

- Dragon naturallyspeaking 12 basics review for mac#
- Dragon naturallyspeaking 12 basics review software#
- Dragon naturallyspeaking 12 basics review professional#
- Dragon naturallyspeaking 12 basics review free#
I use it to read text back to me as an audio editing tool. The audio feature is another great option for writers and proofreaders. As someone who has accidentally deleted an entire unsaved document by uttering the wrong word, I tend to stick with the dictation mode. The latter two are most useful as training tools.

Dragon naturallyspeaking 12 basics review software#
For straight-up dictation, I find myself using the DragonPad and Dictation Box functions, which allow me to take notes while researching online or from another on-screen document.ĭragon’s dictation software comes with five modes: command (for controlling programs, etc.), dictation mode (enters text directly into a word processor or other program but doesn’t recognize system commands), normal mode (combines command and dictation mode), numbers mode, and spelling mode. After all, you could use this program to navigate your computer, search the web, or perform a plethora of other activities. From this slim control center, you can control and change user profiles, set up dictation options, and tweak settings.Įven the Home edition of Dragon NaturallySpeaking has more options than the casual user is likely to need. About the size of your browser bar, it can float over other applications or be anchored to one spot – I prefer the bottom of the screen. Once you complete the initial training, you can customize the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Toolbar. To its credit, the software picked up my very quiet voice, and as a rule it generally keeps up with me reasonably well.

Once your profile is set up, you can begin calibrating Dragon to your speech patterns by testing the microphone and reading pre-selected passages. Although I live in Michigan, which should put me squarely in the Great Lakes dialect, I’ve actually had better success with the Standard U.S. Speech regions and vocabulary sizes can be fine-tuned, but they’re not always accurate. When you begin a profile, you fill in basics like your age, location (US, Britain, etc) and your speech region. I chose to delete the profile and start over properly. My original profile, recording my speech after the briefest training, complied a string of unusable words and a curiously suggestive take on ‘Mary had a little lamb’. While in theory it is ready to be used in mere minutes, it’s best to have several training sessions first. Nuance, the makers of Dragon, recommend that you devote a fair amount of time to training the software to recognize your speech. Getting the program onto my laptop was no problem. In my experience, both headsets performed equally well., Using your computer's built-in mic is not advised. For good measure, I also bought a separate, highly-recommended headset. In the box, you’ll find the DVD and a handy headset-microphone combo. This review applies strictly to the Home Edition, which more than answers my needs.
Dragon naturallyspeaking 12 basics review for mac#
There are also niche flavors for Mac users and the healthcare and legal industries.
Dragon naturallyspeaking 12 basics review professional#
After some quality time spent perusing Amazon reviews, I opted to try Dragon NaturallySpeaking.ĭragon Naturally Speaking comes in several flavors: the basic vanilla Home Edition, a nice chocolate Professional Edition, and a mint-chip Premium Edition.
Dragon naturallyspeaking 12 basics review free#
My first efforts, revolving around free software, were so bad that it actually took about twice the time for me to dictate than to type – and that’s without going back to edit and clean up. For another thing, I just like trying out new software. For one thing, the price tag of dictation software is much more reasonable than hiring a human assistant. And, after a few carpal tunnel scares, I’m ready to give my fingers and wrists a break now and then.Īnd so, I decided to try dictation software.įor someone whose life goal has always been to have my own assistant do the typing, this seemed like a very reasonable option. While I can lay down a reasonable speed on the old QWERTY, my accuracy leaves something to be desired. What do you hate most about our computer-forward workstyles? If you’re like me), it’s the typing.
