Thank you all for confirming that I'm not losing my mind -- let alone my hands. I'm glad I posted here because I was going to start the routine with Stenograph and my service person. Sounds like this is as good as it gets. I'd like to hold out for a Passport, but don't know how realistic that is at this point.

All you A3 users, does it stack or not!

I sent my Lightspeed back two weeks ago. Guess I should be thankful stacking is my only complaint on my G2 Mira.

The Passport?? I thought that was a figment of our imagination! :)

Supposedly the Passport is out and there are some people who have them, but it's probably not a good sign that I don't see any discussion of it anywhere.

I would think that's a good sign.

Perhaps Eclipse is actually having a few reporters test the machine on the job before putting them into mass production.

Now that's a thought . . .

Well, now I know I'm not alone when it comes to the Mira stacking. Love my machine but I find myself making constant adjustments -- even during depos!
I find it helps to lower the key's number dial when a particular key is extra sensitive. I used to dial to a higher number but have found the reverse is best. It works. Most of my keys are set between 4 and 5.
I also reduce the tension/sensitivity of the grooved-white dial at the upper left area inside/underneath the LED screen cover.
I find myself checking/making these adjustments at about every 75 - 95 pages of testimony. This has greatly reduced stacking and final -P dragging problems from one to two every 100 pages.
I hope I've helped.
Happy Holidays!

I just got the A3. I'll let you know how it goes after the first couple months of writing on it!

My A3 Mira stacks as well unless I've adjusted it, as detailed so well by April. I've found that refining the tension/sensitivity wheel and depth of stroke - it takes a couple of weeks, if you're writing daily - gets me to where, in a two- to three-hour job, I'll have only one or two words that stack. I also had the 'the the' problem and got around it by desensitising the 'T". Now, how do I do a smiley? :)

I have a Mira A-3, and it also was stacking. There is a repair for this problem that both OTEC in Seattle, WA and I believe Stenograph have for a fix, and it is covered by the extended warraty.

I have new info on the stacking issue. Please see the above Discussion on
Stacking Fix for Miras.

April,

That's how I felt the first week or two after my Mira was serviced over Spring Break, but now it's already going back to its bad habits. I'm so disappointed.

It's still a whole heck of a lot better now than it was before the service, BUT seems to be progressively getting worse.

This week right in the middle of closing arguments it decided to top registering all As. I glanced at my screen and did a "What the Heck!"

The closing was clipping along pretty good, so I had to take baby steps in opening the lid and making an adjustment -- only one notch did the trick.

The judge was probably thinking I had one too many martinis for lunch. :)

I'm sure I'll be calling the Steno Doctor in the near future to see what they recommend. I really think they did a great job. I wish they hadn't returned it with factory settings, though. If I had known that, I would have written down my settings before getting it serviced.

Tami,

Where is this Steno Doctor located? Can you give me a number? Is Steno Doctor located in Southern CA? I'm Northern CA.

I've had my Mira for only a few months and Trevor just got his Fusion. My problem is the stacking and split notes. I thought it was just me and my sloppy writing and I'm a pounder. Is writing hard a result of using a paper writer? I'm working on writing softer, especially so that my hands/arms don't get overworked.

Does anyone else have split note problems? Any suggestions and how does that happen? Is it because one hand is more dominant than the other? The stacking/split note issue is really embarrassing when trying to do readback in class and time consuming when editing my qualifiers. My frustration level has piqued.

I'm making little adjustments with the settings on my Mira, but with the new machine, new software, and implementing some of Mark's concepts into my theory, well, let's just say, I'm a bit overwhelmed.

Tami, have a martini for me. Or better yet, when Trevor and I pass the CSR, we'll get together with our boys and all have one.

Well, the settings were okay at first, but now that it's starting to revert back to stacking -- ALREADY -- I'm back to finding myself scrambling. At least it's not dribbling, BUT it is splitting some strokes.

Alexis, there is something you can hit to help with the split strokes. Maybe that was turned the opposite way, too after the fix. I'd need to read my manual to jolt my brain on where the on/off switch is.

I'm finding things like a letter supposed to be in one word but showing up in the second word and not the first one. That's a new problem for me. Guess that could be classified a bit like split strokes.

That "A" of mine was showing up fine one minute, and then the next minute it had disappeared. As hard as I had to hit it to get it to re-appear, it shouldn't have taken just a single notch to get it registering again.

I tilt my machine so far away from me that if I write with the lid open, it does me absolutely no good. I can't see the adjustment keys one bit.

The guy in Seattle -- I think it's Otec?? It was posted on here -- swears he has the fix. I just tried the Steno Doc because I'd rather not ship my Mira -- especially after the service.

Alexis, I really don't do martinis -- haven't made it to the elite martini crowd yet, even though I've tried, BUT I definitely will find something I like and we can celebrate. Sounds like fun!

Wish you both were closer!

Oh, and, April, I've never had a company reset my settings back to factory settings. That was a new one for me. I'll be ready next time.

