Hi I use Dragon Speech a lot finding it very useful also it's been working really great for ages. However had two power cuts an hour or so ago and it's now saying volume is too low after doing their check microphone test.
Had this reply from their forum as to what might be the problem but being a non-techie haven't a clue what it meansas I've not had a sound card problem before. Could someone possibly give me some pointers please.... ?
Thanks ! If you're using an analog microphone with an integrated soundcard, it may be gremlins. The most common integrated soundcard is RealTek and success with this soundcard is spotty at best. We only recommend USB soundcards which can be purchased for as little as $20. If you're using a USB microphone than the Windows operating system may have simply lost the USB connection. Try plugging your USB soundcard into a different USB port; preferably a direct USB port and not a splitter.
I use Dragon naturally speaking all the time myself, what they are asking is does your laptop have a built in sound card or a add-on sound card (most laptops have a built in sound card).
And they also want to know does your microphone plug-in to the USB port or does it plug-in to a round hole on the side of the laptop?
I use a USB soundcard with my microphone and it works perfectly.
Jerry
My Computer
Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Sager NP9170
OS
Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz
Motherboard
CLEVO P170EM
Memory
12 GB
Graphics Card(s)
(1) Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 (2) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M
Sound Card
(1) Realtek High Definition Audio (2) Intel(R) Display Aud
Monitor(s) Displays
17.3
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
(1) Samsung 860 EVO 500GB(OS) (1) Samsung 860 EVO 500GB(Data)
Keyboard
Backlite
Antivirus
MSE, Malwarebytes Pro
Browser
Firefox
Other Info
DESKTOP: Custom-built.
OS: Win 10 Pro x64.
CASE: Rosewill R5.
CPU: Intel I5 4670K CPU @ 3.40GHz.
CPU COOLER: Cool Master Hyper 212 EVO.
MOTHERBOARD: Asus Z87-A.
MEMORY: Kingston HyperX 2x4 GB.
GPU: Nvidia Geforce 650 TI.
PSU: Corsair TX750.
DRIVES: (1) Samsung 840 120 GB SSD (2) Western Digital blue 500 GB 7200 RPM.
Unfortunately no change as volume was still too low, now it's crashed altogether and won't open at all probably caused by the power cuts. Not to worry but pity about all the valuable lost user profile data.
Was thinking about getting the latest version anyway, any do's and dont's.... ?
I've since read a few reviews of 13 on Amazon mostly good but some that were downright scathing so I'd left it at that as I didn't fancy coughing up another £60 - £70 for a lot of potential hassle. Then last night I suddenly remembered I'd still got the original invoice and details of my old 12.5 on the hard drive from over 2 years ago, so told them all that had happened and for £19.95 they're sending a new 12.5 replacement card due in the post next week.
I then uninstalled the old file in case it messed the new download up, which luckily at the end finally asked if I wanted to keep my old User Profile so obviously yes which had up until then been a real worry, so all in all I'm pretty happy with the ways things turned out.
As for a mike and USB soundcard I think I'll wait and see as I've since found an old headset to try once everything is installed, but want to see if the tiny mike hole above the screen works as well as it did previously as I found it much easier and more spontaneous to put down ideas the moment they surfaced with the minimum of outside distractions.
For what it's worth I've always dictated to the laptop mike from about 2 feet away and slightly beneath it with the lid half closed so as to trap as much sound as possible, whereas before I had the lid fully open with poor results in any seated position and really works a treat once you've found and then stay with the best location !
Have you ever tried the laptop mike on its own....?
