When trying to dictate using MacSpeech, things can be very frustrating at first. Trying to learn to use a new program and memorise many commands at the same time as you are learning the art of dictation is always going to be difficult. Happily, there is one thing which you can do that will greatly increase the chances that you will learn to use MacSpeech Dictate usefully.
Select ‘Preferences’ from the Dictate menu to open MacSpeech Dictate’s preference pane. Click on the recognition icon and check the box labelled “Always show recognition window when dictating”. Make sure the other checkbox, the one labelled “Close recognition window after each choice”, is unchecked as shown here:
You may also wish to increase the maximum number of alternatives shown in the recognition window, and if you have a fast computer then moving the slider towards the end marked “Accuracy” may also improve your recognition.
Having the recognition window open whenever you are dictating will make it much more likely that you will use your voice for corrections. This will, in turn, allow MacSpeech dictate to fine tune your voice profile each time you use the program. Having a better voice profile will reduce the number of correction which are needed as Dictate will recognise your voice more accurately.
- Ricky Buchanan
If you are going to buy or upgrade any version of MacSpeech Dictate from the USA or UK.
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atmacjournal August 3, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Improve your @MacSpeech Dictate Recognition With One Easy Step http://is.gd/1Yl0D
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
rickybuchanan August 3, 2009 at 4:01 pm
RT @atmacjournal: Improve your @MacSpeech Dictate Recognition With One Easy Step http://is.gd/207q3
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
macspeech August 3, 2009 at 4:03 pm
RT @atmacjournal: “Improve your @MacSpeech Dictate Recognition With One Easy Step” http://is.gd/1Yl0D (Yes, recommended when starting out!)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Sarah Smiley August 4, 2009 at 10:47 am
Hi Ricky, I found your article while searching for what my problem with MacSpeech Dictate might be (I have 1.5x –latest one). I “really” need to use this but it is crashing on both my iMac and my new MacBook Pro, and at technical support at MS they are “still looking into it.” I’ve thought that there may be some conflict with using Skype (particularly Skype video) as it seems to be related. Have you had any issues with Skype and MSD, and would you be open to me calling you tomorrow? If so, I’d appreciate that. Please email me at smileysemail@yahoo.com and leave a ph. no. and good times for you, if so. I do better with phone at this point. Thank you, Sarah Smiley
Ricky Buchanan August 4, 2009 at 11:20 am
@Sarah: My best advice would be to back everything up and reinstall your computer from scratch, then install MacSpeech Dictate as the FIRST thing. See if it works – it should. Then every time you add another program, preference pane, anything that runs, test it again.
Slow and frustrating, but it should tell you what the conflict is.
I don’t use the Video much with Skype, but I haven’t noticed any problems for what it’s worth.
Sarah Smiley August 4, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Ricky, do you have one or two less drastic things to try? The problem I’m having with MSD now not launching (on my 5 day old MacBook Pro) seems to be a different one than I’m having on my iMac. Just in case it is related to Skype, I’ve removed everything related to Skype (application and all) from the Pro, plist, etc. Restarted and still will not launch. I’d put the MSD License Key on my desktop, at someone’s instruction (yours maybe from an archive) and that is still on desktop, but wouldn’t launch before that or after that. MSD seemed to work very well for hours today, until right after having used Skype video here for the first time on the Pro. After that it would not launch. Any other suggestions before I go for a clean slate? I’m very sick at this point, so won’t do much or perhaps anything more tonight (pain related to illness related to too long working on this). Glad to see you are around again, as I’d seen you were ill earlier. Thanks again. Sarah
Sarah Smiley August 4, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Ricky- would the very first part of this report help? Two odd things…I’ve noticed that the version of MSD is a 4 digit thing “??? (5380). Shouldn’t it show 10.5x or whatever the latest version is…that’s the one I’m using.
And notice the termination was due to uncaught exception…. Any obvious hints here? (see last 7 lines specifically)
Process: MacSpeech Dictate [253]
Path: /Applications/MacSpeech Dictate.app/Contents/MacOS/MacSpeech Dictate
Identifier: com.macspeech.dictate
Version: ??? (5380)
Code Type: X86 (Native)
Parent Process: launchd [78]
Interval Since Last Report: 12471 sec
Crashes Since Last Report: 10
Per-App Interval Since Last Report: 68 sec
Per-App Crashes Since Last Report: 10
Date/Time: 2009-08-03 22:05:05.432 -0500
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.5.7 (9J3061)
Report Version: 6
Anonymous UUID: E5C51325-C2D1-4764-BAF0-F4938B273253
Exception Type: EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Exception Codes: 0×0000000000000002, 0×0000000000000000
Crashed Thread: 0
Application Specific Information:
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception ‘NSInvalidArgumentException’, reason: ‘Unable to parse the format string “(vendor = NULL) or (vendor = ‘Sarah’s Mac – Pro’)”‘
Thread 0 Crashed:
0 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x94ecff54 ___TERMINATING_DUE_TO_UNCAUGHT_EXCEPTION___ + 4
Ricky Buchanan August 4, 2009 at 2:17 pm
@Sarah: I assume that since you’re in contact with MacSpeech that they’ve run you through a standard list of things to do such as removing the plist files, reinstalling Dictate, and so on which is why I didn’t suggest those things.
If you aren’t in the USA, try setting your location and setttings in System Preferences -> International to American just in case. Dictate has a history of being a bit wonky with us non-USAians.
You could create another account on your computer and try using Dictate on that – it’s sort of the “in between” step before a full reinstall.
