28 July, 2017
**UPDATE 2019** AWS, Amazon Web Services, throw their hat in the ring for automatic speech-to-text with their AWS Transcribe service. We offer a service for clients worldwide to convert recorded voice to text, click the image below for more details:
In this day and age of digital technology disruption it only makes sense to see the major tech giants look towards voice recognition to start to replace that clunky, push button, major taker of space on your laptop ... your keyboard. The thing we hammer daily and have done since its invention back in 1868, yes 1868, 149 years ago when Christopher Latham Sholes patented the QWERTY typewriter that we commonly use today. Long overdue for some kind of digital disruption as you can see.
Download and install the best free apps for Voice Recognition Software on Mac from CNET Download.com, your trusted source for the top software picks. The Phonexia Speech Platform software suite is SaaS, Mac, and Windows software. Phonexia Speech Platform is speech recognition software, and includes features such as automatic transcription, Multi-Languages, Speech-to-Text analysis, and voice recognition. Phonexia Speech Platform offers a free trial. Mac OS X comes with a built-in speech recognition dictation software program. This program can be turned on from the Speech Preferences located in the System Preferences Application found in the Applications Folder of the Hard Drive. So in such instances, the various transcription software available come to rescue. This software mainly performs speech to text conversion making your job a whole lot easier. Here are Top 10 Transcription Software for Mac. Express Scribe Express Scribe is designed considering the needs of Mac users. Dictation is Apple’s own free dictation software on Mac (and the equivalent of WSR – Windows Speech Recognition) that has been a feature since macOS Sierra. By default it’s only suitable for dictations of 30 seconds or less but you can turn-on Enhanced Dictation for unlimited transcriptions.
What is voice recognition? Simply speaking, your spoken voice is automatically converted to text, as you speak. There are now a number of solutions that can do this, they range in features and cost but on the whole accuracy is high, speed is fast and cost varies from free to moderately expensive.
In this post we are going to look at the major tech giants offerings as well as the stalwart of the voice recognition world a company called Nuance who make a product you may have heard of called Dragon. Nuance have been developing speech recognition software since 1997 with their first release of NaturallySpeaking for Windows. Dragon is now available from Nuance for both Windows and Mac.
Google Voice Typing
- Mac & Windows
- Free $0
- Only works with Google Docs and Google Slides
- Extensive list of supported languages including the following English accents: Australian, UK, US, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Phillipines and South Africa
- No software to install, works via your Chrome web browser
- Extensive range of voice commands - Google Voice Typing Setup & Voice Commands
- Can not convert recorded speech to text, real time spoken voice only
- Internet connection required
Apple OS X Dictation
- Apple Mac only (obviously)
- Free - $0
- No internet connection required (with Enhanced Dictation enabled, just download a local language dictionary file)
- Large list of supported languages including the following English accents: Australian, UK, US and Canada
- Enables voice to text anywhere you would normally type (e.g. Word, Pages, Skype, TextEdit etc).
- Can not convert recorded speech to text, real time spoken voice only
Dictation in OS X can be enabled in the System Settings. For offline use you will need to enable Enhanced Dictation:
Microsoft Dictate (Garage Project) - Microsoft Office Add-in
- Windows only (Windows 8 and above)
- Free - $0
- Requires Office 2013 or Office 2016 (including Office 365 install)
- Real time voice to text in Microsoft Word, Outlook and PowerPoint
- Will convert spoken voice to foreign language (e.g. speak English and Microsoft Dictate will transcribe in French, very cool)
- Automated punctuation, no need to say 'comma', 'full stop' etc
- Can not convert recorded speech to text, real time spoken voice only
Nuance Dragon for Windows (formerly known as NaturallySpeaking) and Dragon for Mac (formerly known as MacSpeech Dictate)
- Windows & Mac versions available
- From AU$300 upwards depending on version
- Can convert from recorded voice
- Advanced learning. Dragon builds a profile of the way you speak and learns over time.
- Is widely used in the legal and medical professions to convert voice-to-text
- The goto solution for businesses
Ok so yes we have shown you the free versions from the big hitters but the old faithful when it comes to voice recognition is Dragon from Nuance. It has been around for years, it just gets better and better with every release and is packed full of features and functions to justify its cost over the other options listed here. But, we do want to highlight that Apple, Google and now Microsoft all have a vested interest in voice recognition. Dragons days may be numbered but for now it remains the pick of the bunch for day to day voice recognition.
Who Uses Promptsmart?
Free Voice Recognition Software For Mac Os
PromptSmart is a versatile companion for any filming environment, whether in the studio or out in the field. Professional broadcasters, newsrooms, and television stations have already adopted our VoiceTrack technology via our mobile app. Our simple, revolutionary, and intuitive VoiceTrack scrolling makes us the number one software choice for mobile app consumers. By popular demand, we’ve expanded our product line to include a desktop application for broadcast professionals.
Anyone who uses the internet to represent themselves or to attract business leads can benefit from using our mobile teleprompter app, PromptSmart Pro. Our customer base is strong and diversified, including Youtube personalities, video marketers, podcasters, audiobook readers, actors, realtors, and even some enterprising physicians that seek to expand their medical practice into personal branding and online shopping for wellness products
Our PromptSmart app is much more than a video production tool because it also doubles as a speech aid for live public speakers. Clergy rave about how our prompter software has revolutionized their sermons because VoiceTrack can follow their natural pace. Or perhaps you’re a trial attorney looking to practice that big opening statement to win over the hearts and minds of the jury. After all, you only get one chance at a first impression. PromptSmart is the perfect mobile app companion and will reduce the fear and anxiety associated with public speaking.
Best Voice Recognition For Mac
Every budding communicator needs instruction on the tools of the trade. PromptSmart software has been utilized by students and faculty of several prestigious universities around the globe, including Columbia University, Duke University, the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, the University College London, and the University of Melbourne in Australia. Programs centered-around computer science, applied science, language processing, communications, business & economics, business marketing, or technology can all benefit from implementing our PromptSmart app into a curriculum or as part of the campus video production infrastructure.