Dictations

Dictations are created via backend speech recognition: You record a sound file and submit it for speech recognition processing and correction. In DM Direct this is done in recorder mode. Once you have submitted the sound file for processing, your organization's internal workflow determines when the text is available for you to finalize the dictation.

Note: When you record in standard mode, via frontend speech recognition, you can see the recognized text immediately on your screen and take care of any correction or editing necessary.

In recorder mode, speech recognition functions, such as voice commands, are not available. When you submit your dictation for processing, DM Direct switches back to standard mode; speech recognition functions are available again.

Proceed as follows:

  1. Create a dictation using the recorder mode.
  2. Submit the dictation for speech recognition and correction processing when you are satisfied with it; a dictation marker is created.
  3. Retrieve the corrected text when the correction workflow is finished. The dictation marker is replaced with this text.

Dictation marker

The dictation marker is a placeholder for the corrected text associated with your dictation. When you submit your dictation for processing, DM Direct creates a dictation marker and inserts it into the target application with the focus. Do not change or delete the dictation marker; make sure to save the file with the dictation marker in it and have this file available when you want to retrieve the corrected text. If you do not save this file, you cannot retrieve the corrected text using DM Direct.

Creating a dictation

To create a dictation, do the following:

  1. Click or say new dictation; DM Direct switches to recorder mode.
  2. Click and start speaking.
  3. Click to pause recording.

Playing back and overwriting

While you are in recorder mode, you can listen to the sound file and, if necessary, overwrite what you recorded. The DragonBar displays two time values in recorder mode: The top value indicates the total length of your dictation, and the bottom value indicates the current position in the sound file.

To listen to what you recorded and overwrite your dictation, do the following:

  1. Click to pause recording.
  2. Navigate to the corresponding position in the sound file: Use and to skip 10 seconds forwards or backwards in the sound file.

    3. To skip to the beginning/end of your sound file, press CTRL + /.

  3. Click to listen to what you recorded and to pause.
  4. To overwrite sound, navigate to the corresponding position, click and start speaking.

Important: If you overwrite sound, everything after the current position in the sound file is overwritten. It is not possible to overwrite only a particular section or insert audio within the sound file.

Tips

  • Keep an eye on the volume meter during recording or playback; when it's green you know that the system is picking up your voice (during recording) or that the quality of the sound file is good (during playback).
  • /, and are only available when recording is paused.

Submitting the dictation

When you are satisfied with your dictation, you can submit it for speech recognition processing and correction. When your dictation is submitted successfully, a dictation marker is inserted in the target application with the focus, for example, the Dictation Box or Microsoft Word. You cannot save the sound; you need the dictation marker to retrieve the corrected text.

To submit a dictation, do the following:

  1. Place the cursor in the target application where you want the dictation marker to appear.

    2. If you place the cursor in a target application that DM Direct does not support, the dictation marker is automatically inserted in the Dictation Box.

  2. Click to submit your dictation and start the upload of the sound file; the dictation marker is inserted in the target application file.

    3. DM Direct switches back to standard mode. Do not shut down DM Direct before the upload is complete. The upload progress is displayed on the DragonBar.

  3. Save the target application file.

Important: If the dictation marker is inserted in the Dictation Box, click or press CTRL + ALT + T to transfer it to another application and save this application file before closing the Dictation Box or shutting down DM Direct.

Retrieving the corrected text

After correction of the text is completed, you can retrieve it and insert it into your target application.

To retrieve the corrected text, do the following:

  1. Start DM Direct.
  2. Open the target application file containing the dictation marker that was created for the dictation you want to retrieve.
  3. Place the cursor next to the dictation marker.
  4. Click to replace the dictation marker with the corrected text.

If the text has not yet completed your internal processing workflow, the dictation marker is updated and a message appears. You can try again later.

Note: If the dictation marker is placed in a target application that DM Direct does not support, the text cannot be retrieved. You must place the dictation marker and cursor in a supported target application or the Dictation Box and then transfer the retrieved text to the target application.

Canceling a dictation

Click to cancel your current dictation. DM Direct switches back to standard mode. Everything you recorded in the current session is deleted.

If you have not yet recorded anything, click to cancel recorder mode and switch back to standard mode.

Hotkeys and microphone buttons

In the Options dialog box you can define hotkeys and microphone buttons for the following:

  • Creating a dictation.
  • Submitting a dictation.
  • Retrieving a corrected text.
  • Canceling a dictation.