Great story, Susan, on the LS thread. I enjoyed it. I think you'll be so glad you went back.

My son's girlfriend's mom has a very similar story. She started school in '80 or '81, made it to qualifiers (got pregnant) and quit when she had her first born. She went back after her kids were nearly grown and now has been reporting almost three years and loves every minute of it.

(She's Wendy in my friend's section.)

Small world for me because I actually got out of the same school she went to right when she was first starting. 27 years later, our two kids meet in CR school and have been pretty much inseparable since.

Good luck!

Oh, and I think something to keep in mind in curing the editing blues is seeking realtime perfection. I fly through editing now. I actually don't edit. I consider it now just a final proof.

Since you're a natural on the front end, use that to your fullest advantage. Don't let it get in the way until you've gotten out of school, but when you start working, go for perfect writing.

Yes, we'll never accomplish that goal, but it really turns into a fun journey trying.

Happy writing short!

Tami

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

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.

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

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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 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!!

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 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

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

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

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

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.

Hey Susan,
Hows it going?

did you check out my stand up comedian?

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

Congratulations on graduating! I can't wait to get there, but it's so hard to work and practice at the same time, but I have to get it done! Hopefully before Christmas! Are you still sitting in? I know a few people who have graduated and are still sitting in because of the fear factor. But, it's really nothing to it.
I'm telling my classmates that you just have to go out there and jump in the deep end of the pool; you either sink or swim. That's the best way to learn and grow, in my opinion. I've already taken my fair share of work and have been that deer in headlights, but in the end, you find that you're able get through it.
Just this past Saturday, Anthony Frisolone held a seminar in Brooklyn for students. I was able to attend and I met some people from your school, teachers and students. It was pretty cool, because I met with one of your teachers and we found out that her son and I went to the same school out on Long Island. I miss it out there.
How are the courts on LI? I haven't worked on or near LI yet, but I want to, especially since I'm planning to move out there next year.
Well, good luck in everything! Drop me a line whenever.

Hi, Susan:

I just got your message. I will call you tomorrow.

-anne-

Hi Susan,

I apologize for not getting back to you right away. I think I may have sold it to someone already, but I won't know for sure until after Thanksgiving. If it's still available, I'll let you know -- if you're still interested.

-anne-

Susan, yes, it is interesting that they encourage the students to use Miras in the higher speeds. I think they want you to get used to the "higher tech" way of doings things while you are still in school. They are really patient with students who have a learning curve delay reading back in class with paperless writers, etc. Some of my friends have Lightspeeds and just love them, but I want that screen in front of me. There is no way a paper that has to be able to push paper past a platen can be as light as a completely non-paper machine (I believe and have heard) It sounds to me like you are well on your way! Thanks for responding! Norma

Hi Susan, I went paperless five years ago and never looked back. The only thing I would do is make sure you have a really good system in place for backing up your notes and/or jobs, so that if you ever lose anything you havce a back up. I have the Mira G2 which has a floppy disk and a disk went bad on me once and I didn't back up the notes for that disk and a spent about $200 retrieving the information off the disk.

As far as the stacking issue on the A3, the newest writer, I haven't heard anything. Also, stacking occurs when you still have your fingers on the last stroke that you're writing and you're now going to write the next stroke. That's more of a human issue than a writer issue.

Now, I have also used the A3 to get familar with the produce and it's worth every penny!!

haha, I do recognize you too..I didn't even realize before. Yes, I'm in Mrs. Santucci's class!

Well, I've been using my fusion with no paper and I just had to send it in because it was making so much noise, it sounds like a whistling or something...it's just really annoying but I was too scared to get a Mira because I didn't know if I would be allowed to use it everywhere but now if I could go back I probably would have gotten the mira because I hate using paper.

oh yea, and the thing is too that the feel is completely different on the paperless mode than the paper mode. Once you get used to the very light touch of the paperless mode, it's hard to go back to paper mode because the keys feel very different. I really cannot write using paper mode now but I have been putting paper in while I'm in paperless because it does decrease the annoying sound. I hope I'm making sense, it's hard to explain.

Sorry to have taken so long to get back, but I was out of e-mail range in the hills of California! Yes, this school looks to the future and waits for you to find your place to read back on the Mira. In my opinion, this is the best school for the money (cheap) in Northern California. I like the Stylus OK, but my hands hurt after hours of practicing and I do not need that. When you have to push paper with a platen, there is extra motion and trauma. I understand New York has no state test. That must be nice! Ours is pretty tough. I may consider selling my Stylus once I am used to the Mira. There is not a problem with stacking with the Stylus.
Norma

The A3??

Well, I do have one friend on it here that says it stacks, but we all write differently, so it's really hard to gauge whether it's reporter error or machine error.

I'd love to hear someone who came off of a Smartwriter or StenoRam III and did not stack and is writing on it. Those were stackless writers. If you stacked, it was your own dang fault. Yes, I stacked on a very rare occasion, and I owned those stacks. :)

You haven't bought a machine yet?? I thought you had to jump a while back.

I wouldn't give a second breath on worrying about them falling over. We all worry about our machines falling over, don't we??

I would think heavy would be a good thing, too, as far as falling over. Wouldn't a lighter writer be easier to fall?

Stacking. That's the issue with machines today. That's the all-important question to me.

I wouldn't give paper a second consideration either. That Mira has plenty of backups.

Maybe you're waiting for Santa?? :)

Glad you made the jump. When you stop and think how much our equipment makes us, it's worth getting the best. Keep us posted how it works out for you!

Yes, Maui is the best. Not so bad a flight from LAX either. It's the Carribean that kills us. Want to go again, but that plane ride is a killer.

Hi Susan,

Did you get the post from Julie with all the Websites? It is a massive list.

I thought I could find your e-mail address, but I couldn't. If you didn't get it, let me know your address and I will forward it.

Norma
parrottprofessionalscoping.com
parrott-scoping@sbcglobal.net

Susan, I just now saw your question regarding Eclipse and numbers. For some reason I'm still not getting all the Eclipse group's emails! Anyway, I'll see if I can help you out later tonight or tomorrow. I may need to ask you some questions. Sorry for the delay. These numbers can be tricky to set up; but once figured out, it's so nice. Less editing - yay!

Susan, I don't know what EBT is!!! Have you ever tried to make your cute avatar pic fit in the square? This is what I use. Just a thought!
http://www.shrinkpictures.com/create-avatar/

What writer did you get? My new Gemini Grand just got mailed to me today so I hope to have it next week - or sooner! The LightSpeed just didn't work for me.

If you do a search for Gemini Grand, it will come up here. Yes, it's paperless. I sure hope it works out for me as I don't want to go back to a "normal" writer. You did get a good deal on your new writer - many, many reporters would be totally jealous! Have you had a chance to check out your numbers yet? I'm really curious!

I know the editing does take so long. I just am trying to get work and not even worry about that yet. Are you working for more than one agency? I have done a few jobs, but I think I am going to try other agencies, because it's been a week and a half without any jobs. I know it will be slow around the holidays, but I can't go all this time with no work! What agencies do you work for? Do you work every day? Let me know your tricks since you are an experienced reporter now!!

Hi susan It seems like you are jumping right into this field as a new reporter. I can't even get out on a first job. It seems they just want me to follow them around for a while. How long for you to get through school. I am RI, I wonder if there is not as much work in this area? How did you feel on your first job, I feel so ready but sometimes live talking is so different to speed building. Are you doing depos or just small jobs right now.