[Hidden-tech] Need help with audio file transfer

[Deborah Chandler]

Dear Hidden-Techies,

I have a transcription job to do for a client. It is an interview  
that was recorded on a Sony IC Recorder, Model ICD-ST25, 2004  
vintage. The problem is that the last time I did a transcription from  
this machine, I found it to be very UN-user friendly, and among other  
things it was real easy to accidentally move the audio file around  
from one folder to another, and took a while to relocate it all.

Ideally, I would like to download the files to a computer or another  
piece of equipment that is easier to work with, but so far I see in  
the owner's manual and on the Sony website that the software required  
to download from the recorder to a computer is not Mac-compatible and  
I have a Mac.

Is someone familiar with this equipment and what my options are?  If  
someone has a PC and can download this file for me, and then give it  
to me (on a DVD or CD, or as an emailed file) for my Mac, that would  
be great. I understand a fee might be involved.

Also, does anyone have a fee structure they would like to share for  
this kind of work? The one-hour+ interview is with someone with a  
thick French accent (they are from the Congo) and lots of names that  
I need to look up and spell-check, and overall I need to rewind the  
audio a lot to catch it all. I am curious to see how my quoted rates  
compare to others'.

Thanks in advance for any and all help,
Deb Chandler