SpeechWare TableMike User Guide

www.SpeechRecSolutions.com 866-778-0524
SpeechWare TableMike User Guide: All Versions
Contents
Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
Windows Set-up ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2
Dragon NaturallySpeaking Set-up -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Mac Set-up: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3
Dragon Dictate Set-up ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Operating Instructions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Using the Downloadable TableMike Configuration Utility ------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Troubleshooting and Common Questions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Warranty Information ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of a SpeechWare TableMike. Your microphone has been
manufactured to the highest standards and can be expected to provide years of high-quality
performance with speech recognition software, internet telephony, and other audio applications.
Common to all versions (3-in-1, 6-in-1 and 9-in-1) are:
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An extremely accurate and sensitive microphone element
The use of speech equalization and “auto-gain” technology to allow automatic mic input volume
adjustment as you vary distance from the microphone element (and practical use from distances
of 10-20 inches)
Advanced digital signal processing to exclude the influence of contaminating external noise
Variable, depending upon the model of TableMike you purchased are some of features as shown in the
table below:
3-in-1
6-in-1
9-in-1
Foot Pedal
Jack
No
Yes
Yes
Boom Length
Speaker
USB Ports
Card Reader
16”
21”
21-26”
No
Yes
Yes
None
1
2
No
No
Yes
Windows Set-up
1. Carefully insert the gooseneck boom into the female mini-XLR connector of the base unit.
2. Optionally cover the microphone element with the windscreen provided to avoid unwanted
speech degradation, and to offer it an additional layer of protection from dust and saliva.
3. Plug the specially insulated USB cable to the USB ports of the microphone and the computer.
Connect the cable to a DEDICATED USB port on the computer. DO NOT USE any other USB
cable or a multiple USB Splitter or USB Hub device to connect to the computer. The Indicator
Light (LED) of the base unit will light up in Red. If the unit does not initialize - check that the USB
connectors are properly inserted at both ends.
4. Wait a few seconds for Windows® to automatically install the corresponding USB sound drivers:
5. After completion of the installation, Windows® will select the 'USB TableMike' as the
Recording and the Playback Device, and will make it the default for ALL applications.
a. if your device is a 3-in-1 TableMike (no speaker) you will not hear any playback if a
Speaker or Ear set is not plugged in the Sound out port (rear of the base unit).
To change this setting, with Windows® 8, right-click the Speaker Icon in the lower
right hand corner of the Windows® System Tray and choose 'Playback devices'.
Click the 'Mixer' link to open the 'Volume Mixer'. Select 'Speakers' and choose
another available Device to be used (normally the built-in PC Speaker). The procedure is
similar under Windows® 7, Vista®, XP® and 2000.
b. If your device is a 6-in-1 or 9-in-1 (each of which have speakers) you will hear normal
sound playback through the TableMike speaker.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking Set-up
If using a new TableMike with Dragon NaturallySpeaking, you have several options in terms of how to
integrate your microphone with Dragon:
c. Simply substituting the TableMike for your old mic and running the audio set-up wizard
d. Adding the TableMike as a new “source” to an existing profile
e. Creating an entirely new user profile based on the TableMike
Of these options, we consider the middle option the best, both because it allows you to save all
the personalized words and commands in your current profile, and yet still afford you the
opportunity (based on the version of Dragon you are using) to do some limited reading and
training with the new microphone.
Here is the basic process:
Dragon 11 or 12
1. Select Dragon > Open User ..
2. On the far right of the Open User
dialog, click on “Source” and then
“New”
3. Select the new source (TableMike) from
those listed and follow subsequent
instructions
Dragon 13
1. Select Manage Dictation Sources from the
“Profile” menu.
2. Click “Add new dictation source”
3. Follow all subsequent instructions
Mac Set-up:
Preliminary Setting Tweak: Although the TableMike is essentially a “plug-and-play” device, the
following brief adjustment is recommended when preparing to use a TableMike with your Mac:
1. Go to the Utilities folder in your Applications folder, and launch 'Audio MIDI Setup'. Select
'USB TableMike' from the list of devices.
2. Click on the 'Input' tab, then choose '44000.0 Hz' and '1ch-16bit' from the Format menu.
3. Quit the Setup
Dragon Dictate Set-up
Because of the unique "auto-gain" technology on the 2nd Generation TableMikes, it is recommended
that you follow the procedure listed here when doing the initial microphone set-up when using it with
Dragon Dictate®. This is necessary in order to give the TableMike time to achieve maximum sensitivity
before initiating the volume setting procedure.
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
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Choose Tools > Microphone Setup to calibrate the TableMike™
Click on the red icon to enable the microphone
Wait 30 seconds in silence until the gain setting reaches the maximum level of
99
At this point, start reading the text to have Dragon Dictate® adjust the TableMike's volume properly.
After following the above procedures you can expect excellent results with any of the SpeechWare
microphones.
Operating Instructions
Depending upon which version of the TableMike you have purchased, there are several potential
controls to be aware of. The control buttons used in all three TableMikes is shown below.
1. Microphone “Push” Button: The “Push” button controls the on/off behavior of the microphone
and can be set to work in one of three modes:
 Always on: The microphone is always hot and neither the “push” button nor the
optional foot pedal have any effect on the microphone


