11.5

Getting Started and Creating a User Profile

This workbook assumes that Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5 is now installed on your computer. Note:

 If you want to test your microphone independently of Dragon, you can use Sound Recorder, a Windows

accessory accessible from the Start menu. You may also wish to check the Sound section under Control

Panel.

 If you use a microphone that connects through a USB port on your computer, we suggest you plug it in

before starting Dragon. (This applies also to the USB dongle required to use a Bluetooth wireless

microphone.)

Dragon NaturallySpeaking is speaker-dependent software. It relies on information specific to you, including

what words and phrases you use often, how you sound, what audio device you use, and what software

settings you have. It stores this data in a set of files, referred to collectively as your “user profile,” or

“profile” for short.

Your profile is very important. The more personalized it is, the better your experience will be. To have the

best possible start, it’s worth creating your profile carefully (or upgrading it from a previous version of

Dragon), as described in this lesson. As you will see later, there are many ways for your profile to be refined

over time.

About upgrading:

Dragon 11 can upgrade profiles from Version 9 or 10. Its Upgrade

Wizard can automatically detect such existing profiles. (It is

available any time from the Windows Start menu, under Dragon

NaturallySpeaking Tools.)

The Upgrade Wizard will list all available profiles. Use its

Remove button as needed so that only the desired one(s)

appear, then click Next.

IMPORTANT: After the upgrade completes, run Accuracy

Tuning to ensure that your profile can benefit from all your

previous acoustic data. (See Help for details).

The profile creation process includes indicating your microphone’s type and verifying your sound system, as

well as an optional step where you read aloud for a few minutes so that Dragon can start adapting its acoustic

model to the unique way you sound.

To help you get started optimally, please note:

 For editions Premium and higher: If you already have a Dragon 11 profile and just want to use another

type of audio input device, add a source to your profile instead of creating a separate profile. (Open

the DragonBar’s Profile menu and choose “Add source to current User Profile.” Details below.)

 Consistency matters! For best results, create your profile in your “normal” environment, with the same

background noise and equipment as you will usually have when you use Dragon.

 If you want to test your microphone independently of Dragon, you can use Sound Recorder, a Windows

accessory accessible from the Start menu (usually at the bottom left of your computer screen).