Guide for [HM], [OIVS], and [PIL] Tags
Why This Matters
Most audio uses regular tags ([N], [OVERLAP], [IVS]). But some special situations need special tags.
Wrong tag = your work gets rejected.
🎯 Main Rule: When you're not sure, use regular tags. Better safe than sorry!
3 Simple Questions
Listen to your audio. Ask these questions in order:
Question 1: Is the main speaker rapping or doing hip-hop?
YES → Use [HM] tag
NO → Go to Question 2
Question 2: Do you hear voices from TV, radio, or recorded music?
(Not live people talking - recorded voices only)
YES → Use [OIVS] tag
NO → Go to Question 3
Question 3: Is someone saying their home address, phone number, or ID number?
YES → Use [PIL] tag
NO → Use regular tags
Quick Answer Table
What You Hear | Which Tag | What To Do |
Person rapping/hip-hop | [HM] | Keep the words + add [HM] at end |
TV/radio/music voices | [OIVS] | Delete all words + add [OIVS] + choose N |
Personal address/phone/ID | [PIL] | Delete all words + add [PIL] + choose N |
Everything else | Regular tags | Follow normal rules |
[HM] Tag - For Rap Music
When to use: The main speaker is rapping or doing hip-hop music.
What [HM] sounds like:
Fast rhythmic speech with rhymes
Hip-hop style performance
Musical rap verses
Any language - rap is rap!
What to do with [HM]:
Keep the words - write what they rap
Add [HM] at the very end of the segment
Keep normal role (O1, O2, O3 - not N)
Example: "I got the flow, ready to go, never too slow [HM]"
NOT [HM]:
Regular singing → Use [OIVS] if recorded music
Background music → Use [N]
Fast talking → Normal transcription
Singing in wrong language → Use [IVS]
[OIVS] Tag - For TV/Radio/Music Voices
When to use: You hear recorded human voices that are not the main speaker.
What [OIVS] sounds like:
TV news or shows playing
Radio DJ or announcer talking
Songs with singing or lyrics
Commercials with people talking
Music with vocals
Any recorded human voices in background
What to do with [OIVS]:
Delete all words - make text box completely empty
Click [OIVS] button (never type manually)
Choose N as role
Only [OIVS] tag stays in the box
Example: Empty box showing just [OIVS]
NOT [OIVS]:
Live people talking together → Use [OVERLAP]
Music without singing → Use [N]
Just background noise → Use [N]
Main speaker is on TV/radio → Use [OIVS] (still recorded voice)
[PIL] Tag - For Personal Information
When to use: Someone shares private personal details.
What [PIL] sounds like:
"I live at 123 Main Street, Nairobi"
"My phone number is 0701234567"
"My ID number is 12345678"
Bank account numbers
Credit card numbers
Passport numbers
Personal email addresses
What to do with [PIL]:
Delete all words - make text box completely empty
Click [PIL] button (never type manually)
Choose N as role
Only [PIL] tag stays in the box
Example: Empty box showing just [PIL]
NOT [PIL]:
Just person's name → Normal transcription
Business addresses → Normal transcription
Work phone numbers → Normal transcription
General personal stories → Normal transcription
How to Use the Buttons
🚨 NEVER type [HM], [OIVS], or [PIL] with your keyboard!
Always use the buttons or your work will be rejected.
