For #1, if you have some skills working with APIs, there are some great
cloud-based Speech-To-Text solutions out there that you can easily use.
https://cloud.google.com/speech-to-text
https://aws.amazon.com/transcribe/
Both offer a "free tier" where if you only need to use the service a little
bit, its free! But generally these services only charge a little per month
if you go over the free limit. Its pay as you go with cloud services. If
you don't have experience creating your own tools that make API calls, I'm
sure you can find someone on this list who would be willing to help as a
freelance project for $500 or less!

Nowadays you can find an API for just about anything that is cloud based
and pay as you go.

Best of luck
Andrew


On Mon, Dec 12, 2022 at 2:28 PM Anne Slaughter <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi Charles,
>
> I agree with the perspectives you've received on the challenges of
> building and sustaining something yourself with the limited resources you
> describe, and that includes outsourcing what might seem like a one-time
> project for a low rate; it just isn't likely to deliver what you're
> ultimately looking to achieve, for too many depressing reasons to list. I
> wonder if you might be able to find some additional ideas for a
> voice-to-text solution if you reached out to other public libraries with
> makerspaces/production studios. Code4Lib folks are clearly awesome in many
> ways, but the public sector representation isn't extensive in this
> community, which in library software land can translate to big differences
> at almost all levels when you're trying to identify the right solution for
> your organization.
>
> For another angle, are you connected with the folks in the Library
> Development Group at the Florida State Library/FLIN (
> https://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives/library-development/digital/resource-sharing/flin/),
> or your local multitype cooperative (looks like it's this one:
> https://swfln.org/)? They might be able to connect you to vendor
> discounts, other folks working on the same issues, or other resources - and
> at the very least, the more they understand about your needs, the better
> they can plan their service offerings to help improve the libraries they
> serve.
>
> Anne Slaughter
> Director of Technology Services
> Reaching Across Illinois Library System
> Burr Ridge Office
> Phone: 630-734-5127
> Fax: 630.734.5050
> [log in to unmask]
> https://www.railslibraries.info
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of charles
> meyer
> Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2022 4:29 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Hiring a programmer
>
> Thank you Jackie, Erich, Mark Jon, Deborah and all others!
>
>
>
> 2 projects I’ve got on the back burner.
>
>
>
> 1 – since I can’t find any voice-to-text software other than DNS ($500)
> and don’t wish to use the Windows/Word voice-to-text or Google options,
> which others have used (not just Googled but actually used) I was curious
> what kind of price range it would be to hire a programmer to create a
> voice-to-text program?
>
>
> For confidentiality purposes, I can't be on the net for the voice-to-text.
>
>
>
> I’m not a software developer so I have no idea the actual costs and time
> involved in creating, developing and completing such a project. Maybe I
> need to wait for that winning lottery ticket?!
>
>
>
> 2 – I wanted to create or have created a short animated object. I’ve read
> about Blender but with no experience creating animation it was a slog to
> watch Blender tutorials and then try to develop what I wanted. It was
> easier (although certainly not easy) to learn the basics of some free video
> editing software.
>
>
>
> I then posted a request to see to if anyone might help me or I could hire
> on Blender but that was met with a thud.
>
>
>
> The vison I have for the animated object really needs to be in 3D and not
> 2D although I do respect how 2D can work well in some projects.
>
>
>
> Perhaps, if I wasn’t teaching 3D printing, doing video recording, running
> AV, doing video editing, creating writing programs, and doing all the other
> tasks needed in a public library I might have a little left over time to
> play with Blender but not so far.
>
>
>
> Thank you for all your thoughts and suggestions.
>
>
>
> Charles.
>
>
>
> Charles Meyer
>
> Charlotte County Public Library
>
>