kEwL, jus leMMe kn0w oNe DaY when uR noT buZy. ThanKs foR Addin' Me By Tha WaY!

Jason's Deli is great. I just found out, however, that I have a scheduling conflict. My son's Mardi Gras program is Friday at 1:15. Can you meet tomorrow? I'm so sorry!

I've actually never been to Posadas. That's fine. Ralph and Kacoos is as well, so you pick and let me know!

There's a discussion over on the CRF Forum that you might be interested in. I suggest reading through the entire thread and pay close attention to the posts by Adria Theriot Johnson. She's the vice-president of Audioscribe (located in Lafayette), the leader in CAT software for voice writers. They're beta testing a new program geared specifically for SRE scopists. Copy the following link and paste it into your browser address bar:
http://community.netscape.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=ws-crforum&nav=messages&tid=58548&tsn=

One more thing I forgot to mention. NVRA (National Verbatim Reporters Association) is holding a continuing ed seminar and certification test in Lafayette in March. It might be worth your while to attend so you can meet other voice writers and gather as much info as you can about voice writing. Their website is www.nvra.org

Now, in case you're wondering why I don't just use speech recognition to get my transcripts out... well, it's a little easier said than done. For me, voice writing itself is not difficult at all. In fact, I'm good at it. But I'm not so good at getting the SRE to like my voice. I've tried. Still am. But it's a slow process, just like learning steno. It takes practice and patience. Just like you have to teach your fingers to strike the right keys, you also have to teach yourself to speak in a way that the SRE can understand. Just like you use steno briefs, you also have to (or should) use voice briefs. My problem with speech recognition is that I'm having a hard time training myself to speak properly. I'm a fast talker! Always have been. No trouble at all keeping up with those faster-than-lightning attorneys. But the SRE has trouble at those speeds...at least for me. When I try to slow down a little and speak at a normal pace, I tend to stutter and get tongue-tied. Always have. That's the problem I'm facing right now --trying to train myself. Some people who are unsuccessful with speech recognition want to blame it on their software or their computer or their mask. Not me. I know good and well the problem is with me. I have a lot of work ahead of me to get speech recognition to work for me. I want to get back to steno, if for no other reason than to get my transcripts out quicker without having to type them. My ultimate goal is to be certified in both steno and voice, offering realtime in both methods. Yep, I've got my work cut out for me! Sorry for making this so long. I didn't mean to write a book here, LOL! If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask. I'll do my best to help you.

But I still want to get back to steno. My plan (when I switched to voice writing) was to take down the testimony using my voice, but then use my steno to key in the transcript (instead of straight typing). My thinking at the time was that I could get certified quicker with voice (which I did) but that I could still practice steno speedbuilding by using that to get out my transcripts. The only problem with my plan was that I only had the student version of the CAT software. It's useless for anything other than practice. I couldn't (and still can't) afford to upgrade to the full version. That's the only thing that's keeping me from using the steno machine right now. I really, really want to get back to it and start using it. But I don't have enough time in a day to take depos, type transcripts and get in steno practice. So steno gets put on the back burner until I can afford to upgrade the software. (more to come)

I started out with steno. I was taking an online course and loved it. I got through theory rather quickly and was into speedbuilding. The only reason I switched to voice was because I was unemployed and hungry. I needed to start working ASAP and knew I couldn't build up my steno speed quick enough to get certified. I bought some voice writing equipment and started practicing. Then I went to an NVRA seminar that was held in New Orleans 3 weeks later. I knew I wasn't anywhere near ready to take the certification exam but I went ahead and took it anyway because I wanted to get a sense of the testing environment and what was involved in voice writing. I passed the written exam and the literary 200. I kept practicing and then took (and passed) the state exam the next time it was offered. I went to work immediately. (to be continued)

As far as the end result, the difference between voice and steno isn't much as long as you utilize speech recognition and do realtime. Let me explain. With steno, you've got a rough draft at the end of the proceeding (assuming you're using a CAT system). You can have the same thing with voice if you use SRE (speech recognition engine). However, if you don't plan to use SRE, you'll have to type your transcripts the old fashioned way when you get home. That can be time consuming. The more time you spend at home typing, the less time you have to go out and take other jobs. And if the job is a rush, then you're up all night trying to get the transcript complete. If you use SRE and have great recognition, you can put out a rough draft just like a steno writer can. Lot's of voice writers offer realtime and rough drafts. The only difference in the method is that you're using your voice instead of your fingers. (to be continued)

First let me say this. I haven't had any trouble at all finding work as a voice writer. I'm an overflow reporter and I take work from many firms. In fact, one of the firms I work for was an all-steno group until I came on board with them. I think they've started to use other voice writers since then. They don't seem to care about the method that's used as long as the end result is the same. I've also heard that "attorneys don't want voice writers," but I've yet to meet one who had a problem with it. When my firms send me out on assignment, they ask the attorney up front if they have a problem with having a voice writer instead of a steno writer. They all say it doesn't matter to them one way or the other. (This may get lengthy so I'll go ahead and post this comment and then continue in another one.)

When I said Monday was good for me I wasn't even thinking about my kids being out of school that day! Friday should be fine. Since you're having to come from Blanchard are there any good places to eat in Bossier you know of?

I read in one of your posts that you're thinking about switching to voice writing. That's exactly what I did. I don't have any trouble finding work, but I still want to get my steno certification. I want the best of both worlds, LOL! Maybe one of these days I'll actually accomplish it! Good luck.

Monday sounds good. Any preference re: where and when?

We only refer work at the present time to computerized machine writers. I can't say that won't change in the future, but our clients prefer machine writers at this point.

Hi, Sheri -

Hang in there. Let us know when you graduate. We have an office in Shreveport.

Sheri, lunch or coffee one day sounds good! Let me know what your schedule looks like...Robin

Hi, Sheri. I live in Hammond, the perfect place for a reporter. I'm only about 40 minutes away from Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Slidell. I freelance for quite a few firms because I'm centrally located. Good luck with school. I hope all goes well for you!

Hey Deborah. Welcome to the site! Where in Louisiana are you? I'm in Shreveport. Drop me a line!

Hello from a fellow Louisianian!