It’s important to have a quality headset when using speech recognition software. When the text-to-speech software was originally released, there was a free trial version packaged with an cheap headset and no training. This ill-conceived promotion led to apprehension of a software that was still in its infancy.
While some users get good results from jack-in headsets and even onboard microphones, we typically recommend USB headsets. Having the mic boom adjust the microphone to a set place leads to greater consistency and ultimately accuracy. This also tends to be less affected by onboard electrical interference and sharper soundwaves.
Many users in quiet offices can get fantastic results from onboard mics and array microphones but these are very susceptible to open plan or noisy office environments. The no headset mode is good and easier to manage in some respects but the results are often less than optimal in contrast with a fixed headset. Another benefit of wearing the headset is that coworkers know that you’re busy and are less likely to interrupt when you’re in dictation mode.
Dragon speech recognition actually performs very well even if you’re in a less ideal workspace. In a noisy coffee shop, no problem. Have a loud coworker in your space, it should be able to manage. Even working in an open plan office space should ensure good results.
One client even managed to get good results from quieter dictation in an open plan office. Just ensure you prepare the audio set up with the same volume you intend dictating with and Dragon will make the necessary adjustments. If it’s not getting good audio quality, a prompt will alert you to this and you can make the necessary changes. Want more information? We can help you make a better decision around the specifics of your office space when it comes to picking the right headset or recording set up.