Microphone problem
Submitted by Jack Behrmann on Tue, 05/13/2008 - 21:07.
I have just upgraded my computer to a Dell Vostro 400 Intel Core 2 Quad CPU with 2 GB Ram
I have a Sennheiser e835 with no mute switch and an Andrea USB Pod
Problem is no sound detected.
Tried different cable and a different mike-same issue
Windows Sound Recorder shows no response.
Dragon 9.5 professional.
Setup worked perfectly on previous machine and on another machine I have at home.
The Andrea pod gets detected and the driver installs. I choose this as the default device (AK5370).
I am very frustrated...
Any suggestions?
Jack
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Performing Mics Run a Little Cool
The problem with microphones such as the
Sennheiser e837 and the Samson
Q7 is that they are performing mics. Although they can work very well for
speech recognition, they're not designed for that purpose and their impedance
is a little low. You can mitigate the problem with a pre-amp but pre-amps are
a bit expensive. Our recommendation is to raise your voice when running the
Audio Setup Wizard. Even though you have to speak at a higher volume level
than usual to pass the 1st stage of the ASW, you should be able to dictate at
your usual volume level when using NaturallySpeaking. We do not recommend
performing microphones for soft voices unless you are using a pre-amp.
Additional responses to this question are available on
the KnowBrainer
Speech Recognition Forum
Lunis Orcutt - Developer of KnowBrainer &
Host
of the Http://www.KnowBrainer.com Speech Recognition Forum
A Nuance Gold Certified Endorsed Dragon
NaturallySpeaking Vendor/Trainer
ALWAYS Ask If Your Speech Recognition Vendor Is
Nuance Certified
Why would the identical
Why would the identical setup work extremely well on the previous computer and on my other computer at home and not on this one?
Cause they're different?! I
Cause they're different?! I mean: Are you saying all three have identical hard- and softwares? If there are any differences, and you can pinpoint them, then look to them as possible causes for the different results.
Bruce
Jack Behrmann wrote: The
The Andrea pod gets detected and the driver installs. I choose this as the default device (AK5370).
Try a different USB port.
--
Martin Markoe, eMicrophones, Inc.
The best microphones for Speech Recognition
I have tried three or four
I have tried three or four different ports.
Jack Behrmann wrote: I have
I have tried three or four different ports.
Skip's suggestion that you may be using Vista was an excellent one. If you are using Vista, it is known to us that the audio subsystem is still unrefined. In our frequently asked questions section (FAQ) is the following question and the linked answer, "How does one check and setup the audio and microphone in Microsoft Vista?"
Just to give you one example, one of our Vista computers, a Toshiba notebook, showed two Microphone High Definition Audio Devices (sound cards) when of course there was only one. This played havoc with setting the default audio recording device until we figured out we had to just disable one of them.
--
Martin Markoe, eMicrophones, Inc.
The best microphones for Speech Recognition
I am using Windows XP home
I am using Windows XP home
Jack Behrmann wrote: I have
I have a Sennheiser e835 with no mute switch and an Andrea USB Pod. Problem is no sound detected.
Tried different cable and a different mike-same issue.
I have tried three or four different ports.
By any chance are you using:
1. Front USB ports on the Dell Vostro computer? If so, try rear ports.
2. Are you using a USB hub? If so, try a rear USB port.
Have you tried connecting directly to the onboard sound card?
--
Martin Markoe, eMicrophones, Inc.
The best microphones for Speech Recognition
I am using the rear ports. I
I am using the rear ports.
I have been able to hear the microphone very faintly when I talk loudly through Windows recorder and dragon will recognize my voice but the recognition is terrible. When I plug the microphone directly into the onboard sound card the same problem occurs. I suspect the problem is the microphone but am surprised because previously it has worked extremely well and continues to work very well on my home machine. Will a preamp help?
Perhaps another microphone would do the trick?
Thanks so much for your input.
Jack
Jack Behrmann wrote: I
I suspect the problem is the microphone but am surprised because previously it has worked extremely well and continues to work very well on my home machine.
I'd try the mic and usb pod setup on another computer before I'd figure it dead and buy a new one.
Jack Behrmann wrote: I am
I am using the rear ports.
I have been able to hear the microphone very faintly when I talk loudly through Windows recorder and dragon will recognize my voice but the recognition is terrible. When I plug the microphone directly into the onboard sound card the same problem occurs. I suspect the problem is the microphone but am surprised because previously it has worked extremely well and continues to work very well on my home machine. Will a preamp help?
Perhaps another microphone would do the trick?
Although you say the microphone works on your old computer, it is not clear whether it is still working on the old computer? If it is not, the likely problem is the cable has shorted out. There is no need for a pre-amplifier.
At this point you need to verify the microphone is actually still working on other computers. It is not, a new cable is likely to solve the problem. See:
15' Cable
5' Cable
--
Martin Markoe, eMicrophones, Inc.
The microphone and cable
The microphone and cable work well on 2 other computers. Accuracy ~ 98%!
Jack Behrmann wrote: The
The microphone and cable work well on 2 other computers. Accuracy ~ 98%!
If your computer was a notebook, I would suspect the trudging unit introducing electronic noise from the AC wall outlet. This would be evidence in a Windows sound recorder recording by hearing lots of electronic noise in the recording. I know you said the recording is very low. Do you also hear a lot of electronic noise that could be causing the problem not only when using the USB pod but also when using the onboard sound card.
It apparently sounds like your problem is definitely computer specific.
--
Martin Markoe, eMicrophones, Inc.
The best microphones for Speech Recognition
I wonder if it's something
I wonder if it's something to do with power at the plug like the old Soundblasters... they all had to have an adapter if I recall correctly. Haven't had to deal with that in a long time though so I don't know if it still applies.
It's also possible there's a problem with the computer itself or in setup somewhere.
I do have a lot of usb
I do have a lot of usb devices plugged in including a printer, scanner, monitor, mouse, keyboard and a usb hub. Do you think that might be causing the problem?
Too many USB devices can
Too many USB devices can be a problem but
you are only sporting about 1\4 as many as we do. We previously recommended
using a rear USB port on your computer but if that doesn't work, try
switching to another direct rear port. Your computer has 2 USB channels but
one channel is dominant and that is why we recommend switching ports.
Lunis Orcutt - Developer of KnowBrainer &
Host
of the Http://www.KnowBrainer.com Speech Recognition Forum
Jack Behrmann wrote: I do
I do have a lot of usb devices plugged in including a printer, scanner, monitor, mouse, keyboard and a usb hub. Do you think that might be causing the problem?
It is easy enough to disconnect the printer and scanner and hub. Try it.
--
Martin Markoe, eMicrophones, Inc.
The best microphones for Speech Recognition
Read, "Key Steps to High Speech Reco
Jack Behrmann wrote: ...
... Problem is no sound detected.
...
Windows Sound Recorder shows no response.
Those are what stand out to me. If Windows Sound Recorder is hearing nothing then something is wrong (pretty good with the obvious aren't I?).
I wonder if the system is somehow taking control of the sound. You didn't state what the operating system is, but if it's new it's probably Vista. I'm not familiar with Vista but I seem to recall something about Vista and USB pods but don't remember where I saw it.
Have you tried just plugging into the onboard microphone jack to see how and if that responds?