How To Convert Tape To Digital Audio Format

Many people still record dictation or interviews/meetings using older style micro cassette or mini cassette dictaphones. However, most transcription typists now use software to playback audio while transcribing. Mainly because digital audio is becoming more popular and also for the simple fact that getting ahold of a tape transcription unit is almost impossible since most of the major dictation companies have discontinued or are phasing out their tape systems.

So what if you receive a tape in the mail and need to transcribe it using your digital transcription kit. Well there are ways to convert analogue (analog) tape to digital, all you need is the recorder which created the tape (so you can playback the audio), a cable to connect the player to your PC or Mac and some free audio editing software.

In our main blog we look at the tools to do this, have some tips on recording and have some suggestions for software to use whether you are a Mac or a PC.

Express Scribe and .ds2 Files Don't Mix - But There Are Ways Around This

Since the launch of the latest professional Olympus digital dictaphones (Ds-2400, DS-3400 and DS-5000) which all record out of the box in .ds2 (DSS Pro) transcribing the default audio files is an issue for many small and micro transcription companies who use free transcription software.

Digital Speech Standard Pro or .ds2 audio files as they are more commonly known is the latest audio file format employed by the big boys in the digital dictation world, namely Olympus and Philips. The DSS standard was created by them along with other players like Grundig as a way to keep audio quality high and at the same time keep audio file sizes small. And what a great job they have done.

For many transcription businesses the popular free transcription software from NCH SwiftSound called Express Scribe is used. This is excellent software and a real bargain for free, but it currently can not playback .ds2 files and nor is it likely to in the near future. The reason is not because NCH can't be bothered to support the format, the reason is because there is a cost involved. DSS Pro is proprietary software meaning Olympus and Philips own the rights to the codec for the audio.

There are of course ways to convert .ds2 audio files to older and open audio formats to enable files to be loaded into and played by Express Scribe. However if you are serious about your transcription business you should consider investing in software from Olympus or Philips. It does not necessarily have to be their transcription kits either. In our main blog we look at the options available for users from both the Mac and Windows sides of the fence on how to transcribe .ds2 audio files.

MacSpeech Dictate becomes Dragon Dictate 2.0

Something we have been hard at work on in the Dictate Australia office over the last few weeks has been testing the beta for the latest product from Nuance, new owners of MacSpeech, Dragon Dictate.

Now we can finally dare to mention the words Dragon Dictate as Nuance officially launch the new name for MacSpeech Dictate and start to ram home the Nuance look and feel on this voice recognition software for Intel Mac.

The Nuance influence is not just seen on the new box design which now makes Dictate look like the Windows Dragon NaturallySpeaking range but also in the flood of features and enhancements built into this latest and greatest version of the software.

Upgrades are available for all owners of MacSpeech Dictate from version 1.0 upto the last release version 1.5.9. If you tried MacSpeech Dictate at version 1.0 and gave up you really should take the plunge again and take up Nuance's generous upgrade offer.

Upgrades from MacSpeech Dictate and the full edition are available in Australia now as a download. Boxed copies will be here in October and pre-orders are being taken now through the MacSpeech Australia website.

For a full run down of upgrade options and some insight into whats new click through to our main blog.

Dictate Australia Become Windows & Mac Voice Recognition Experts

Listen, listen carefully ... in the distance you might be able to catch the sound of trumpets !! That's us, Dictate Australia, blowing our own trumpets as we have proudly just become Certified Dragon NaturallySpeaking Certified Gold Resellers .. not silver or bronze - GOLD resellers.

Apologies for the excitement but we are quite proud. To become a Gold reseller we work closely with Nuance Australia and have to study and sit exams. This study gives us an insight into all aspects of Dragon NaturallySpeaking and gives us the skills to advise our customers of the best Dragon package or setup to suit their needs.

