Which Microphone Should I Use with Dragon NaturallySpeaking?

Many of our customers using Dragon NaturallySpeaking prefer using table-top microphones instead of headsets because, honestly, they don't want (or have the time) to listen back to what they just said. In cases like these we make sure to recommend a microphone that will work comfortably and accurately in their workflow. The most important thing is accuracy. It is definitely worth spending a few extra bucks an a quality microphone so you actually get substantial results.

So I set out on the task of testing each desktop microphone we offer on novuscript.com to see which provides the highest quality of sound when using Dragon NaturallySpeaking. In the initial configuration of DNS they show you the signal-noise ratio which is a good indication of the sound quality that your microphone is producing. The percent ratio ranges from 0-50. 13 and below is a fail.

I also tested some headsets we offer as well. Here are the results.

The TableMike from Transcription Aid (TBMK01) 

• Our Price: $179.00
• Signal-Noise Ratio: 13-15 

Novuscript GN-1 Gooseneck

• Our Price: $79.00
• Signal-Noise Ratio: 14-16

Andrea NC-91 Monaural Headset (Included in DNS)

• Our Price: $23.00
• Signal-Noise Ratio: 18

VXI BlueParrot USB

• Our Price: $228.00 (on sale)
• Signal-Noise Ratio: 18-28

VXI Parrot TalkPro

• Our Price: $60.00 (on sale)
• Signal-Noise Ratio: 18-24

I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional myself. I started using the Andrea NC-91 headset that came with it and had very good results. However, when I switched over to the Bluetooth Parrot Talk I had much better accuracy due to the headset's improved sound quality. I would recommend using a headset with excellent sound quality so you get results you are satisfied with at the end of the day. I was impressed that Nuance provided a decent headset with the product and surely recommend trying it out to see if that works for you. In my trials however, I found that upgrading to a higher fidelity microphone makes a world of difference. Oh yeah, and with a bluetooth head set you can walk around and stretch your legs while you dictate!

Where to Place Your Mics

When recording a board meeting or any type of conversation between many people, the placement of your microphones is key to having a quality recording in which everyone is heard. Depending on the size and shape of your meeting table and room, the placement of mics can vary quite a bit. So, I thought I'd share some knowledge about conference recording in hopes to help those who are interested in recording their meetings or those who got stuck with the task of transcribing those four hour long lectures. I'll organize this rant into three parts.

Part one: Boardrooms....

In a typical boardroom situation, the participants are seating facing others across the table. Place your conference microphones at the center of either end of the board table. Depending on the size of the table, two quality table-top microphones should be sufficient. 

The digital recorder can be placed near a person in the center of the table, with each microphone connected to the person's left or right.

Part Two...

 For larger meetings, such as those common in training or sales seminars, tables are often arranged in "U" voice capture by placing two or more microphones is appropriate locations.

Where the head of the table (or the bottom of the "U") is narrow, you can place the microphones on the sides of the U arrangement. By placing the first two microphones close, you can capture the voices of those sitting at the head table.

Part Three...

One of the more common requests we get is for microphone placement where the primary speakers are seated at a dais before an audience, such as in a city council or school board meeting.

There are many variants that affect microphone placement, such as whether audience voices are to be recorded. These are many of the same considerations to be made when recording a courtroom proceeding, since the various participants may be situated in several different locations about the room.

Basically, draw out the room you are using for your event. Draw twelve-foot diameter circles and arrange them to enclose the desired parties. Count how many circles you have drawn to best cover the recording area. The number of circles you settle on is the number of conference microphones you may need.

I hope this is helpful to you and I wish you luck in your conference recording endeavors. Remember, you can call our toll free number (866-408-1383) here at Novuscript with any questions.

Let Philips Take Your Notes

Philips' conference recording solution, the LFH 955 , captures everyone in the room, every time! The unique microphones take advantage of a large desktop surface to produce a recording that includes every person's voice in the meeting.

The design of the microphones in this kit are unique to any other I've scene. The round flat base absorbs sound waves that bounce off the surface of the table and picks up the frequency that carries your voice. They are small and discrete so people can focus on topics of the discussion and won't be having to look around a bulky mic stand in order to see someone sitting across from them. Additional mics can be connected to one another as well to expand your range, called "daisy chaining". Two microphones are included in the kit and Philips says that up to six mics can be attached to the recorder in total, three per channel. However, I have done a test with five mics on one channel and it worked fine. This little kit is turning out to be quite a powerful little system.

How long of a meeting can I record? This is one of the most common questions we get when discussing a conference recording solution with a customer. The Philips Digital Pocket Memo 955 is the model voice recorder included in the kit, and with a one gig memory card inside you are allowed 70 hours of record time. 

Simply, the Philips 955 Conference kit lets you stop worrying about whether or not your meeting will be recorded, so you can focus on the meeting. Once you set it up you won't have to touch anything but the remote control. Thats right, it comes with a remote so you don't even have to get up. Sit back in your chair, sip coffee, jot down some notes and if you take a break just click the stop button. When the meeting is back in session, click start to resume recording. 

Now if you want a top of the line kit, this is it. But if your budget just doesn't stretch far enough, we provide Novuscript conference kits to get the job done and keep your day flowing. Take a look at the three different options and feel free to call the toll free number with any questions.