I'm taking it for granted that the Grundig Digta 7's dictation accuracy matches that of the Olympus DS5000, but I've been trying to figure out how it handles stereo MP3 and WAV recordings.

According to the data sheet, the available formats are DSS and DSS Pro (mono), WAV (mono, stereo) and MP3 (mono, stereo), but there are apparently some exceptions to this depending on the Digta model you're using.

For instance, the Grundig user manual says that stereo recording with the built-in microphones is only possible on the Digta 7 Premium. Apparently, if you don't have the premium model, you need to use an external stereo microphone to record in stereo. This doesn't make a bit of sense because the recorder has two built-in mikes, so maybe I misunderstood something. The manual also says that MP3 and WAV formats aren't available on certain models of the Digta without a separate license.

This is baffling, to say the least. Knowbrainer is selling both the 703 and the 704 BT models. Would I need to get the 704 BT to be able to record stereo MP3 and WAV with the built-in microphones?

I've been thinking about getting the Grundig to replace my Olympus DS5000id because the variety of recording formats on the Grundig would let me use the recorder for several different things. I'd like to use it for dictation, but also for recording podcasts, ebook audio readings, music, background sound effects, etc, in both stereo WAV and MP3 formats. At the moment, I'm using several different recorders for all these applications. For example, I'm using my Olympus for dictation and a Sony PCM-M10 for recording music and so on. I'd really like to standardize on one recorder.

Also:

I know this probably isn't the usual question you get on a dictation-oriented forum, but I was wondering if someone could give me an idea of how sensitive the Grundig is for recording in stereo MP3 and WAV formats. Do the built-in mikes have good range and sound quality? Does anyone have any idea how the Grundig would compare to a recorder like the PCM-M10 as far as stereo recording goes? For example, could it be used to record lectures, interviews and the like at a reasonable distance (not for transcription)? Could you use the Grundig for making high quality recordings of music? The user manual says that the WAV format can be used to record CD quality stereo recordings of music, but I have no idea if this would require an external mike (something I'm trying to avoid using).

Thanks in advance.

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Compaq 6730b laptop Intel Core 2 Duo p8400 2.26 Ghz 1.93 G RAM (available) Intel Wireless Wifi Link 5100 adapter / Windows XP SP3 / Knowbrainer purchases: Philips 9600 DPM, Knowbrainer headset microphone, Samson Airline 77, Olympus DS5000id, DNS 10.1, Knowbrainer 2008, Parrott Half Duplex VXI USB Sound Pod

We only carry the Grundig Digta 703 and Digta 704 digital recorders because the other models are not properly equipped to support speech recognition but the 703 is identical to the 704 in every detail with the ONLY exception being that the 704 additionally includes Bluetooth for e-mailing recordings via your cell phone. Unless you need Bluetooth e-mail capability, there is no need to purchase the 704. The 703 is capable of recording high quality MP3 and 24-bit stereo .wav via the built-in stereo microphones.

Nearly all small profile digital recorders include condenser microphones which are not only very inexpensive to manufacture (about $.75) but also work well for recording music. Although we utilized an assortment of microphones in our Nashville Music Row recording studio (à la mid-70s through early 90s), condenser microphones were always our favorite. Of course we used larger diaphragm condenser microphones but while other studios were utilizing kidney bean shaped microphones on vocalists because they liked the overall round analog sound, we stuck with condenser microphones because of their crisp edgy accuracy. We have always liked the “so-called” rough edge of digital because it is completely distortion free. Having said that, we certainly wouldn't recommend a Grundig Digta 7 recorder for professional use but we think you'll be surprised at just how good a job it will do with an orchestra pit or rock band. Although it will do a decent job recording a lecture, if there's any distance involved, our preference would be to add a long-range gun type microphone such as the Olympus ME 31.

Without a doubt, the Grundig 703/4 recorders are a step up from the now slightly dated Olympus DS-5000 and we particularly like the recorder's ability to sense acceleration and save your recording prior to impact (in the event that you drop your unit). The only feature we don't appreciate is that in order to transcribe recordings in NaturallySpeaking, you have to have NaturallySpeaking closed. With all other digital recorders, you need NaturallySpeaking running to transcribe recordings. However, the Grundig Digta 7 application requires that NaturallySpeaking be closed so that the Digta 7 application can control it. There is no disadvantage to this method but we are accustomed to having NaturallySpeaking running all the time so it was the 1 and only feature we didn't like.

PS: Note that we are also working on a Battle of the Digital Recorders review which we plan on releasing in a matter of days but we can already tell you that Grundig took 1st place.

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Thanks. Just to verify the data sheet--can you record stereo MP3's with the 703?

I didn't know that you have to leave Dragon closed to transcribe Digta recordings. That actually sounds like a benefit because you wouldn't have to open as many applications, but how does Dragon know where to put the transcriptions? Do you get a prompt asking you whether you want to use Dragonpad or Word or whatever?

