SpeechMagic Support - Before you start dictating
The working environment
Institution-wide spelling guidelines are a good idea, for example, for abbreviations. Before you start using speech recognition, clarifying the spelling system to be used, with the typing pool and other users, helps to make the correction process more straightforward. Good sound quality is vital for good recognition. A workstation using speech recognition should not be close to a source of background noise (like a radio). If it is, the system will learn to compensate but the recognition results will always be affected. As a general rule, the lower the background noise the better the recognition.
How to hold the microphone
Hold your microphone at a constant distance from your mouth. In a quiet environment, this should be around 10 cm/3.5 – 4 inches. In a noisy environment this can be reduced to around 5 cm/2 inches.
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| The optimal distance to the SpeechMike | Too far away from the SpeechMike |
Hold the microphone in a comfortable way. Any friction on the microphone, for example, rubbing motions, can interfere with the sound quality.
If you dictate into a microphone which is lying on a table it may conduct additional noise as it will pick up vibrations from the surface on which it is lying; this will negatively affect your recognition results.
Audio Wizard
Running the Audio Wizard is crucial to prepare the system for your recording environment.
Make sure that you run the Audio Wizard in conditions similar to those you will use when dictating real reports. For example, if you will be working in a loud environment, do not ask those around you to be quiet while you run the Audio Wizard.
When the Audio Wizard asks you to adjust the recording volume, you should read the text at the same volume and style that you will use when dictating real reports.
You should re-run the Audio Wizard from time to time and if anything changes (temporarily or permanently) in your recording environment. For example, a new microphone or a change in background noise.
Initial Training
When using SpeechMagic for the first time, Initial Training enables the recognition process to become familiar with your speech characteristics more quickly. Non-native speakers and native speakers who are new to dictating or speech recognition are encouraged to run the Initial Training; for others it is optional. Only run Initial Training once.