ProZ.com Translation Forums

Speech recognition software | French DNS after Spanish DNS

JH Trads — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:48:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: JH Trads
Post title: French DNS after Spanish DNS

Dear colleagues,

I have installed this Spanish DNS version, and apparently it is not possible to install the French DNS version on the same computer, so I was told by a customer representative...

Does anybody know if it is possible to install another brand of voice recognition software on a computer where DNS is already installed for another language. If so, would you know by any chance a good French voice recognition software from another company than Nuance?

Or is the only solution have each language installed on a separate computer?

I guess a software combining English French and Spanish does not exist yet, let alone a software that would be able to switch immediately from one language to the next within a same sentence...

Many thanks!!

Speech recognition software | installing two different DNS 10 versions

JH Trads — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:12:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: JH Trads
Post title: installing two different DNS 10 versions

I appreciate your answers Tom and Brian. However I already purchased the Spanish version which by the way works beyond my expectations. In fact I'm using it right now because it also comes with English. At this point my question is whether I can now purchase the French version, and if installing it on my computer will interfere with the Spanish version or otherwise noticeably slow down my computer. In other words, will my computer be able to support two different DNS 10 versions? Thanks in advance Tom and Brian, or any other colleague, if you could share your experience about this issue.

[Edited at 2010-05-29 19:13 GMT]

Speech recognition software | Macspeech

Brian Young — Thu, 20 May 2010 05:14:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Brian Young
Post title: Macspeech

I have been using this speech recognition program for several weeks now, and I am very happy with it. My work speed has increased dramatically, though I admit that being a two finger typist has a lot to do with that.
My procedure is to open the document I am working on, and drag it off to one side of a wide format monitor (that is hooked to my Macbook). Then I open Macspeech, and use the Notepad window to speak into. This is recommended, and my experience is that it works best that way. I drag the Notepad over onto the large screen, and position it alongside the main document. I still have room for the little character viewer, and the Macspeech controls. This way I can see both documents at the same time, and don't need any paper.
Then I take a paragraph or two at a time, "speak" them as I translate, and then copy and paste from the notepad into the main document, right on top of what I had just translated. It is fast and easy. Then I have a chance to make small corrections or changes as needed.
It does take some getting used to. I have found that the hardest thing is to just slow down and take enough time to properly translate an entire sentence, flipping the word order around in my head as required.

Speech recognition software | Answer for Hugo

Tom Hamilton — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:36:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Tom Hamilton
Post title: Answer for Hugo

Hugo,

You will probably need to purchase both French and Spanish from a UK VAR such as Graham Henry at [email removed] or Petter Maddern at [email removed] but I believe you can install both applications on the same computer. Unfortunately, it's been a while and I'm not 100% certain. In either event, these 2 VARs will know the answer.

There is no difference in the speech engines or the vocabulary between DNS Pro DNS Preferred. It is the additional utilities and features that differentiate DNS Preferred from DNS Pro. See the NaturallySpeaking Comparison Matrix ~ [url removed] for specifics.

Tom Hamilton - KnowBrainer,Inc.

Speech recognition software | 2 questions - DNS 10 Preferred or Professional Spanish and French

JH Trads — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:42:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: JH Trads
Post title: 2 questions - DNS 10 Preferred or Professional Spanish and French

Dear colleagues,

I mostly translate into Spanish or French from English.

Can I purchase DNS 10 Preferred Spanish (with English) and also buy DNS 10 Preferred French (with English) without the two programs interfering, slowing each other down? I undestand there is no software package combining Fr/Sp/En, am I right?

Could you please help me have a sense of the advantage of the Professional over the Preferred version. Is the vocabulary handled by the Preferred so poor that it requires huge doses of "training", whereas the Professional version would naturally posess a very rich vocabulary and limit the time needed to input new words? Anybody knows what dictionaries, if any, are both versions based upon?

Many thanks!

Speech recognition software | The Swedish version of DNS

Mats Wiman — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:47:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Mats Wiman
Post title: The Swedish version of DNS

is not very good
because:

It does not exist!

Mats

Speech recognition software | Mike

Marie-Hélène Hayles — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:19:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Marie-Hélène Hayles
Post title: Mike

[quote]Claudia Alvis wrote:

There is a website that has a great comparison of different kinds of mics. Some of them are specially for the professional versions of DNS and overkill for the Standard and Preferred edition; you have to judge for yourself or post a question in the forums. I tried several mics before getting the Wireless Plantronics CS55 and most of the mistakes the software makes are caused by my bad pronunciation. My advice would be to get your mic from a local store so you can return it if you don't see an improvement.

[/quote]

I bought DNS with the Plantronics Calisto bluetooth headset, which isn't mentioned in your link, Claudia. A quick Google seems to suggest that most people like it, though.