And I am very sympathetic about the low energy and feeling ill – I’ve been awake 2 hours now and I’m so tired I literally can’t see properly any more. Back to resting for me
I hope you figure this out soon. Let me know how it goes!
Sarah Smiley August 4, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Ricky, actually NO, MacSpeech hasn’t given me ONE thing to do. I’ve sent them multiple crash reports, emails, have made phone calls (and let them know the physical “need” I have with this illness, etc. etc. etc.) I have all but begged for help (well, I sort of begged, I’m not proud) … all they have said was “we are looking into this issue.” Today when I called them and persisted about getting a timeline, or a phone call, or an email telling me ANY progress they are making, the gentleman on the phone said, “well, in the meantime we’ll ship you a replacement CD” (just got this CD about a week ago after waiting for it for a month), but I heard the words “overnight.” Then when I asked him to confirm this would be here tomorrow, he hedged…
I am SOOOOO disappointed. No, you were the first to suggest any of this. I’ve been doing some of it on my own. I did remove the plists (multiple times), the license onto my desk, removed everything to do with Skype in case it’s related, restarted more than a dozen times after trying these different things. This computer is 4 days old, and all I’ve been doing for 4 days is getting it ready to really be able to use. I just can’t imagine, as sick as I am, starting over. We’ll see. Thanks for your suggestions. I’m going to bed. Take care of yourself, Ricky. (I’m in the USA)
Paul Natsch August 5, 2009 at 6:06 am
Sarah,
One thing you might want to try is running Disk Utility (located in your “Utilities” folder) and verifying and fixing disk permissions. It’s a fairly simple process that only takes a few minutes. It is recommended that you should do this every so often anyways. It might not solve your problem but it’s worth a try.
And thanks again for another great article Ricky. I want to second the importance of the “recognition window” which can be brought up by saying “show recognition window”. Whenever MacSpeech Dictate makes a mistake the correct word or phrase is almost always listed in the recognition window in which case you can just pick the number associated with the correct text and it will be instantly corrected in your document. I have it set so it gives me 10 choices.
I actually didn’t use this for quite a while but when I finally discovered it my experience improved dramatically. And the 1.5 update made things even better.
Thanks again Ricky!
Ricky Buchanan August 26, 2009 at 10:52 pm
@Paul: Thanks for the comment! I had the same experience as you- didn’t use the recognition window for ages but discovered after the 1.5 upgrades that it really did help improve recognition over time. My biggest problem now is the cognitive load (mental energy) it takes to dictate – it’s still much easier for me to type on those days when it’s physically possible so I do that even if it’s difficult. The mental energy needed to dictate leaves me doing an imitation of a piece of broccoli pretty quickly
Sarah Smiley August 5, 2009 at 9:56 am
Thanks much, Paul. I had noted your name last night when I was reading through the comments on MacSpeech–it looked like you were also someone very familiar with and using the program, so I’m happy to get your input as well. Actually, I had done what you suggested. I have only one question about disk permissions…I’ve been going right to Repairing Disk Permissions instead of Verifying Disk Permissions first. Is Verifying them recommended before repairing?
Ricky and Paul, I’m happy to say that MSD started TODAY to communicate with me. (The Case was created 7/26.) While the gentleman said yesterday morning they’d send me a replacement CD/DVD overnight (for me to try until their Level III dept. looks into this more) I’m glad to say I got an email showing they ordered that overnight shipment today, so I expect I’ll receive it tomorrow. That’s good. I also received my first email as to what further information they need from me to get this figured out. However, I’ll wait to hear back from them as to if they want me to send the information requested under two separate Case No.’s, because I believe they are only working on the issue with the iMac, and not the 5-day old MacBook Pro, which will no longer even launch MSD. Things now seem to be moving, and that is a relief.
I’m glad to find you all out there in Cyberland, especially those who can relate to having illness and/or disabilities and the additional challenges this can offer us
I appreciate you, and value your suggestions.
Ricky Buchanan August 26, 2009 at 10:54 pm
@Sarah: Apologies for the belated reply, I just wondered if you had got things working now?
Also, there’s no need to run Verify Disk Permissions before Repair Disk Permissions – the first part of the “repair” sequence is verify disk permissions so you’re doubling up by running both. It certainly won’t hurt anything but it wastes a bit of your time and energy.
Michael O'Brien March 5, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Hi Sarah,
I have just purchased a new macbook pro and a copy of dragon. I am having exactly the same problem, it is driving me crazy as I have reinstalled and retrained etc.
Did you resolve it, if so how?
Thanks
Paul Natsch August 6, 2009 at 6:18 am
Sarah,
I think it’s a good idea to verify disk permissions before repairing disk permissions. I don’t know if it makes that much of a difference but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.
I’m glad to hear MacSpeech has gotten back to you and I hope they can resolve your problem. Please let us know what happens.
Paul Natsch August 27, 2009 at 5:10 am
Ricky,
MacSpeech Dictate is an amazing tool but for me it’s not always the best option either. I only use it when there’s nobody else around. It’s really awkward otherwise having everybody “hear” everything I’m typing not to mention the potential for noise somebody else might make that could disrupt my dictation. So Keystrokes still gets a lot of use. Also, it does take a while getting use to dictating text as opposed to typing it. It’s sort of an artform in itself. You can definitely type much much faster with MacSpeech Dictate but it won’t decide for you or magically come up with what you need to type. So in other words it won’t transform you into a novelist or whatever overnight.
But nevertheless it’s an invaluable tool that I couldn’t live without now.