Magnum Steno

[Erica Abbott]

Hello everyone! Hope this month is going well for you all. I have been kind of slowed down because of the Holiday season. It happens every year.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had advice on the magnum steno. I know this has been kind of tossed back and forth on here, but I would like to know if anyone has the book. It is extremely expensive, but I am also extremely interested;) I have only been working for two years in January, but I want to be better. I also was curious if anyone has been doing the magnum steno club and actually seeing improvements, etc.

So I guess my questions are; is it worth the money to buy the book? What does it actually have in there? How is the monthly steno club, and is anyone seeing improvements??

I truly thank you all for any information. It frustrates me to not be better and spend hours editing jobs, and I just want to be better and feel better about myself as a reporter (maybe that I don't suck;).

[Patricia Babits]

I've been doing the club. It is super fast. You're supposed to get a stroke for each word, even if it's a bad stroke, and I am not even able to do that. I'm not sure if it's helping me but I'm going to stick with it for a while and see. It is good warmup to do before your jobs!
You also get brief practice each day. If you can't afford the book right now, you will learn something just from the club. If you can do it, I would buy the book. I can't buy it right now. It has his whole theory in there and it also comes with his dictionary. You can load it and then choose it behind your own dictionary, which I think would be great. I don't think my brain at this point could incorporate everything he does, but I feel like if I could do even a portion I will be a much faster writer. I am writing out way too many words.

[Erica Abbott]

How fast are you going that it is superfast? is it 240 and higher? Because I have tapes that I am doing at home at 220 and higher and it seems fast on some of them! I really do appreciate everyone's input! I love that I don't have to shell out $250 for the book without even having one opinion on it! Thank you

[Tina Givens]

When Patricia says super fast, she means SUPER fast. Basically it is Mark dictating as fast as he possibly can, and I would estimate it's close to 300 at times, if not faster. It is incredibly dense material that just blows your mind.

You can email magnumsteno and get a code that is good for 24 hours. Everything is archived, so make sure you request your code on a day that you can spend some time listening to as many videos as you can. Plus, you pay by the month, so you're not obligated if it's not working out for you.

I also have the magnumsteno book and I cannot say enough about it. If you can incorporate just a fraction of the theory contained in the book, your writing will shorten noticeably. It's more encyclopedic in that it is broken out by sections and theory principles with lists of words for each principle. The magnumsteno club gives you 10 minutes of briefs and 10 minutes of speedbuilding daily. The brief videos follow the book and each day's video highlights a theory section. Really it is extraordinary to see how he phrases and briefs. Worth every penny.

Oh, but his dictionary is not included like it was previously with Stenomaster. At least I didn't receive it with my book.

[Patricia Babits]

I am almost positive I heard him say on one of the dictations or the instructions magnum steno came with the his dictionary.

[Tami]

Keep at it, Patricia. If you say it is good warmup to do before your jobs, it definitely is working, right??

Oh, and your notes are not shattered, double right?? :)

My dear friend Christine told me this week it is about impossible, but she's hanging in there, too. I really feel it will pay off. If I could physically handle it, I'd sign up in a second. Waiting for a couple more months to sign up.

I think Mark should have a step-down speed for high-speed students or for those reporters who have entry-level speed. I think I might suggest that to him.

Perhaps, Patricia and Tina, you might ask him about that??

He could archive it in two sections, perhaps Tues/Thurs a little slower speed and Mon/Wed/Fri the screamin' speeds???

Just a thought I've been having.

[Tina Givens]

One of the dictations Mark mentioned that they are trying to implement a future feature that allows for adjustment of the playback speed of the video. That would be great if you could start off a little slower and work your way up to Mark's blistering speed.

His segments are pretty impossible, at least for this mere mortal, but I was able to hang on for maybe 30 seconds at a time. It DEFL gives you something to strive towards.

[Patricia Babits]

Hi Tami,
Mark mentioned on one of the takes that reporters are complaining a bit that it's too fast, so it's already been mentioned to him. He said his idea is to get your fingers where they are even able to move that quickly. Try to get one stroke for each word even if it's not the best stroke.
I am going to keep at it

[Tami]

Oh, no, I totally believe in his "idea." I used it myself to prepare for the last contest, and I give total credit to his philosophy, BUT I just think for entry-level speed or high-speed students, it might be helpful to step it down a notch.

I think what Tina mentioned is a super idea -- as long as people don't start slowing down too much and lose the whole concept. The concept truly works. No question about it.

You just also need to incorporate a shorter writing style -- another great "idea" he had. :)

[Tina Givens]

Tami is right -- you can't slow down too much. I think it would be great if you could slow him down to maybe 260/280 for those days when you're just not up for Mark at 300/320. The whole point of the exercise is not to write accurate notes, but to retrain your brain and fingers to write faster.

[Tami]

Well, Erica, I think you know how I feel. I think it's a great tool.

My son has one of the first copies on the market, and I think everybody agrees he's been pretty successful with the Stenomaster Theory and the Magnum Steno books. If you're a past customer, you get it for the student price. I bought mine at the convention in July for $199.

I plan to join the "club" next April or so to get ready for the speed contest next summer, which I'm not even sure I'll make. We'll see if my hands hold up.

[Kimberly Spangler]

Erica -

I've been a member of the club for a little over a month now. I really find it challenging (and somtimes just downright IMPOSSIBLE)! Personally, I think it's great and I have noticed improvement. I also like the little tips that Mark gives between dictations and then, of course, the instructional segments.

I don't have the book yet but plan on buying it.

For only $30 a month maybe you should give the club a try for a month and see what you think. Good luck!

[Patricia Babits]

I got the Magnum Steno book for Christmas yesterday!