BUT I'm afraid it's not the settings, but just the writer itself

Hi April,
I wanted to comment on the SMART STROKE setting on the Mira. I have found that I do need to turn it off to lower the number of split strokes. Also worth noting is that if for some reason you need to RESET the writer (not turning off or some other problem) you need to check the SMART STROKE setting again, as it may revert to the prior setting.

Now I'm really scared. Just bought the Mira. It's supposed to be delivered today. Was told my the salesrep Teri Wilson that she had gotten no complaints - ever. Now I read all of these negative comments. I couldn't decide on whether I should buy the Stylus or the Mira. Wish I had read this first. IS ANYONE HAPPY WITH THE MIRA?

Thanks. That's a little more reassuring. When you say back, what happened?

I have to say my Mira is back to working decently.

There are reporters around who love it, Drew, so don't lose any sleep over it yet. Just make sure you're a squeaky wheel if it's not working like you think it should be.

(Unfortunately, I'm not convinced there's a better alternative available.)

Drew, a little more reassurance here - I have a Mira and I haven't had any problems with it at all, so fingers crossed you'll be the same.

Thanks for the reassurance! I think it's going to get some use to, though. Used it for the first time today and it was much different than my stentura.

Had my Mira for two weeks, and it's working great. I adjusted the depth, tension then keys - in that order and it stacks a tad, but no more than my Stentura. I haven't noticed that it is better on the hands and wrists, though...

Guess I missed your June 12 "Issues Update," April Sorry about that.

I'm really excited about my new settings. I don't feel that we should have to be readjusting this machine, though, every time we move it or knock it a bit -- or in my case just use it. I would much rather go back to a once a year screwdriver adjustment than the ease of the wheel that we have to adjust daily.

That's my suggestion to Stenograph anyway, even though it's probably worthless. :)

It seems to be the price we're paying for the latest technology.

Welcome all new members to the Elan Mira group here at CSRnation.

John, just make sure the minute you get it you have the instrux for setting your adjustments and in the right order. If they aren't given to you I posted the PDF manual up in Discussions.
Good luck :)

I just bought a new laptop and I lost me driver for my Mira. Anyone know what I should do? I called to see if they would send me another one, but I have not heard back from them. Thanks!

You can download it frm the Stenograph website.

thanks a ton!

I didn't think there was really all that much difference in the thouch between the Mira A3 and the Stentura. But I've been using the Stentura in court for the last two weeks, and I was WRONG! Now when I got back and forth to the A3, the writing is so much easier! It's actually fun to write.

If you have any questions about adjusting your contact assembly or any other adjustments on the Mira post them here or call me at 206-284-7492.
Some Mira and Cybra machines develop a repeating letter/splitting stroke problem and that can be solved.
Allan
OTEC

Audio hookup question. I'm trying to figure out how to use the audio capability on the Mira. I plug in my mic, I go to set up, then go to audio, and when I scroll down through the mic gain, headphone volume, then I get to "Record Audio During Job" and it just skips over that one. There's no curser for me to click on. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks!

what is the purpose of the Audio OTG on the A3? It's great that it records from the writer, but how can I listen to it from my writer later when I've re-opened the file? That's what I would like it for. Seems like you can't do that, only can listen to audio in the current file while doing realtime. What's the purpose of that??? Isn't audio for backup for later on...LOL

Anyways, I have a prison depo on Friday morning and can't bring my laptop to do realtime for myself, thus no audio backup. But you know I thought having the audio on the A3 that wouldn't be a problem...but, no.

Any input on this would be appreciated? BTW, I'm not on CaseCatalyst.

Thanks.

Gina

I have been using the Mira A3 for three years now and love it. The one problem I have is very often, unless I hit my number bar very precisely, I get the # instead of the number. This happens most often with the number 1, probably because the left pinky is the weakest of my fingers. I am considering changing the way I write numbers, writing them out instead of using the number bar. Does anyone else have this problem?

Kim
I've had that problem too. I've had my Mira for about six months, and after some adjusting, I too love it. Usually for me it's the number 1 or 2 that's missing. I don't think there's much we can do, except changing the way you write numbers. I'm not going there cause that would be wayyy too much work and affect my number conversion. I usually just always look at my screen while doing numbers, so that I can restroke it really quick or change it on the computer screen as soon as I get a chance.

I think you're right, it must just be that those two fingers are the weakest. I am going to try to adjust the sensitivity of my number bar.

Adjust the S to fix your problem with the 1, and the T to fix your problem with the 2 Adjust each letter one click lower.

If you are missing all of your numbers, and they are showing up as letters, then adjust the number bar adjustment wheel lower.
If you are missing one number, and it is showing up as a #, then you need to make the coresponding number more sensitive, so one or two clicks lower.

Allan Dyer
OTEC
206-284-7492

Thanks Allan. I'm going to try that!

I'm going to try it and see how I do. Thanks!

I am wondering how many of you are thinking about upgrading to the Diamante? 

I bought the Diamante last year and love it.  The touch is a bit lighter, and I'm having fewer issues with stacking and splitting.