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Table Of Contents
30 MacSpeech DictateChapter 5 — Dictation
These commands do NOT work in Spelling Mode: Caps
On/Off, AllCaps On/Off, NoCaps On/Off, New Line, New
Paragraph.
Tips for Spelling Mode:
• Rememberthatyou are not in Dictation mode. So, don’t
try to speak full words. Spelling mode is mainly for printing
individual characters. You may need to jump back and forth
between Spelling and Dictation mode, but this can be done
quickly with voice commands.
•Inspellingmode,thecommandsMove Backward/Forward
[1-99] Character[s] only work for characters that have been
spelled.
•WhenenteringSpellingmode,youwillusuallywanttostart
with the command Spacebar, in order to start with a leading
space. Otherwise MacSpeech Dictate will add the letters and
numerals you speak directly on to the end of the last word you
dictated before entering Spelling mode.
For example, you would dictate the following
“This is a test of how to speak SPELLING MODE <pause>
SPACEBAR <pause> abc PERIOD”
The result is:
This is a test of how to speak abc.
If you did not say SPACEBAR you would get:
This is a test of how to speakabc.
Troubleshooting Dictation
Using MacSpeech Dictate for dictation is fairly straight forward
— you speak, and the text appears at the location of the
insertion point, in any document. Occasionally, however, you
may experience reduced accuracy or other problems. There
is usually an easy solution to these issues.
Extra Words
If “extra” words such as “the,” “to,” “of,” “oh,” and “a,” appear in
your document — sometimes when you aren’t even speaking
— this usually means the microphone is too close to your
mouth. MacSpeech Dictate is capturing the sound of your
breath, and attempting to convert this sound into words.
For best results, make sure the microphone is one to two
fingertips away from the corner of your mouth. (If you are soft-
spoken, you might have to have it as close as a thumb’s width.
If you have a loud voice, maybe a bit further.) When properly
positioned, you should be able to drink from a normal-sized
glass without touching the microphone or spilling the liquid.
Accuracy Issues
If your recognition accuracy suddenly deteriorates, first take
a look at the signal strength meter in the Feedback window.
When you speak, it should be about 80% to 90% green.
If there is too little or too much green in the meter, there
is a good chance your voice is not being input properly
for good recognition. This can happen if the noise level in
the environment in which you are using MacSpeech Dictate
changes from what it was when you first set up your profile.
Don’t panic. All you need to do is select S e t U p M y M i c r o p h o n e
from the Tools menu in MacSpeech Dictate to re-calibrate
your microphone, which takes only a few seconds.
If Dictation Doesn’t Appear In Your Document...
Make sure you are using the same microphone that was
connected when you set up the current profile. Microphones
are profile-specific. To use a different microphone, you need
create a new profile.
For more information on troubleshooting, please see the
MacSpeech Support web site at:
<http://www.macspeech.com/support_center>
Speaking Tips -- For Your Voice
Dictation may help alleviate RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury),
because it eases the burden on your arms and hands. But
speech recognition has its own potential problem, which is
vocal strain. Overuse of your voice can cause hoarseness
and a sore throat. With a bit of preparation, however, you can
easily avoid vocal strain.
Keep Drinking
We’re talking about keeping your vocal cords lubricated.
Speaking for long periods will dry out your throat, so keep
something drinkable nearby. While it is true that some liquid is
better than no liquid, it is also true that some liquids are better
than others. Plain water is best, and, because cold makes
your throat muscles tighten up, water at room temperature is
preferred. Caffeine promotes dehydration, so avoid it.
Find The (Vocal) Middle Ground
It is as much of a mistake to speak too quietly as it is to speak
too loudly while dictating. Either extreme can lead to vocal
strain. Try to keep a conversational speaking tone, as though
you’re speaking to a person who is about an arm’s length
away.
Mind Your Posture
Sit up straight. It helps to have an adjustable chair with
support for good posture. This helps your voice because there