchron’s architecture is very flexible and additional technology and resources will be employed as demand for the service rises to a new high,” states Michael Schonwetter, president of Synchron Voice and Video. “After using Synchron’s AutoSync services, I have watched some of our clients go from using zero video depositions a year ago to vowing to use it on every case. This is proof that using our service is easy, beneficial, and, most importantly, a powerful source of persuasion for litigators.”
AutoSync is the process of synchronizing a deposition transcript and MPEG media files. Clients send the unprocessed files to Synchron via a secure Internet portal. Synchron processes the files and sends back a completely synchronized and loadable file to the client. Synchron delivers the synchronized transcript in formats compatible with the most popular trial presentation software applications such as Sanction II, TrialDirector, and RealLegal Binder. Clients will be able to review, annotate, redact, and create video clips for litigation.
For more information about Synchron and their AutoSync services, please visit www.synchronvideo.com.
About Synchron Voice & Video
Synchron is devoted to producing the highest quality synchronized transcripts by using state-of-the-art AutoSync processing, signal processing, speech recognition, automation and hand proofing. Synchron also offers forensic audio services including noise reduction and speech clarification. Synchron can synchronize transcripts, videos, depositions, 911 calls, phone tapes, surveillance tapes and interviews to almost any media and deliver it in most litigation support software and trial presentation packages. For more information call (800) 769-2858 or visit their Web site www.synchronvideo.com.
Synchron Voice & Video Launches Synchronizer
Trial Presentation Software for Litigation Support
MINNEAPOLIS, March 16, 2004 – Minneapolis-based Synchron Voice and Video, a Minneapolis-based company that provides video transcript AutoSync services, manual synchronization, video encoding and audio processing services to the legal industry, announced today the release of Synchronizer, a trial presentation software that allows users to review, annotate, highlight and create video clips from synchronized video transcripts.
“The Synchronizer gives legal professionals the tools to easily work with synchronized video depositions,” states Michael Schonwetter, president of Synchron Voice and Video. “Not only will our customers appreciate how easy it is to use the Synchronizer software, but they are ensured that they will receive the best and most accurate video and audio synchronization services in the legal market today.”
The Synchronizer can be used for many types of evidence including transcripts, videos, depositions, 911 calls, phone tapes, surveillance tapes and interviews. Users can simultaneously play the audio, video and show the text of what is being said. This helps people understand the difficult to hear or difficult to understand parts of the audio. The Synchronizer is free and can be downloaded from Synchron’s web site, www.SynchronVideo.com, or by installation from a CD-ROM.
Features and functions of the application are:
· Line-by-line, word by word, or three-line highlighting
· Create clips by highlighting text and save them in the Clip List Manager
· Full screen presentation capability
· Export clips as SAMI, as one-line or three-line captions
· Email clips and use Windows Media Player to view the video and transcript
· Save timestamped transcripts in various popular formats (ASCII, XML, etc.)
· Suppress text and video, such as sustained objections, by highlighting
· Dual video monitor support
· Adjust media playback speed
About Synchron Voice & Video
Synchron is devoted to producing the highest quality synchronized transcripts by using state-of-the-art AutoSync processing, signal processing, speech recognition, automation and hand proofing. Synchron also offers forensic audio services including noise reduction and speech clarification. Synchron can synchronize transcripts, videos, depositions, 911 calls, phone tapes, surveillance tapes and interviews to almost any media and deliver it in most litigation support software and trial presentation packages. For more information call (800) 769-2858 or visit their web site www.synchronvideo.com.
Synchron Voice & Video Partners with RealLegal, LLC
Synchron Voice & Video Partners with RealLegal, LLC
Synchron .XML Output to Integrate with RealLegal® Publisher(tm) and Binder(tm)
MINNEAPOLIS, January 15, 2004 – Minneapolis-based Synchron Voice and Video, and Aurora, CO-based RealLegal, LLC have announced a partnership to make synchronized transcript files produced by Synchron compatible with RealLegal software. This integration will assist court reporters, law firms and their corporate law department clients as they work with media files and corresponding transcripts. Synchron delivers video transcript synchronizing, video encoding and audio processing services to the legal industry. RealLegal develops litigation and practice management software for legal organizations.
Synchron expanded its delivery format options to include the RealLegal E-Transcript(tm) .xml (eXtensible Markup Language) format, which provides a broader utility and smoother transfer of the synchronized files to discovery management software. Synchron video-transcript synchronization clients may request this format for one-step import into RealLegal Publisher and RealLegal Binder.
As a provider of the RealLegal E-Transcript .xml format, Synchron will produce audio/video synchronized transcripts that can be instantly imported into RealLegal Publisher or RealLegal Binder, without requiring any conversion process. The .xml transcript format provides greater compatibility with litigation software.
“RealLegal is in the business of streamlining how the entire legal system shares case related materials. This new integration helps simplify how RealLegal Publisher and RealLegal Binder users analyze testimony and view a witness’ demeanor during questioning,” said Bill Feid, president and chief executive officer of RealLegal.
“RealLegal gives legal professionals the tools to help settle or win the case and Synchron helps simplify the process of getting there,” states Michael Schonwetter, president of Synchron Voice and Video. “Users of both Publisher and Binder can effortlessly load, review and use synchronized video depositions. I think RealLegal’s clients will embrace this new service and technology integration between two quality companies.”
RealLegal Publisher users browse to where Synchron’s .xml transcript file is stored on compact disc and instantly add it to their selected Publisher Bundle. When the transcript is opened in the embedded RealLegal E-Transcript Viewer, the user can click the RealLegal Video Player and select the corresponding Synchron video file to play. Similarly, RealLegal Binder users browse to where Synchron’s .xml transcript file is stored and add it to their project. From Binder, they can review, annotate and summarize the synchronized transcript along with other discovery.
About Synchron Voice & Video
Synchron is devoted to producing the highest quality synchronized transcripts by using state-of-the-art signal processing, speech recognition, automation and hand proofing. Synchron also offers forensic audio services including noise reduction and speech clarification. Synchron can synchronize transcripts, videos, depositions, 911 calls, phone tapes, surveillance tapes and interviews to almost any media and deliver it in most litigation support software formats. For more information call 952.920.1092 or visit www.synchronvideo.com.
About RealLegal, LLC
RealLegal provides Practice Manager(tm) for maintaining and managing matters and cases; E-Transcript(tm) for electronic transcript creation, standardization and delivery; Publisher(tm) for bundling E-Transcript files with imaged documents and synchronized video; Binder(tm) for discovery management; and Exemplaris(tm) for online access to federal transcripts. RealLegal’s offerings have earned the company a client base of more than 1,000 law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies, as well as 4,000 court reporting firms. Headquartered in Aurora, CO, RealLegal’s investors include U.S. Equity Partners L.P., a private equity investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., L.P. For more information, call (888) 584-9988 or visit www.reallegal.com.
