MacSpeech Dictate [Old Version]

I just installed it today, and I'm blown away by how far voice recognition software for the Mac has progressed. br>br>I've been messing around with it for a while- iListen and IBM ViaVoice- and, while the potential was intriguing, the reality was always that voice recognition fell short; however, I understood from David Pogue's column that Dragon's software engine was much better in the Windows world, and I was hoping for something to be ported. I was excited to try MacSpeech Dictate when I first heard about it, but the high price and poor early reviews deterred me. I'm glad I waited so long to buy it. br>br>The training is quick and simple, and the results are satisfactory once you've gotten used to speaking punctuation. I'm a decent speller and typist, but in my line of work, I frequently have to transcribe handwritten notes, yellowed newspaper copy, or smudged faxes that can't be OCR'd. As a result, rather than having to retype everything, I'm looking forward to just reading it in. And after only an hour of playing with it, I'm confident that this software will save me time; dictation is already at least 95% accurate, and accuracy will only improve as my MacSpeech and I get to know each other better. br>br>What are the drawbacks? There are two of them: It's still a lot more expensive than Naturally Speaking, and the single license is a pain. For example, I would have dictated this review but I am not willing to pay for another license, so the software will remain on my work computer. More flexibility, in my opinion, should be available. Today, a single user with two computers, one at home and one at work, is probably the norm. Having said that, I'm quite pleased with it. It appears that the Jetsons' vision of the future has moved a step closer to reality. (Right now, all I have to do is wait for my robot maid to arrive. ).

Paulina Hardin

| Jan 12, 2021

That's not the case. That's not the case. As I try to get MacSpeech Dictate to do what I want, I keep saying those words over and over. (By the way, I'm not dictating this review. ) If I were, I'd have to figure out how to say "scratch that" without actually deleting words, and research fatigue is a major deterrent to using the product. br>br>As many other reviewers have noted, MacSpeech excels at understanding words as you speak them. It's a headache after a headache when it comes to editing those words. I'm constantly switching between the dictate, spelling, and command modes, and I frequently forget which one I need to complete a task. I'm also constantly telling the microphone to turn off so I can read the PDF manual. br>br>I despise the fact that the manual is only available in PDF format. A nice printed version would be worth it to me. I don't want to print the 166 pages on an 8-inch by 11-inch sheet of paper. Paper size is 1/2 by 11 inches. However, having to constantly switch back to the manual and search with Preview's primitive search syntax is a real pain. br>br>The manual is disorganized and repetitious; if you're wondering what the alpha word for "v" (which is missing from each of the manual's lists) is, it's "victor. " "br>br>I'm a professional editor, and using MSp to edit is difficult; I can tell MSp to go back a certain number of words, but I usually miss the mark. The "go to the word 'x'' command would be very useful if it worked consistently, but MSp frequently chooses an earlier version of the word rather than the last instance of the word, as it should, and it chokes on occasion. br>br>The manual makes it clear that mixing speech and typing will cause MSp to become confused. But, oh, how appealing it is! In most cases, I abandon MSp in favor of the keyboard after failing to edit or navigate with it.

Sara Ho

| Jul 10, 2021

It's primarily used for blogging. Many people don't realize that how your brain communicates with your fingers when you're writing differs significantly from how it communicates with your fingers when you're dictating. As a result, it takes some practice to become accustomed to speaking rather than typing your thoughts. br>br>Is it perfect in terms of accuracy? No, but it's very close. I figured out how to nail down the few speech impediments I have with certain words and eliminate the majority of the trouble once I picked up on certain nuances. Since 1988, I've been using personal computers on a daily basis, and I've learned that far too many people believe computers are intelligent when they aren't. They are simply a box that follows a binary algorithm. br>br>The product works; however, the supplied headset is awful, and it's USB only, which adds another complication; however, for the time saved in keystrokes and the potential for carpal tunnel, I'm willing to put up with the USB headset; I've just ordered a USB Logitech headset, which I'm hoping will last. br>br>I've been using the product for about a year and a half, and I upgrade whenever the opportunity arises.

Nylah Welch

| Nov 02, 2021

After reading many positive reviews, particularly from freelance writers like myself, I decided to purchase MacDictate. I decided to purchase a Logitech model after reading about the software's poor quality headphones. The application was delivered. It went through the installation process with no issues. To see if the reviews were accurate, I decided to put on the headphones that came with the software. Let me tell you something. They had been. I created a new profile with the Logitech headphones the next time I started MacDictate. Unlike the first session, the software was able to pick up every single word I said. I whizzed through the training modules and was dictating my article in less than five minutes. What a contrast to that first evening! The user, like the software, isn't without flaws. br>br>For some reason, the software does not start a new paragraph when I say "paragraph. " Accuracy ranges from 80% to 85%, which't bad for a first serious run. I'll need to return to the training section until the issues are resolved. Despite the oddities and snags, I am satisfied with my purchase. I believe that by not having to type everything out, I will save a significant amount of time in the next month or two. I'm not a slow typist, but I do have a proclivity for procrastinating. I edit as I write, so I'm a slow writer. I'm hoping that MacDictate will assist me in altering my writing style.

John Ryan

| Sep 06, 2021