>> I understand you can then use the micro disk in a
>>computer which has sound so that you just play the MD and type what you
>>hear without needing a separate transcribing machine. Presumably, you have
>>to have a computer which accepts MDs....
My understanding is that when the micro disk format was decided it was
explicity designed so it would not be compatible with the a PC, so it
would not provide competition. MD's give superb reproduction but if you
want that on your PC you have to copy the recording onto the pc as a wav
file. It may be more effecient, as I do with my own recordings using
Code-A-Text, to record straight onto a portable computor. However, the
overheads are high about 40mb disk space for an hours mono recording. In
other words you need an alternative storage system such as recodable CD
ROMs which are now affordable. Less outlay is required for a ZIP drive and
most reasonably specified PCs will play a wav file from zip drive on a
parrallel port but the SCSII interface is better though more expensive.
>The trick is getting a computer to simulate the important features of a
>good transcription machine (e.g., auto-reverse, rate control, pitch
>control, etc.).
The specification of the sound (wav) file format used on PCs does not allow
you to slow the file down. Oddly, you can slow video down but not audio.
When I wrote the Code-A-Text Transcription System, which simulates a
transcribing machine on the PC, I created a method by which the programme
"reads ahead" of the sound file and can therefore stop during silences to
allow the typist to catch up. This has the added advantage of giving
accurate measurement of pauses in the speech. The transcription is always
linked so you have access to text and sound similtaneously during the
coding process.
The numeric keypad is used to simulate the foot pedal giving the same
degree of control. My own expereince with the system is that an audio
typist can quickly learn these features and transcribe as quickly as with a
traditional system. As for myself I am much faster with this system but
unfortunately that is not necessarily a recommendation.
Regards
Alan Cartwright
Alan Cartwright PhD
Code-A-Text Developer
Email [log in to unmask]
web page http://www.codeatext.u-net.com
Also
Senior Lecturer In Psychotherapy
Kent Institute of Medicine and Health Sciences.
University of Kent. UK.
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