1.5

154Sound Input TroubleshootingMacSpeech Dictate 1.5
Sound Input Troubleshooting
If MacSpeechDictatedoesn’trespondtoyourvoiceordoesn’tseemtobeworking
atall,checkyoursoundinput.Theproblemmightbesoftware(yourUSBmicro-
phonemightnotbeyoursoundinputdevice)orhardware(yourUSBmicrophone
mightnotbeworkingatall).
BeginbyquittingMacSpeechDictateif itisrunning.Youmightrestartthecom-
puterjustincase.Nowtrythefollowing:
• LookinSystemPreferences>Sound>InputandmakesureyourUSBmi-
crophoneisthesoundinputdevice.Speakintothemicrophone.Theinput
levelindicatorshouldrespondtoyourvoice.If itdoesnot,tryunpluggingthe
USBmicrophoneoradapterfromtheUSBportandplugitbackinagain.Re-
member,mostUSBmicrophonesmustbepluggeddirectlyintoyourcomputer
(notintoaUSBhub).Also,checktoseewhetheryourmicrophonehasaMute
switchandmakesureitisnotengaged.
• LookinSystemPreferences>Speech>SpeechRecognition>Settingsand
switchthemicrophonetoyourUSBmicrophone.ClickCalibrate.Speakinto
themicrophone.Youshouldseethelevelindicatorriseandfall(totheright)
inresponsetoyourspeech.Theindicatorcanbealittlestubborn;youmight
havetoclickCancelandthenclickCalibrateagaintobringittolife.Speakat
random,movingthesliderrightorleftuntilthehighpointof theslideriscon-
sistentlyataboutthemiddleof thegreenregion.Nowtrysayingeachphrase
insuccessionandseeif thecomputerunderstandsyou.
If thingsappeartobeworking,quitSystemPreferencesandtryMacSpeechDic-
tateagain.ChooseTools>MicrophoneSetupandgothroughthemicrophone
setupprocedure(see“MicrophoneSetup,”earlier).Youshouldnowbeabletouse
MacSpeechDictate.