Speech recognition software | Microphone

Claudia Alvis — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:42:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Claudia Alvis
Post title: Microphone

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the microphone. Having a quality microphone makes all the difference with term recognition. If you decide to buy get Dragon, buy a new mic. If you decide to use a 3.5mm mic (non-USB), get a sound card to avoid contaminating the input sound with the sound of the hard-drive, fans, etc. The mic that comes in the box is only OK but, eventually, the time you spend correcting the text and training the software will end up costing you more than the price of the mic itself.

There is a website that has a great comparison of different kinds of mics. Some of them are specially for the professional versions of DNS and overkill for the Standard and Preferred edition; you have to judge for yourself or post a question in the forums. I tried several mics before getting the Wireless Plantronics CS55 and most of the mistakes the software makes are caused by my bad pronunciation. My advice would be to get your mic from a local store so you can return it if you don't see an improvement.

I use DNS mainly to avoid carpal tunnel symptom and back/neck pains so I love DNS, the pain is 100% gone. I still use the keyboard because my touch typing was getting really bad but only on occasions or when I want to use Studio's autosuggestions.

Edit: I forgot to say that I also use DNS to proofread my translations. I use the text-to-speech feature and DNS reads the text back to me. Reading and hearing the text makes it easier to spot mistakes or typos. By the way Tomás, I remember that you liked that idea. I reckon it didn't go to well after all.

[Edited at 2010-02-23 15:47 GMT]

Speech recognition software | Dragon with WF

Susanna Garcia — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:16:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Susanna Garcia
Post title: Dragon with WF

Thank you very much Marie-Hélène.
Interesting to see how many of us have physical problems, possibly work-related.

Speech recognition software | I use DNS 10 with WF Classic

Marie-Hélène Hayles — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:11:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Marie-Hélène Hayles
Post title: I use DNS 10 with WF Classic

[quote]Susanna Garcia wrote:

I too am considering VRS of some description and was wondering if it can be used in conjunction with a CAT tool, in my case WF Classic.
If so, what is the set-up?
Thanks
[/quote]

It's no problem: I just use WF as normal (toolbar and/or keyboard commands) and dictate (instead of typing) into the box. The only thing you have to remember is to say "cap" before the first word, as DNS doesn't recognise that it's the start of a sentence. Apart from that, it's no different from working without WF.

Speech recognition software | Dragon and CAT tools

Susanna Garcia — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:41:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Susanna Garcia
Post title: Dragon and CAT tools

I too am considering VRS of some description and was wondering if it can be used in conjunction with a CAT tool, in my case WF Classic.
If so, what is the set-up?
Thanks

Speech recognition software | The cheapest of them all...

Jaroslaw Michalak — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:36:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Jaroslaw Michalak
Post title: The cheapest of them all...

[quote]Williamson wrote:

Is there a cheap tool to convert voice-registration .wav/mp3 to text?
The more expensive versions of Dragon have this. [/quote]

I suppose DNS does it in a more automated way etc., but if you want to go [b]really[/b] cheap route you can connect the input of your soundcard with its output using a cable (mini-jack to mini-jack). Then, whenever you play back your wav file in any program, DNS will be fooled that the sound comes from the microphone.

Speech recognition software | Voice-registration to text-conversion

Williamson — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:32:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Williamson
Post title: Voice-registration to text-conversion

Is there a cheap tool to convert voice-registration .wav/mp3 to text?
The more expensive versions of Dragon have this.

Speech recognition software | DNS 10

Marie-Hélène Hayles — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:13:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Marie-Hélène Hayles
Post title: DNS 10

I've been using DNS 10 for a couple of months, and I'm reasonably happy with it. I find I have to speak slower than normal so that it understands me, which is OK for translation but not for writing directly in English (I'm typing this, for example). I started using it as I've been having some problems with tendinitis in my shoulder, and it (as well as getting a trackball mouse and regularly swapping my mouse hand about) has certainly helped. I'm not sure if it's improved my translation speed: I think it's very document-dependent. On the whole, I don't think it's made much difference - I'm mainly using it as a preventive H&S measure.

My main bugbears are that it occasionally interprets something I've said in English as a command in Italian (I have no idea how - I have a UK English version, so I don't understand how it can interpret things as Italian in the first place), so I'll say e.g. "cap organisation" and it understands it as "taglia [i]organisation[/i]", and either cuts the word out from where I've used it previously or, if it can't find it, sits there and sulks at me. This is extremely annoying, especially if I don't notice what it's up to straightaway.

I also seem to be incapable of saying "full stop" in a way that it understands - it keeps on adding the word "stop" at the end of my sentences. I've now resorted to saying "dot", which works most of the time. (I disabled the automatic sentence recognition because I pause too often to make it workable).

