Speak-A-Message

4.0 stars

"A little hard to setup/use, but suprisingly accurate."

March 7, 2012  |   By skaizun

Version: Speak-A-Message 7.6.4

Pros

I was very surprised at the transcribed results from my rinky-dink tabletop microphone. It was amazingly accurate, messing up only about 5 words out of 100: One was "oop" which was transcribed as "up" (admittedly, it did sound like "up"!), and the rest were advanced technical/medical words that I purposely threw in to see what would happen.

Cons

Set up wasn't easy, nor was figuring out how to use it, but, once I did so (about 15 mins), it worked well.

Files are too easy to accidentally delete (i.e., it does not put the deleted files into the desktop recycle/wastebasket; when I accidentally deleted 3 files that had nothing to do with this program, I had to run a third-party, file-recovery, program to restore them). So, I recommend using a separate folder for everything (i.e., source and result).

The resulting transcriptions can be copy-pasted to word (the "professional" or "business" versions allegedly can do this automatically), but it will include the timing for each line. For example, if I transcribe just the word "hello", it will create the following in the text area:
{0 sec}hello
which means that the braced area ("{0 sec}") will be included when I copy paste (yes, I can avoid it for this one line, but, imagine if I had many lines).

It can't transcribe non-S-A-M, pre-existing files, such as songs, etc.

Summary

Once I got everything set up (which included Windows microphone settings as well as Speak-A-Message's settings), my plain, table-top, PC microphone, was able to record into S-A-M, which then transcribed those words with surprisingly accurate results. No voice/input "training" was necessary!

The braced-time issue (see "Cons") can be eliminated using Word's "Macro" (under "Tools"), but most people aren't comfortable using that, and it might erase any manually entered braced text. A programmer could probably write a simple program to remove them, manually, but, again, most people can't do that. I can do both, but I'm wondering why the option wasn't in S-A-M to remove them, at least temporarily.

After having tried a dozen free programs from the web and Cnet, this one has them all beat! Quirky, perhaps, but I highly recommend it, especially since it's free (n.b., it claims to have "professional" settings which will be disabled after 30 days; obviously, I didn't wait that long, so I can't say what will happen, but their website (speak-a-message.com) indicates that the disabled functions are trivial, at least for the casual user.

Updated on Mar 14, 2012

Original:

"How to obtain help and support for this security update
For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in the United States and Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft subsidiary. For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary for support issues with security updates, visit the Microsoft International Support website:
http://support.microsoft.com/common"

===================================

Copy-pasted result:

"{0sec}how to obtain help and support for the security update
{8.9sec} for home users no charge support is available by calling one eight six six PC safety
{16.6sec} in the United States and canada or by contacting your local microsoft city are
{21.6sec} for more information about how to contact your local microsoft subsidiary for support issues that security updates
{32.4sec} visit the microsoft international support web site at http: slice slash support job microsoft up, slashed,"

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4.0 stars

"Getting better"

January 26, 2011  |   By beyondtoday

Version: Speak-A-Message 6.0.2

Pros

each new version has bought better funcutionality of this programs and can only improve as the program ages. I look forward to the day when a program like this can replace the keyboard and offer real freedom.

Cons

to early to say if there is any major flaws still testing

Summary

it's a nice program that offers practical uses and fun to play around with worth trying out

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5.0 stars

"Great to use!"

February 27, 2010  |   By jlfujs

Version: Speak-A-Message 5.1.0

Pros

Everything.

Cons

Nothing special.

Summary

Great utility, easy to use.

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2.0 stars

"I don't like it"

January 13, 2010  |   By John at Wagga

Version: Speak-A-Message 5.0.1

Pros

I can't find any

Cons

I couldn't make it work

Summary

SPENT HOURS TRYING, AND EVENTUALLY GAVE UP IN DISGUST

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3.0 stars

".....confusing"

December 27, 2009  |   By biganthony2

Version: Speak-A-Message 5.0.1

Pros

Shinable has some kind of photo gallery for some reason...

Cons

Had to run as admin to get it to start
i tested the speech to text, i said "test" and it translated it to iraq who have

Summary

works only in quiet environment decent program could be better

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4.0 stars

"Nice handy tool to communicate."

June 20, 2009  |   By jmbhatt

Version: Speak-A-Message 4.0.1

Pros

Easy interface.

Cons

Volume needs work.

Summary

Useful tool to communicate. Amateur usage great.

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4.0 stars

"Geat little handy tool"

June 16, 2009  |   By Laurie Hardie

Version: Speak-A-Message 4.0.1

Pros

Ease of use and handy when you don't have time to type an email

Cons

Nothing, good program.

Summary

Great handy tool to add to other programs and ease of use is also a big plus.

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