FUSION ------ PAPER AND PAPERLESS! CAN'T GO WRONG~ LOL

did you check out my stand up comedian?

Hey Susan,
Hows it going?

Hey, Susan. I'm selling my Stylus because, quite honestly, I need the money. This summer we went to Ireland, got engaged there, then decided to get married on our anniversary, Aug. 8, in Oregon where his family lives. Then we had an LA reception for friends and family here. All that was a bit much for our little credit cards, especially after having just put a new Stylus on one.

I love the machine. It's very light. I like the touch screen. There's not really a lot of reasons to have to touch it other than to connect via Bluetooth. I also like the fact the display lifts up, leaving room for an extended keyboard to be velcroed to the top of the machine so I can edit during a depo. I used to just have to cover up my display on my Stentura with my mini keybard. So even if you don't buy mine, you should look at it more seriously. I know people who love their Miras, so I'm sure you'll be happy with either. Good luck to you.

Hi, Susan. I came across your post on this site about wanting a new writer. I just bought a Stylus a few months ago and am having to sell it. I've only used it literally a few times. Let me know if you're interested. We can talk price.

Marla

Okay. I guess you can think of it as a new toy, but don't forget about the restocking fee of $350.00. If I really don't like the Mira, I will get the LS. Maybe all the kinks with be all worked out by that time.

I hope you like it.
Let me know.
Susan

Well I spoke to some reporters that love it. Needs tweaking but once all figured out, they love it. And they say takes away neck and shoulder ain when writing all day and I do a lot of all days so let's see how it goes but they take it back if you don't like it. I'm a gadget freak!! Lol lol

I love the Mira. Some stacking but I think its how I write but you can adjust that. I actually just ordered the Lightspeed so let's see

Yes, you can set the keys for a harder touch on the LS. However, the more you use it, the more I think you will find that you start writing with a lighter touch. For the first month or two it seemed like it was a process where I was periodically adjusting the keys. When they came out with the update in February, I stopped adjusting keys and left everything set at factory default and have very minimal issues. I attribute a lot of that to just being comfortable in writing on the machine.

I think you would be perfectly fine buying a used LS. As you know, there's no maintenance like there is on traditional machines; so you will save about $500/year on a maintenance contract (another pro I forgot to mention).

I have never heard of a lawyer using a reporter's digital recorder to record. If the reporter is using the digital recorder, why would the attorney need to? Or are you saying the attorney is requesting a copy of the audio file that is made with the digital recorder. I've heard of that happening, and I think there's some case law somewhere that it is the reporter's work product and up to the reporter to release it or not, but I could be totally wrong on that one. I leave my recorder on throughout the day; so if there's anyone in the room having a "private" conversation, my recorder picks it up; and I would never release it to anyone because of that. That, to me, ensures no one is going to get my audio.

I do know, however, of some firms that are giving away a synched audio file with the final transcript on CD, which I think is doing nothing but dragging the profession down, simply because those reporters who do that are now required to listen to the audio and edit word for word on a transcript, instead of just being able to edit/proof it without audio (unless it's videotaped proceedings). Doing a word-for-word edit takes about 3 times longer than just editing and spot checking. If you want, my personal email is naola@sbcglobal.net, and you can email me questions so you don't have to clutter up your page with my horrible picture!!

Also, there's plenty of people that are will to buy a used LS, even if you discount it a couple hundred bucks. That way you're not losing the whole $350+/- by sending it back.

I use an external mike hooked up to my laptop. I buy the mikes from DepoBook for $15 and they're great mikes. I also use a small Olympus digital recorder I got at Sam's Club (Cosco has them, too) for $60. It records up to 69 hrs, and has a USB plug on it so I can plug it directly into my computer to dump the audio files. I use that as a second audio backup in case something happens to my CAT software audiosynch file or job file, such as a computer crash or theft of my computer before I reach home. Martel sells a more high-end Olympus for about $250 (which you can buy at Circuit City for $109), but there's no USB connector on it. Instead you use a cord from the recorder to the computer to transfer files. It also holds over 200 hrs of audio. Also, the sound quality is much better than my little $60 recorder, but mine does a bang-up job as is.

One last thing. My untran rate for the LS is still under 1%, usually around .15 to .35; so I haven't given up much in the way of accuracy. It takes a good month to get used to the touch and get your accuracy back up. That's a good month of 3 or so jobs a week, compared to practicing on it regularly. Also I think someone coming out of school would adjust to it much easier than a reporter who's been reporting for over 25 years, like me.

There's pros and cons to each machine, and you would need to decide based on how and why you think you would use each one.
For example, the Mira seemed like a lot of money for what appeared to be the Stentura in a different shell, with the exception of a better stroke depth adjustment without shimming. I have hand issues (bilateral carpal tunnel/DeQuervain's surgery) and the Mira's touch was still not "good" for my hands. The shallowest touch was not shallow enough. There was also the stacking issues that I read a tremendous amount about and I dealt with that with my Stentura and did not want to deal with it any longer. There's also the weight of the Mira. I travel a lot on airplanes for jobs and the size and weight of a standard machine versus the LS was an issue. I can get my laptop and LS in one bag and don't have to choose which one to check, and the bag is small enough that when I'm on smaller aircraft I can still fit it under the seat in front of me.

I love the touch of the LS for MY hand issues. There are trade-offs, like I said, either way you go. The LS is extremely sensitive and you have to be a VERY good writer to write well on it. My accuracy for certain things is better but other things is worse. For example, my numbers are SO EASY to write on the LS (I use the # bar) compared to a traditional machine. But the LS is so sensitive that sometimes I get a wrong word because I've barely brushed another key. I would not have gotten that on a standard steno machine because even though I may have brushed the key in the process of depressing the correct keys, the brushed key would not have been depressed and, therefore, would not cause an untran or a mistran/wrong word. You also have no internal audio synch (which to me is no problem, but to some a major deal), and you also have no display. If you want a display with the ability to read back, you ALWAYS have to have it hooked up to a laptop. In the freelance world, that can sometimes be a difficult task. (I have my setup so my LS is immediately below and under my laptop so space is not a factor. I use a regular tripod with a cool pad to set the laptop on, and then the telescoping tripod by Instand to attach my LS to so everything is in front of me just like standard steno machine and makes setup easy)

You know what kind of writer you are and probably have a good idea what avenue of reporting you are going to pursue immediately. Based on that, I will leave it to you what writer you choose.
Naola "Sam" Vaughn

Hello,
Make sure you click save after you have selected the picture.
thanks

Of course! no problem, I didn't want you to think your friends were ignoring you.
that's what normally happens, people leave comments on their own pages and wonder if the other person is ignoring them.
This has been a big issue, its all and 100% my fault.
Sorry :P

P.S: nice picture, you should make it your avatar, click "change my photo" under your avatar.. the shadow guy on the top left and add it their if you want to.
thanks!

Hi Susan,
Just a heads up, If you want users to get you comments click on "comment back" under their comment and it will take you to thir page where you leave a comment, that way the user (in this case me) get an email notification :)

You have to be a trained videographer to accept video work, its a whole different ball game. its not hard but you need to train and buy the necessary equipment.
thanks

Yes, I would like to receive video job offers, but my question was what are they?
My school had never mentioned video jobs. Do you need experience in the field before you take on these jobs?
Thank you.

Hello,
If you mean you would like to receive video job offers through CSRnation then simply join this group.
If not, please explain further.
thanks!

http://www.csrnation.com/group/coverdeposforvideographersnationwide