I also have occasional problems with wrong but plausible word errors: yesterday I was translating a document containing both "proteome" and "protein", and on at least one occasion Dragon got mixed up between them (or maybe it was me! ;)).
But normally, as Patricia says, DNS's errors are so obvious there's little danger of sending them off to the client without spotting them.

Speech recognition software | David's set up

Damian Harrison (X) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:19:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Damian Harrison (X)
Post title: David's set up

David could you perhaps enlarge a little on your work flow with dictation device and Dragon. How do the two integrate?

(Edit for typo)

[Edited at 2010-02-23 09:20 GMT]

Speech recognition software | Togther with dictation device

David Wright — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:50:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: David Wright
Post title: Togther with dictation device

I use a hand held dictation device (actually an unsatisfactory device but the old Philips 9000 series gave up on me and they don't produce it any more, and the new more digitalised machine "voice tracer" is far less satisfactory), plus Dragon, and would never dream of typing myself again (too many typos, serious arm-wrist health problems). Sure it makes mistakes (occasionally I suspect they are deliberate - it constitently types 2 for 3 and vice versa), but I've learned to spot them (and for jobs that will be going into print I use my own proof reader). Wouldn't be without it DNS!!

Speech recognition software | new to speech recognition

Brian Young — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:04:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Brian Young
Post title: new to speech recognition

I recently bought a copy of Macspeech, and I am slowly getting used to it. I have only used it for emails, but I do plan on using it for a very large job coming up (a book).
I agree with Yaotl and Patricia about using a few keystrokes.
Another thing is that I am not a good typist, and I do like the idea of getting used to looking at a sentence in the source text, and then formulating the translation in my mind, as opposed to the more piecemeal approach that is normal with typing, and usually requires re-writing anyway.
I always run a spell check, the carefully read the target text on the screen. Then I always print it out, which, I know, leaves a big carbon footprint. Then I sit at a table with a bright light and a pencil, and VERY carefully read every word.
I look forward to giving this a real run!

Speech recognition software | I've been using Dragon for 10 years now

Anne Bohy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:23:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Anne Bohy
Post title: I've been using Dragon for 10 years now

... and I still use it, I could not translate without it (because of carpian canal syndrom and other such problems). It has improved A LOT over this period.
It requires thorough proofreading, it is the price to pay. You have to know what you are looking for (mainly wrong agreements in number or gender, in French, and also some homonyms), and follow the meaning carefully (this will spot easily any misunderstood word or group of words).
I do not entirely rely on the agency's proofreader, as he/shey may not be looking for the problems listed above, so I proofread myself first.
But altogether the result is very good, and I have not had any complaint from customers about strange words in the text.

Speech recognition software | Ditto with Yaotl

Patricia Rosas — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Patricia Rosas
Post title: Ditto with Yaotl

[quote]Yaotl Altan wrote:

I mix DNS with the use of the mouse and the keyboard. I don't do everything with DNS. Sometimes it's faster to press the shift key and the corresponding letter rather than say "Mayúscula inicial". [/quote]

Speech recognition software | Mix options.

Yaotl Altan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:13:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Yaotl Altan
Post title: Mix options.

I mix DNS with the use of the mouse and the keyboard. I don't do everything with DNS. Sometimes it's faster to press the shift key and the corresponding letter rather than say "Mayúscula inicial".

Speech recognition software | In DNS, changes of state are ridiculous

Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:06:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Post title: In DNS, changes of state are ridiculous

One word of caution about the Spanish version of DNS:

Expect some rough terrain with voice commands. For instance, to command an initial capital (for a name for instance or even the beginning of a sentence as DNS is not very wise in those areas), in English you say "caps". In Spanish you say "mayúscula inicial". So you end up saying "mayúscula inicial" in each sentence... Completely disgraceful. I am happy I can type and just press the Shift key instead of speaking like mad! :-)

Speech recognition software | OK

Yaotl Altan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Yaotl Altan
Post title: OK

[quote]Patricia Rosas wrote:

[quote]Yaotl Altan wrote:

Colleagues, did you use to feed the DNS? [/quote]

I'm not sure I understand what Yaotl means, but my guess is that he is saying that users of DNS need to train it and build vocabulary.[/quote]

Yes, you understood me. :)

[quote]
...
DNS has increased my productivity, and I think quality is enhanced, too. When I type, I tend to follow the structure of the source language very closely, but with DNS, I find I read the entire sentence, compose the translation in my mind, and then speak it. I can do all that in less time than it would take me to type the translation and revise it.[/quote]

I agree, my productivity increased too, around a 30%.

[quote]
ONE WORD OF CAUTION: I know it works for me when dictating English; I can't vouch for how well it works in other languages.

Patricia [/quote]
The Spanish version works fine. The Windows Vista speech recognition system is good too.

