1.2

12 MacSpeech DictateChapter 3 — Getting Started
Figure 3-7
Read the text in this panel at a normal conversational volume
and pace. You should read until the text box disappears and
the panel changes. You will see the volume meter bar fill, and
the gain indicator slide as you read. If nothing happens after
reading the text, simply start reading the text again from the
beginning.
If the volume meter bar remains empty, or the text doesn’t
disappear after you read it three (3) times, you probably have
a sound input problem. See the Troubleshooting Sound
Input section at the end of this chapter for more information.
Checking the Manual Gain Setting b o x w i l l a l l o w y o u t o b y p a s s
automatic volume adjustment and set the gain manually.
The Finished recording panel (Figure 3-8) plays back some
of what was recorded so you can check the sound quality.
Figure 3-8
Chances are, you will think your voice sounds funny. That’s
normal; when we speak, we hear our voices with additional
resonances from the bones in our head. Recordings lack
these extra resonances, so they sound different than we
expect. (If you don’t hear anything during the playback, check
to make sure your volume is not muted.)
Listen for static, excess noise, a hum, or any other odd sound.
If you hear any these of things, check your microphone’s
connections. If the connections seem OK, the microphone
may be faulty.
To hear the voice sample again, click the Play button.
MacSpeech Dictate is very good at determining the quality
of the sound input, but if you hear anything unusual, consider
re-sampling your voice. To re-sample your voice, click the left
arrow to go to the previous panel.
When you are satisfied with your voice sample, press the
Voice Training button to proceed to Voice Training.
TIP:
Microphone Setup can be used at any time, for example,
to adjust for room noise or microphone positioning.
Run this procedure by selecting Microphone Setup
from the Tools menu.