Filed under: Hardware, Software
TUAW Hands On: MacSpeech Dictate 1.2 ships
I've written blog posts on planes, on trains, and definitely in automobiles. This is the first time, however, that I've written a section of a post just using my voice. MacSpeech Dictate, version 1.2 (the firstthird version using the Dragon technology licensed from Nuance), released this week, is so much better than any previous Mac dictation system that I find I can't think fast enough to keep up with it.
The new MacSpeech version isn't cheap. For $200 you get the software on a CD and DVD, plus a Plantronics headset with a USB adapter (other microphone setups are available as options; I'm using it with a Sennheiser headset). It also has fairly steep system requirements -- you'll need an Intel Mac running 10.4.11/10.5.3 or higher. The software isn't problem free; it can get a little confused when you switch back and forth between dictation and typing, and the interface isn't exactly what I'd call streamlined... but the results are unbelievable.
Installation is quite straightforward. Run the app, adjust your headset volume, read about five minutes of training material; then you're ready to roll. Any application that accepts text input will work with the MacSpeech software. Your text appears just as though you had typed it from the keyboard. In my initial testing, accuracy is very, very good. Almost everything I say gets correctly interpreted by the software, so the recognition and correction tools aren't getting much of a workout yet. Later on I'll try some more complicated dictation tasks and see how it goes.
Having to announce each punctuation mark and speak like a newscaster could easily get old, and my coworkers may not appreciate me dictating everything every day. I can't deny, however, that there is something truly magical about the power of MacSpeech Dictate. Spell words it doesn't recognize, add custom words to the vocabulary (including entire text documents already written)... just awesome.
Back to the keyboard -- I can definitely type faster than I can dictate (at least, so far) and other formatting tasks are much easier with a hand on the mouse. Still, for anyone who faces challenges using traditional inputs methods due to RSI or other restrictions, this new version is definitely worth a close look.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Peter C said 7:21PM on 10-23-2008
can you add custom words to the dictionary?
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Michael Rose said 7:39PM on 10-23-2008
Yep, you can -- just added that tidbit to the post.
Daniel_Oss said 7:30PM on 10-23-2008
Yes you can I just got it, you need a really fast computer, because it can take some time ( I have a MacBook) for the application to understand you perfectly.
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hmurchison said 7:34PM on 10-23-2008
Voice dictation has a much brighter future than multitouch IMO. I've used and trained people with Dragon NaturallySpeaking and once you get the hang of it you can easily get %90 accuracy. This version doesn't use Macros and that will need to change as Macros really begin to display the power of voice recognition.
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Milford said 8:00PM on 10-23-2008
I thought Dictate had used the Dragon engine since 1.0. I certainly remember them advertising that license months ago when Dictate first came out.
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Michael Rose said 8:22PM on 10-23-2008
Milford, you're right, I've updated the post.
jonathan said 10:44PM on 10-23-2008
Can you use the built in mic on the Mac? I wear glasses and don't enjoy headsets as they are uncomfortable Or, if anyone knows, can you use the iphone headset in the new macbooks with this application???
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AHM said 1:28AM on 10-24-2008
No, you need a high-quality headset, preferably with noise cancellation. Some desktop-array microphones will work, but in any case you'll have to buy something to get high enough quality recognition.
CM said 4:32AM on 10-27-2008
Works surprisingly well with my MacBook Pro 17" built-in mic. A headset can only improve things though. Note that the mic gain setting in the OS X sound preferences needs to be set properly.
Klemens said 9:42AM on 10-24-2008
So when is the German version finally coming out?!
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noob said 12:06PM on 10-24-2008
Any chance this would work at even 65% in a lecture setting? Sure would beat taking notes...
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Michael Rose said 12:20PM on 10-24-2008
Almost certainly won't work. a) speaker dependent, so would need to be trained for the prof; b) requires high-quality audio input.
noob said 12:24PM on 10-24-2008
What is the training like? Any way I could record a few of the lectures and use clips to "complete the training."
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Michael Rose said 12:41PM on 10-24-2008
The training requires you to read text provided by the app. There's no real way to use it in the model you propose, however I bet that Nuance (Dragon parent) has some other products that might work.
David hammond said 4:57PM on 10-24-2008
This app has gotten some bad reviews( see amazon).
It is a great app.
I believe you need a separate copy for each machine,
Is this true can we tell them its a bummer.
The mike is really critical. MacSpeech sell a small remote mike that is expensive but also great.
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lifehacker said 7:15PM on 10-24-2008
Can it work with a high-quality field recorder like the Olympus LS-10, once the initial training is done?
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jg said 4:58PM on 10-25-2008
What do you mean?
It supports all kinds of macros.
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