Originally Posted by
wrench1
Yes you both are correct as the transcripts are released but the actual recordings are protected. I combined two replies and didn't properly proof the result. My original intent was to reply to the "other than that it's hard to really PROVE who made which control inputs" comment above as in my experience the cockpit audio recording can be very telling in who was doing what at what time. Having compared recordings to transcripts on several occasions the raw audio can have different effect on the "facts" as presented in the transcripts.
Nonetheless, each certified party to the NTSB investigation gathers in the NTSB's Washington, DC CVR room and listen to the audio along with the NTSB's CVR team member. All of them sign off on the transcript before it is final.