Press to talk: In this mode, the microphone is hot only when the “push” button is
depressed (or the optional foot pedal depressed) and the microphone turns off
immediately with a release.
Press to lock: In this mode, the microphone cycles on an off with each push of the
button or depression of the optional foot pedal. For most users, this is the preferred
setting.
The behavior of the push button (of foot-pedal) as described above is determined with a small
slide switch located under the base of the TableMike and is show below:
2. Volume Up and Volume Down buttons: these control the volume of the speaker on the 6-in-1
and 9-in-1.
3. Mode Button (Long Range vs. Normal): This is a key control and allows you to toggle between
two very different modes:
 Normal Mode: for short range dictation and VoIP use
 Long distance Mode: for long and variable range dictation with speech equalization and
Auto-Gain control (AGC)
4. Indicator light: this indicates whether the microphone in hot or not (red when muted), and
whether in the normal (blue) or long-range mode (green)
 Red: muted (off)
 Green: on and in Long Distance mode
 Blue: on and in Normal mode
Mode
Operating Range
Auto Gain
External Noise rejection
Speech Equalization
Playback Sound Quality
Ideal Usage Situation
Comments
Normal (Blue)
2-10 inches
Minimal
High
Inactive
Most Natural
Moderate or high noise
Best setting in moderate or
more noise
Distant (Green)
10-20 Inches
Most Intense
Moderate
Active
Artificial sounding
Low ambient noise
Best if low noise; most
convenient given distance
flexibility
Using the Downloadable TableMike Configuration Utility
An optional utility which can be downloaded for free from SpeechWare is called the TableMike Config
utility and allows you to program the volume up and volume down buttons on the TableMike to perform
a variety of functions very similar to what is seen in SpeechWare’s Octopus USB Controller (OUC), but in
a constrained way compared with OUC. Specific functions which can be programmed to the TableMike
volume up and volume down buttons include:
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Emulate any build-in or user-created Dragon command
Insert boilerplate text
Initiate any Dragon Hot-key
Emulate any Windows key or key-combination
Launch any application, folder, document or website
Initiate any of a series of Windows functions
How to download the free Utility:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Go to https://www.tablemike.com/en/
Navigate to Downloads > Applications
Click on Download TableMike Config
Once downloaded, unzip the file and begin the installation by clicking on the “setup” icon
Using TableMike Config Utility
1. Open the utility by going to the Start Menu > All Applications > SpeechWare
2. Once launched you will see the main window depicted below. You will notice that for each of
the two buttons you can program a separate behavior for a single press, double press, or a long
press (a total of 6 actions can be executed).
3. Double click on the button and behavior you want to program and this will launch the USB
Device Settings window from where you can program the detailed behavior you desire.
*For more information on Octopus USB Controller, please visit www.OctopusUSBController.com or view
it directly at our store at: http://store.speechrecsolutions.com/octopus-usb-controller-p164.aspx
Troubleshooting and Common Questions
The push button doesn’t seem to affect microphone operation. I can’t mute the microphone: this is a
common scenario when the sliding switch on the bottom of the base of the microphone has accidentally
been moved to the “Always On” position. The solution is simply to slide the switch to one of the other
positions based on your preference.
I’m using the TableMike with a Mac and it doesn’t seem to be working well: This happens occasionally
and is usually because the user did not realize that special steps are needed to set up the TableMike for
use with a Mac. Please read the section above on “Mac Set-up”.
I recently switched from my usual microphone to the TableMike. Although it works, it doesn’t seem
to be giving me the accuracy I expected. What’s wrong? This is a fairly common scenario when
switching mics and underscore the need to properly integrate your new microphone with your software.
If using the TableMike with Dragon, we recommend that you add the microphone as a new “source” to
your existing profile. Eventually, you should consider performing additional extended training for
maximum accuracy.
Is it necessary to use a foam windscreen with the TableMike? This is entirely optional. If using the
TableMike in the normal (close) range, the windscreen has the potential to prevent “popping sounds”
which result from air-flow from your breathing as you talk. It also provides a method of keeping
moisture and aerosolized particles in your breath from interacting with the microphone element. When
used in the green or distant mode, all of these benefits are probably much reduced, so we consider use
of the windscreen to be more optional when using the TableMike in the distant mode.
I don’t need such a long USB cord. Are there other options? Yes you can purchase a shorter (or longer)
USB cord. We carry several on our site. These can also be obtained from electronic components
resellers such as www. monoprice.com. Our products can be seen at:
http://store.speechrecsolutions.com/usb-a-b-6ft-extension-cord-p153.aspx
http://store.speechrecsolutions.com/usb-a-b-15ft-extension-cable-p152.aspx
When listening to playback of my voice it sounds very “tinny”. Why is this? When used in the green or
“distant” mode, the TableMike uses advanced digital signal processing and this alters the quality of the
incoming sound. This is actually advantageous when using the microphone with Dragon, since it is a
product of external noise rejection. You may not want to have the quality of your voice changed for
non-Dragon applications, so in this scenario we recommend changing to the blue or “Normal” mode.
Can I plug an ordinary headset microphone into the mic jack on the back of the TableMike? Yes, this is
exactly what this jack is intended for. When an analog microphone is plugged into the jack, it is using all
the advanced features of the TableMike, including the speech equalization, auto-gain technology and
advanced digital signal processing, and feeds the resulting digital signal to your computer via the USB
cable.
Warranty Information
All of the SpeechWare TableMikes come with a full, one-year warranty. Please contact Speech
Recognition Solutions directly if you have a warranty claim. In order to extend your warranty to 2-years,
please visit SpeechWare at the URL shown below and register for the extension.
https://www.tablemike.com/en/warranty
Copyright 2015. Speech Recognition Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved.

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