We are also claiming expertise in the Mac side of the voice recognition fence. We claim this title as we have been advocates for MacSpeech Dictate since day one. We were on board with version 1.0 in Australia and have followed the success of MacSPeech Dictate up to where it is today, sitting at version 1.5 with alot more goodies to come in the near future. How do we know that for sure? Well we are beta testers for MacSpeech Dictate so we can see into the future and the future is good.

If you have been considering a voice or speech recognition solution for your Windows or Mac platform please get in touch. There is no hard sell here, we will tell you what we know and will advise you on what we think is best for you.

New Olympus DM-5 Digital Voice Recorder Arrives In Australia

Just perfectly timed by Olympus Imaging in Australia, the voice recorder every person who records interviews, meetings, focus groups, conferences or lecture speakers will be placing top of their Christmas list has just arrived in Australia, the new Olympus DM-5.

Why top of the Christmas list? This little recorder screams "features" louder than any other recorder in its class and like most recorders in the Olympus digital notetaker range is faster than ever leaving the competition behind. Have a look at the feature list for the DM-5:

• Record in .mp3, .wma or PCM .wav
• 8Gb of in-built memory
• MicroSD card for explanded memory (how much memory do you need?)
• Voice activated recording
• 8Gb of memory, that's massive
• Mac & Windows compatible
• Daisy 2 compatible (audio books)
• Audible.com compatible (audio books)
• 8Gb of memory, I just can't believe that
• Voice guidance - talks you through menu options
• Rechargeable batteries which last for 29 hours
• Can be powered by USB or mains power
• Comes with Olympus Sonority sound editing software for Mac & Windows
• Massive 2.2 inch colour screen
• And more, and more, and more

You may have noticed that I mentioned 8Gb of memory. That is way way more memory than would be required to record voice alone, even if you went away from civilisation for a month. Your digital voice recorder is now starting to also become your USB backup drive, your memory stick for your documents, notes, photos and movies and your device for audio book or music playback.

Something Olympus has been proud of over the last few years is the work they are doing to help vision impaired people. We have seen recorders for a while from Olympus with clearly defined by touch keys and more recently in the DM-450/DM-550 voice guidance. The DM-5 continues this path with all those features plus now also voice activation and selected voice commands. Daisy support is also included for a wider range of audio books which are Daisy compatible.

Available in Australia this week, the Olympus DM-5 will RRP for $599 incl. GST and as always is available from Dictate Australia - Olympus Gold Partner

New Olympus Voice Recorders For September - WS-650S, WS-750M, WS-760M & DM-5

The Olympus ride continues with yet another spate of new voice recorders about to hit Australia. This time the WS gets another revamp and the DM series adds another friend. Say g'day to the WS-650S, WS-750M, WS-760M and the DM-5.

In the WS series we see these small super high quality recorders just get better and better. Audio recording quality was already stunning, the new recorders sport a new stereo mic location on the unit for even better audio pickup, yet more memory, high quality linear PCM recording and FM radio and FM radio recording. Also being added are micro SD slots for even more storage, if you need it.

As memory gets cheaper we are seeing the continued trend of throwing more into your digital voice recorder. This is not really required for recording voice but starts the transform the recorder into a multi use device by adding music/podcast/audio book playback and of course a USB mass storage device. With the additional space linear PCM recording which produces large size fbut very high quality .wav files is becoming more common.

Briefly:

• WS-650S - 2Gb, no micro SD, no FM radio, no PCM, .mp3 & .wma recording - replaces WS-450S
• WS-750M - 4Gb, micro SD, no FM radio, linear PCM recording, .mp3 & .wma recording, music/podcast/audio book playback - replaces WS-550M
• WS-760M - 8Gb, micro SD, FM radio, linear PCM recording, .mp3 & .wma recording, music/podcast/audio book playback - replaces WS-560M

RRPs:

• WS-650S - $169 incl. GST
• WS-750M - $229 incl. GST
• WS-760M - $269 incl. GST

All recorders should be widely available towards the end of September or early October 2010.

More information on the DM-5 to follow shortly.