[jbr]

Does anyone have any recommendations for good, reliable mikes to use for speech recognition? I want to be able to use it with language (Spanish) and spelling software my daughter uses as an adjunct to her school activities. I will be using it on a 450 AGP G4. I'm not currently using IBM's ViaVoice (I know that comes with a good mike).
TIA

[RWoelk]

What an excellent question. I have been a subscriber to the Mac voice list specifically dealing with speech recognition since its inception. I have both ViaVoice millennium and the newly acquired ViaVoice enhanced edition which comes bundled with Andrea's new USB microphone. I've come to believe that a high-quality microphone is really key to accurate speech recognition. I can tell you that I went through a number of the NC 71 Andrea headsets that came bundled with ViaVoice millennium. They just seemed to quit after a few weeks. Andrea Electronics was always very prompt in shipping me new headsets free of charge. However, I ultimately contacted a member of the list who specializes in speech recognition microphones. He was kind enough to send me two higher end microphones for a trial basis. I ultimately went with the ANC-650 which is identical to Andrea's ANC-600 headset except the 650 has the ability to listen in stereo. Both this model and the Shure VR250 worked very, very well. However, the Andrea headset microphone is collapsible and seemed a bit more solidly built for transporting with my FireWire PowerBook. Below is an excerpt from the Mac voice list, wherein, Martin Markoe, SCCS, Inc.Microphones for Speech Recognition discusses the merits between the two headsets.

For example, our ANC-600 works especially well for people with booming
voices. My partner Michael is a former radio DJ and his voice thrives with
the ANC-600. Susan Fulton has a very soft shy slightly US southern flavor.
She seems to do best with the Shure headsets which output the voice at a
higher level than the Andrea headsets.

I happily use the Shure VR250 on my desktop workstation. The Andrea ANC goes
with my notebook computer because the ANC microphones fold flat for
portability. There is no discrepancy here. Most people can use either
microphone. It is people at the extremes (booming or very soft voice) who
benefit from different microphones.

I haven't tested the new ViaVoice optimized for the USB microphone as yet.
However, I am with you in that I believe it is a matter of having a good
microphone not an optimized one.

Marty

Martin Markoe, SCCS, Inc.
Microphones for Speech Recognition
See us at: http://www.speechcontrol.com

P.S. I want to thank all the people who requested the article, "Key Steps to
High Speech Recognition Accuracy" for not posting the request to this list
and for just putting the request, "Send it to me" in the subject box. .

Incidentally, I think you'll find his prices quite competitive and him to be very helpful in choosing a microphone to meet your needs. I should also say that the USB microphone that comes bundled with the ViaVoice enhanced edition seems very accurate and highly sensitive to date. However, I'm still in the process of training voice models specific to this microphone.


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Rocke "Why yes, I have brought our
network down." Woelk

Only the educated are free!-Epictetus

[This message has been edited by RWoelk (edited 09-09-2000).]

[RWoelk]

One caveat, if I may in the event you to contact Martin Markoe; do mention the fact you are using a Mac so that he can include the battery box or the Griffin adaptor for line level input needed for some microphone headsets with this, our beloved platform.

Good Luck...

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Rocke "Why yes, I have brought our
network down." Woelk

Only the educated are free!-Epictetus

[kps111]

One word:

Telex
http://www.telex.com/

p.s ...and no...I don't work for them.

[runningdog]

i can vouch for the Telex USB microphone as well. No drivers to install but you must have OS 9.0.4 installed.

[RWoelk]

The telex line is certainly doable but does not work as well in noisy environments.

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Rocke "Why yes, I have brought our
network down." Woelk

Only the educated are free!-Epictetus

[Cipher13]

What about minijack mics?
Any decent ones?

Cipher13

[This message has been edited by Cipher13 (edited 09-10-2000).]

[RWoelk]

There is a mini phono plug which is even smaller than the 1/8 inch or 3.5 mm phono plug typically used for most mics. If, for example, you are referring to a Jabra ear microphone sometimes used with a cellular phone then I can say others have reported terrible speech recognition accuracy with theses and similar microphones.

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Rocke "Why yes, I have brought our
network down." Woelk

Only the educated are free!-Epictetus

[RWoelk]

For improved accuracy and general primer on SR, you might also want to look here:
http://www.speechcontrol.com/article...ey%20Steps.htm

------------------
Rocke "Why yes, I have brought our
network down." Woelk

Only the educated are free!-Epictetus