 

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Compaq 6730b laptop Intel Core 2 Duo p8400 2.26 Ghz 1.93 G RAM (available) Intel Wireless Wifi Link 5100 adapter / Windows XP SP3 / Knowbrainer purchases: Philips 9600 DPM, Knowbrainer headset microphone, Samson Airline 77, Olympus DS5000id, DNS 10.1, Knowbrainer 2008, Parrott Half Duplex VXI USB Sound Pod

I assumed from your original post that you understood that you can't transcribe stereo recordings with DNS. DNS accepts 11.025 kHz through 99 kHz, 16 bit Mono. However, if you have a recording that is in that range but has a sample size as 16-bit stereo or greater, you will get an error message from Dragon. Sampling rates have to be 16-bit Mono format. Also, and just for the record, DNS will not accept audio files recorded below 11.025 kHz, although you would have to wrap your leg around your neck to get an audio file to record in 8 kHz 16-bit Mono. Nevertheless, if your audio files don't conform to what DNS can transcribe in terms of format, you will be prompted with an error message that tells you such.

Additionally, I don't know where you got the idea that you have to leave Dragon close to transcribe digital recordings. The Auto-Transcribe Folder Agent is only available in the Professional versions. Since you're using DNS 10.1 Preferred, the only way that you can transcribe digital recordings is either through a digital voice recording profile or through your standard user profile. Nevertheless, either one of the other has to be loaded in order to transcribe audio recordings. In addition, DNS 10.1 does not accept any format other than MP3, WMA, or WAV file formats. In other words, DNS 10.1 does not accept DSS or DS2 for direct transcription.

Chuck Runquist
Technical Project Manager
VoiceTeach LLC
Home of VoicePower®: Simply powerful, powerfully simple

Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don't. - Pete Seeger

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I know you can't transcribe stereo recordings with DNS.

Talking about this is confusing. This is a dictation forum, so people naturally think in terms of dictation when they're talking about these devices, but the Grundig is the first recorder I've seen that records not only in DSS/DS2, but in stereo WAV and MP3. That means the Grundig is conceivably a lot more versatile than, say, the DS5000, which is basically restricted to dictation purposes only. You could use the Grundig for dictation AND for things like recording music and podcasts and so on, depending on how sensitive the microphones are and the quality of the stereo recordings. I'm taking it for granted that the Grundig works well for dictation. I'm trying to get an idea of how well it works for recording in stereo.

I got the idea that you have to leave Dragon closed to transcribe digital recordings from Linus' post where he said:

"However, the Grundig Digta 7 application requires that NaturallySpeaking be closed so that the Digta 7 application can control it."

Is this not true? It doesn't really matter to me one way or another as long as it works. I was just wondering how it worked. Does the Digta 7 app launch Dragon itself or does Dragon stay closed throughout the transcription process?


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Compaq 6730b laptop Intel Core 2 Duo p8400 2.26 Ghz 1.93 G RAM (available) Intel Wireless Wifi Link 5100 adapter / Windows XP SP3 / Knowbrainer purchases: Philips 9600 DPM, Knowbrainer headset microphone, Samson Airline 77, Olympus DS5000id, DNS 10.1, Knowbrainer 2008, Parrott Half Duplex VXI USB Sound Pod

Chuck brought up an excellent point. We should've qualified our previous statement. If you wish to transcribe recordings through the Digta 7 application, NaturallySpeaking must be closed because the Digta 7 application will open NaturallySpeaking and put you through the usual menus of choosing your Window/DragonPad, full commands/dictation only/limited commands etc. Once your file has been transcribed, the Digta 7 application will exit NaturallySpeaking.

HOWEVER, as Chuck noted, you can optionally leave NaturallySpeaking running and transcribe files through the NaturallySpeaking menu rather than the Grundig application.

MP3 and .wav are different names for the same thing. There is no official MP3 setting. The 703 unit offers you DSS, DS2 (mono only) and .wav. The wav file settings include a number of options ranging from mono or stereo to 8 kHz through 48 kHz.

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DNS v11  :  Samson Airline 77  :  Win 7 Pro  :  Intel Core i7  2600  3.4-3.8 GHz  :  8MB/cache  :  8GB DDR3   :  Olympus DS-5000id  :  Grundig Digta 704BT

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DNS v11  :  Samson Airline 77  :  Win 7 Pro  :  Intel Core i7  2600  3.4-3.8 GHz  :  8MB/cache  :  8GB DDR3   :  Olympus DS-5000id  :  Grundig Digta 704BT

We have the general information in place but unfortunately we are a bit behind the 8 ball with the release of the new SpeechWare 3-in-1 microphone. We have finished compiling the data but haven't put it on paper yet. Our apologies for the delay which will unfortunately, be a bit longer :-(

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