Which Microphone Is Right For You?
![Picture](/uploads/6/4/2/5/6425623/5858374.jpg)
There are several different microphone options to use with Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional for the PC and with Dragon Dictate for the Mac.
I have tried out a few microphones and I will give you my reviews.
I have tried out a few microphones and I will give you my reviews.
Philips SpeechMike Air (Model LFH3000)
![Picture](/uploads/6/4/2/5/6425623/9589066.jpg)
Specifications:
Philips SpeechMic Air: this microphone is a wireless microphone, wand-type. It connects to your computer via a Bluetooth-USB dongle. On the microphone there are several buttons that are compatible with mouse features such as left and right mouse buttons. There are also 8 customizable buttons that can be customized using software supplied by Philips. On the Mac, you can use the ControllerMate software to allow programming of the customizable buttons.
The quality of the microphone is very good and the battery life is excellent. I really like the fact that it is wireless.
The only drawback to this microphone is, because it is not a Dragon product, they do not directly support it.
* Requires ControllerMate Software for full functionality.
- Microphone Type: Wireless Wand-type Microphone
- Computer Compatibility: PC and Mac
- Dragon Compatibility: Dragon Medical for PC, DNS Professional for PC, and Dragon Dictate for Mac*
- Computer Connection: USB-Bluetooth Dongle
- Wireless Range: About 20 feet in my testing
- Battery: Rechargeable AAA batteries
- Cost: $499.00 (Amazon.com)
Philips SpeechMic Air: this microphone is a wireless microphone, wand-type. It connects to your computer via a Bluetooth-USB dongle. On the microphone there are several buttons that are compatible with mouse features such as left and right mouse buttons. There are also 8 customizable buttons that can be customized using software supplied by Philips. On the Mac, you can use the ControllerMate software to allow programming of the customizable buttons.
The quality of the microphone is very good and the battery life is excellent. I really like the fact that it is wireless.
The only drawback to this microphone is, because it is not a Dragon product, they do not directly support it.
* Requires ControllerMate Software for full functionality.
Nuance PowerMic II
![Picture](/uploads/6/4/2/5/6425623/9617024.jpg)
Specifications:
Nuance PowerMic II: this microphone is a corded microphone, that plugs into your computer via USB. On the microphone are several buttons that are compatible with mouse functions, such as the left and right mouse buttons. There are also 10 buttons that can be customized, however, the Professional version of Dragon Naturally speaking (and lower versions of Dragon) do not support these extra buttons. Dragon Medical does support these extra buttons. I do not use the Medical Version of Dragon Dictate.
On the Mac, you can use the ControllerMate software to allow programming of the customizable buttons.
The quality of the microphone is very good.
The only drawback to this microphone is, on the PC, the customizable buttons can only be programmed with the Medical version of Dragon.
* Requires ControllerMate Software for full functionality.
- Microphone Type: Wired Wand-type Microphone
- Computer Compatibility: PC and Mac
- Dragon Compatibility: Dragon Medical for PC, DNS Professional for PC, and Dragon Dictate for Mac*
- Computer Connection: USB
- Wireless Range: N/A
- Battery: N/A
- Cost: $424.00 (Amazon.com)
Nuance PowerMic II: this microphone is a corded microphone, that plugs into your computer via USB. On the microphone are several buttons that are compatible with mouse functions, such as the left and right mouse buttons. There are also 10 buttons that can be customized, however, the Professional version of Dragon Naturally speaking (and lower versions of Dragon) do not support these extra buttons. Dragon Medical does support these extra buttons. I do not use the Medical Version of Dragon Dictate.
On the Mac, you can use the ControllerMate software to allow programming of the customizable buttons.
The quality of the microphone is very good.
The only drawback to this microphone is, on the PC, the customizable buttons can only be programmed with the Medical version of Dragon.
* Requires ControllerMate Software for full functionality.
Dragon Remote Microphone iPhone App:
![Picture](/uploads/6/4/2/5/6425623/1833955.png?157)
Specifications:
Dragon Remote Microphone iPhone App: Dragon does make an iPhone application that is compatible, it turns your iPhone into a wireless microphone, it will communicate with Dragon over Wi-Fi. In order for this to work, both your computer and your iPhone must be on the same wireless Wi-Fi network.
There is only one button on the app to turn the microphone on and off.
The biggest drawback of this app is, after a few minutes the phone automatically goes to sleep, if your are still dictating it will continue to work, but you have to turn your phone back on to get back into the app and put the stop recording button.
- Microphone Type: App for the iPhone
- Computer Compatibility: PC and Mac
- Dragon Compatibility: Dragon Medical for PC, DNS Professional for PC, and Dragon Dictate for Mac*
- Computer Connection: Wi-Fi
- Wireless Range: Wi-Fi Range
- Battery: Per Phone Battery
- Cost: Free (Apple App Store)
Dragon Remote Microphone iPhone App: Dragon does make an iPhone application that is compatible, it turns your iPhone into a wireless microphone, it will communicate with Dragon over Wi-Fi. In order for this to work, both your computer and your iPhone must be on the same wireless Wi-Fi network.
There is only one button on the app to turn the microphone on and off.
The biggest drawback of this app is, after a few minutes the phone automatically goes to sleep, if your are still dictating it will continue to work, but you have to turn your phone back on to get back into the app and put the stop recording button.
Plantronics Calisto
![Picture](/uploads/6/4/2/5/6425623/658528.png?217)
Specifications:
Plantronics Calisto: This microphone is a wireless microphone, it is a headset type. It communicates via a Bluetooth/USB dongle.
- Microphone Type: Wireless Ear Piece
- Computer Compatibility: PC and Mac
- Dragon Compatibility: Dragon Medical for PC, DNS Professional for PC, and Dragon Dictate for Mac
- Computer Connection: Bluetooth-USB dongle
- Wireless Range: About 20 feet
- Battery: About 4-6 hours
- Cost: $149.00 (www.nuance.com)
Plantronics Calisto: This microphone is a wireless microphone, it is a headset type. It communicates via a Bluetooth/USB dongle.
Plantronics Noise - Canceling Headset
![Picture](/uploads/6/4/2/5/6425623/6241497.jpg)
Specifications:
Plantronics Noise-Canceling Headset: this microphone is a wired microphone, head-set type. It connects to your computer via either your regular microphone plug on your computer or uses a USB-Adapter. On the microphone there are no buttons.
The quality of the microphone is very good.
The only drawback to this microphone is it is a wired - headset, however, no batteries to worry about.
- Microphone Type: Wired Headset
- Computer Compatibility: PC and Mac
- Dragon Compatibility: Dragon Medical for PC, DNS Professional for PC, and Dragon Dictate for Mac*
- Computer Connection: USB Adapter or Microphone Plug
- Wireless Range: N/A
- Battery: N/A
- Cost: $Included with Dragon Medical,
Plantronics Noise-Canceling Headset: this microphone is a wired microphone, head-set type. It connects to your computer via either your regular microphone plug on your computer or uses a USB-Adapter. On the microphone there are no buttons.
The quality of the microphone is very good.
The only drawback to this microphone is it is a wired - headset, however, no batteries to worry about.