Hi,

Yesterday I bought a new Logitech headset to try Vista's speech recognition. I read through the entire SR "training" session, then used SR in a few applications. It worked beautifully---I was quite impressed.

Today, it doesn't work. I see my words registering in the SR bar's level meter, but even though I'm speaking quite clearly, SR doesn't understand anything I say. It prints the wrong text, like someone who's hard of hearing.

In Control Panel > Sound > Recording, my headset is set as the default device, and it says the device is "working". The recording level is turned up to 100% (which SR apparently did on its own, trying to "hear" me). I've also tried levels of 50% and several in between.

My headset's mic is working perfectly; I can record myself quite clearly with a 3rd-party sound application.

I've tried reinstalling my sound driver (the latest version from my PC manufacturer's site). Everything is working fine---except SR. Ideas? Thanks.

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Speech recog. though it has been around for years is still in it's infancy as a tech. 
The main problem is the microphone. The mics. used on PCs are so far beyond garbage, 
it's amazing they work at all. To do it right one has to have a mic. that has good 
omni directional capabilities and either auto leveling or is in itself able to capture 
enough quality sound that the movement of the person speaking has little or no effect 
on it. What I am saying here is that 99% of the time when someone sets up a speech 
recog. system the are kicked back and relaxed talking in a mono-tone voice trying 
to make themselves punctuate and have a less than normal inflection in their voice. 
Then when they try to use it they speak normally or even in a forced voice. Think 
about how accurate commands have to be typed into the machine. Computers have little 
to no forgiveness. Computers do not intemperate or guess. Look at how lousy spell 
check is at guessing. 

You might try to use the mic, not intending for it to answer you, but just to get 
used to having it on, for a week or two. Then try to retrain your Speech Recog. again. 
An remember when you train it, to be sitting up in the same manner you would be when 
using it. If you normally slur certain words, do so. It is easier to speak normally 
than in a clumsy computer voice.

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Charlie Hadden > Speech recog. though it has been around for years is still in [its] infancy... The main problem is the microphone. The mics. used on PCs are so far beyond garbage... You might try to use the mic, not intending for it to answer you, but just to get used to having it on, for a week or two. Then try to retrain your Speech Recog. again...

No, it wasn't the mic—as I mentioned, I could record myself quite clearly. I also enunciate well, and am using a new, quality USB headset designed for speech recognition.

I've now learned that other people have had this problem, and the only way they've fixed it was by reinstalling Vista. So that's what I've done—and SR works perfectly again. We'll see how long it lasts.

Sheesh. Considering how much work MS must've put into SR, you'd think they could've spotted something like this before they let it out the door. (What's that? People have been saying that kind of thing about MS for years...?) Cheers, A.

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It's actually rather funny when you think about it...

Till now, tech-support people have traditionally asked, "Have you tried turning off and restarting your computer?" Now with Vista, perhaps they're going to start asking, "Have you tried reinstalling your operating system?" :?D

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That is exactly what I don't like to do. That is a cop out for people that don't 
have the nads to say I don't have any more ideas to give you for help. In case something 
should show up again, here is some good info. By the way you did exactly what I said 
not to do, but if it works go with it.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=311f4be8-9983-4ab0-9685-f1bfec1e7d62&displaylang=en

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Charlie Hadden > That is exactly what I don't like to do. That is a cop out for people that don't have the nads to say I don't have any more ideas to give you for help...

("Nads"?)

I share your sentiments. I also prefer to solve problems by more specific, elegant means. But in this case, I simply couldn't find any further info. And I did look. And look.

Charlie Hadden > In case something should show up again, here is some good info...

I checked that page's Speech Recognition document, but here's all it said about troubleshooting:

Poor recognition of voice commands

If you are having difficulty completing a task by voice, the most likely cause is that the computer is accurately recognizing your voice, but you are saying the wrong command. Refer to the Speech Reference Card to learn which commands are available. To access the Speech Reference Card...

Logging bugs and feedback

To log bugs, use the instructions on the Microsoft Beta Web site...

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O wasn't trying to be mean except to people that love to tell others to re-install 
just because thy can off no further help. And don't have the GONADS to admit they 
don't have an answer. Excuse my abbreviation. Thats the way we talked back in the 
60's. Bottom line. I'm sorry you had to do that because I couldn't offer a better 
answer. One the other hand you have to draw a line at some point and say it will 
be easier and more time efficient to re-install.

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Quick Q for you guys... do you know if the ms speech recognition is as accurate as the commercial ones like Dragon Dictate (when it DOES work )? thanks, tom

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Ander might be able to tell you. All I have ever tried is Dragon. and I try it.  
and I try it. I have never been impressed with Dragon. I had reallly hoped that MS 
would take the stand and show everyone!

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Charlie Hadden> O wasn't trying to be mean except to people that love to tell others to re-install just because thy can off no further help.

I didn't think you were being mean, Charlie... I thought you were trying to help, and I appreciate it. (The "swearing" I referred to reflected my frustration with Vista.)

Charlie Hadden> And don't have the GONADS to admit they don't have an answer. Excuse my abbreviation. Thats the way we talked back in the 60's...

Yep, I figured that's what you meant. It was just funny, so I wanted to repeat it.

Charlie Hadden> Bottom line. I'm sorry you had to do that because I couldn't offer a better answer. One the other hand you have to draw a line at some point and say it will be easier and more time efficient to re-install.

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Tom O'Connell> Quick Q for you guys... do you know if the ms speech recognition is as accurate as the commercial ones like Dragon Dictate...?

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