Speech recognition software | Feed that poor dragon!

Patricia Rosas — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:57:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Patricia Rosas
Post title: Feed that poor dragon!

[quote]Yaotl Altan wrote:

Colleagues, did you use to feed the DNS? [/quote]

I'm not sure I understand what Yaotl means, but my guess is that he is saying that users of DNS need to train it and build vocabulary.

I'm a huge fan of DNS. Yes, it does make mistakes, but so do I when I type (I make more). My typos are often hard to spot. In my experience, DNS's mistakes usually glaring errors. I proofread my work very carefully, and as far as I know, I've only had one incorrect word slip through, and I caught it at a later stage of the publication process.

DNS has increased my productivity, and I think quality is enhanced, too. When I type, I tend to follow the structure of the source language very closely, but with DNS, I find I read the entire sentence, compose the translation in my mind, and then speak it. I can do all that in less time than it would take me to type the translation and revise it.

ONE WORD OF CAUTION: I know it works for me when dictating English; I can't vouch for how well it works in other languages.

Patricia

Speech recognition software | Of course!

Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:49:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Post title: Of course!

[quote]Yaotl Altan wrote:
Colleagues, did you use to feed the DNS? [/quote]
"La duda ofende" (Doubt hurts) as we say in Spain. Of course I did feed it and corrected it in the right manner for several months and was happy about the results (even with names), but when we spotted the wrong deliveries I thought it was just a risk to keep using it happily. It must be used with care, and if I have to lose time reading it all too carefully I prefer to type and achieve a rather accurate result from the beginning.

Speech recognition software | Feed it.

Yaotl Altan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:44:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Yaotl Altan
Post title: Feed it.

Colleagues, did you use to feed the DNS?

Speech recognition software | I've stopped using Dragon

Emma Goldsmith — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:35:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Emma Goldsmith
Post title: I've stopped using Dragon

Tomás summed up my feelings exactly.

I also bought it thinking that it would be great (even though I am pretty fast at typing) and it was indeed impressive the way it got just about everything right - except names of course, which was a nuisance, but I knew it would be like that.
The hitch was the silly mistakes it made - completely different ones from those that I would make typing (which are picked up on a spell checker). Of course, since the words were correctly spelt, they didn't get underlined in red and because I knew what it should have said, I found it extremely difficult to notice them myself.

I even downloaded Natural Reader (and a wonderful "British Rachel") who read my work out aloud to try to pick up on these slips and this helped a bit, but "she" either read so slowly that it took too long to review my work like that, or, speeding her up, I couldn't follow her carefully enough.

I was also excited at the idea that Dragon might make me think through a sentence before saying it, because I reckoned my translations might benefit from that, but in practice - after so many years of writing in one language as I read another, and then re-reading what I've written and correcting things, I didn't feel that my translations were improving at all, in fact, almost the opposite.

So the long and the short of it is that I have given up using it too.
Sorry I can't be more positive about it!

Speech recognition software | Mixed feelings

Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:58:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Tomás Cano Binder, BA, CT
Post title: Mixed feelings

Well. First of all I must say that Dragon Naturally Speaking is a great product for most purposes. It learns quickly and well and indeed runs quite quickly in a powerful machine with plenty of memory.

Now, is it a sensible tool in my case? Although I was very enthusiastic at first, I later noticed that in some cases it misunderstood words in a way that made sentences make sense, but incorrectly translated. Even with a careful review, we twice delivered wrong words in sentences and, being a person who does not like risks concerning my work, I decided that DNS (version 10) was not ripe for our purposes as translators. Maybe we will try again in the future. We'll see!

If we add the fact that I usually work with three other people in the same space, I could not impose others the burden of listening to my constant talk.

So all in all... I don't use it now. If you are a fast typer and your usual reviewer is already aware of your most usual typos and mental confusions when typing (I reckon we all have three or four words we think are being typed correctly but get typed differently), you are probably safer typing than speaking out your translations.

[Edited at 2010-02-22 17:59 GMT]

Speech recognition software | DNS

Yaotl Altan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:03:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Yaotl Altan
Post title: DNS

Yes, DNS is great.

My Windows Vista system enhances a pretty goof speech recognition system too. Do you have it, Irene?

Speech recognition software | Dragon Naturally Speaking

Giulia TAPPI — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Giulia TAPPI
Post title: Dragon Naturally Speaking

No doubt!

Giulia

Speech recognition software

Irène Guinez — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:36:00 +0000

Forum: Speech recognition
Topic: Speech recognition software
Poster: Irène Guinez

Hi,

I wonder if some of you are working with a speech recognition software.
I would like to download this software, can you recommend me one ?
Do you consider it as a usefool tool?

Thank you for your advice,

Irène