Find the buttons:
Look in your tag panel for three buttons: [HM], [OIVS], [PIL]
For [HM] (Valid Segment - Keep Words):
Type what the rapper says
Put cursor at the very end of the text
Click [HM] button
Tag appears: "rap words here [HM]"
Keep normal role (O1, O2, O3)
For [OIVS] and [PIL] (Invalid Segments - Delete Words):
Delete any text in the box (make it empty)
Click [OIVS] or [PIL] button
Choose N as role
Box shows only the tag: [OIVS] or [PIL]
Common Mistakes That Cause Rejections
❌ Wrong [HM] Usage:
WRONG: Background music → RIGHT: Use [N]
WRONG: Singing in wrong language → RIGHT: Use [IVS]
WRONG: Just fast talking → RIGHT: Normal transcription
WRONG: Regular singing → RIGHT: Use [OIVS] if recorded
❌ Wrong [OIVS] Usage:
WRONG: Multiple people talking live → RIGHT: Use [OVERLAP]
WRONG: Just background noise → RIGHT: Use [N]
WRONG: Instrumental music only → RIGHT: Use [N]
WRONG: Live conversation → RIGHT: Normal transcription
❌ Wrong [PIL] Usage:
WRONG: Just person's name → RIGHT: Normal transcription
WRONG: Business address → RIGHT: Normal transcription
WRONG: General personal info → RIGHT: Normal transcription
❌ Format Mistakes:
WRONG: Typing tags manually → RIGHT: Always use buttons
WRONG: Wrong role with [OIVS]/[PIL] → RIGHT: Always use N role
WRONG: Keeping text with [OIVS]/[PIL] → RIGHT: Delete all text
Step-by-Step Decision Process
🎧 LISTEN TO YOUR SEGMENT
↓
❓ Is the main speaker rapping/doing hip-hop?
✅ YES → [HM] → Keep words + add [HM] at end + normal role
❌ NO → Next question
↓
❓ Do you hear voices from TV/radio/music?
✅ YES → [OIVS] → Delete all words + add [OIVS] + role N
❌ NO → Next question
↓
❓ Is someone sharing address/phone/ID numbers?
✅ YES → [PIL] → Delete all words + add [PIL] + role N
❌ NO → Use regular tags ([N], [OVERLAP], [IVS])
When You're Not Sure
Always choose regular tags over wrong specialty tags:
Hard to understand → Use [IVS]
Background sounds → Use [N]
Multiple speakers talking → Use [OVERLAP]
Normal conversation → Normal transcription
Remember: Better to be safe than get your work rejected!
Quick Reference Card
The 3 Specialty Tags:
[HM] = Main speaker rapping (keep words, add tag, normal role)
[OIVS] = TV/radio/music voices (delete words, add tag, role N)
[PIL] = Personal info shared (delete words, add tag, role N)
Key Differences:
[HM] = Valid segment → Keep transcription
[OIVS] & [PIL] = Invalid segments → Delete transcription
Emergency Rules:
When confused → Use regular tags
Never type tags manually → Always use buttons
[OIVS]/[PIL] always get role N
[HM] keeps normal speaker role
Need Help?
Daily Support:
Ask questions in #annotation channel
Share examples with your team
Urgent Issues:
Tag @Marcia with file ID and description
Include what you heard and which tag you're unsure about
Technical Problems:
Buttons not working → Contact tech support
Include your file ID and segment number
Success Tips
Listen carefully - Don't rush the decision
Use the 3 questions - Follow them in order
When unsure - Choose regular tags
Always use buttons - Never type manually
Check your work - [HM] keeps words, [OIVS]/[PIL] delete words
🎯 Daily Reminder: Rap? TV voices? Personal info? When unsure, use regular tags!
Your specialty tag accuracy protects the whole team's success rate. Take your time and choose correctly!
Related Tag Guides
Need help with regular tags mentioned in this guide? Check out these complete guides:
🔊 [N] Noise Tag Guide
Complete guide for handling background noise during speech (dogs barking, cars honking, etc.).
👉 Part 1: [N] Tag Basics - The Foundation Rule
Master the universal rule: noise + speech happening at the same time
👉 Part 2: When to Use [N] Tags (With Examples)
See the 4 main types: animals, vehicles, weather, human-made sounds
👉 Part 3: When NOT to Use [N] Tags (Avoid Rejections)
Prevent the most common mistakes that cause file rejections
👉 Part 4: How to Apply [N] Tags in DataPlus
Step-by-step button workflow for perfect formatting
📋 [IVS] Invalid Segment Guide
Complete guide for handling segments that cannot be transcribed (unclear speech, wrong language, technical issues).
🗣️ [OVERLAP] Tag Guide
Complete guide for handling multiple speakers talking at the same time.
📚 Complete Tag Library
[N] Tag Guide - For background noise during speech
[HM], [OIVS], [PIL] Guide - This guide (specialty tags)
[IVS] Guide - For invalid/unclear segments
[OVERLAP] Guide - For simultaneous speakers
Master all tags for 100% annotation accuracy!