Account for Transcription Uncertainty — Account for Transcription Uncertainty

A sound recording is defined as the fixation of a series of sounds, such as a specific vocal and musical performance. Because these recordings capture a physical performance, acoustic elements can sometimes make the spoken or sung lyrics difficult to transcribe with absolute certainty.

When analyzing these recorded sounds, researchers must distinguish between the acoustic performance and the underlying written composition. This distinction is crucial because the audio recording and the written lyrics are protected under separate copyright rules.