I have had this microphone for some time, and I have noticed that sometimes I would have a problem with it pausing. I would say something, but when I stop, it just sits there with an… showing in the recognition box. It can take several seconds to decide that I have finished speaking, unless I press the mute switch. I have just migrated onto Windows 7 and the problem has become much worse. I never thought it was the microphone before; I have only realized it because I was using a crap old microphone not this one until such time as I migrated fully onto it. It doesn't do it all the time and it's difficult to say under what circumstances it does do it. Once I get going, it's okay for a while. But if I then put the mute switch on for a while and come back to it, it will almost be guaranteed to have the pausing problem.

Anyone have any idea what's going on here?

Or, failing that, can anyone recommend a microphone with a mute switch, monaural, that I could buy instead? I'm not attached to this particular brand or microphone or even it being USB; I only bought it because it's so hard to find a monaural microphone headset with a mute switch these days.

Thanks,
Lisa.

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Main computer Core i3, 4 GB RAM, Windows 7 64-bit, using 9.5 Professional but trying to migrate to 11.5 Professional

The most likely reason why NaturallySpeaking is “just sitting there” is because it's struggling to understand what you just said. NaturallySpeaking can be almost misleadingly accurate with non-optimal microphones. Even though a better microphone would give you higher accuracy, what you will most likely notice is that disconcerting delay while NaturallySpeaking attempts to translate your dictation into words. There are a number of reasons for this occurrence including something as simple as over or under modulating but that can easily be corrected by rerunning the Audio Setup Wizard. Another possibility is interference which you can check by pressing the Play button in the last stage of the ASW but if neither of these prospects turns out to be the issue, you might consider upgrading your sound system. We also noted that you're using an i3 which can cause occasional timeouts but this would only happen occasionally; probably not frequently. Let's discuss your current microphone…

The NC-181VM is a combination of Andrea Electronics top-notch PureAudio USB soundcard soldered to what we consider to be a low-end NC-181 microphone. If it were not for popular demand (Nuance recommendations) we wouldn't even carry this item. The best Andrea Electronics microphone is the ANC 700 combined with a removable PureAudio USB-SA Pod external soundcard. Although the ANC 700 microphone made it onto our Microphone Comparison Matrix recommendation list, it is at the bottom of that list. The microphone element is twice the size of the NC-181, features notably more noise canceling through a patented Active Noise Cancellation process and is more accurate. Unfortunately, the technology is dated and other than a few cosmetic changes, the microphone hasn’t changed since late 90s.

Most semipro and pro-microphones do not include a mute switch because these types of switches are prone to wear out and have unshielded contacts (solder points) which can allow interference. Our recommendation, if possible, would be to substitute a hotkey on your computer to toggle the microphone on and off rather than working with a mute switch but we realize this isn't necessarily ideally suited to all situations.

If you require a mute switch, you might want to check out the VXI TalkPro USB1-3 and UC1-3 line of microphones which were introduced last year. Besides including a two-year warranty, better accuracy and significantly better noise cancellation, than the NC-181VM, they include a mute switch that is built into the integrated USB soundcard which is more robust and better shielded. The primary difference between the UC and USB models is that the UC models have a hotter output and include echo cancellation which is handy for VoIP applications like Skype.

If you don't require playback speakers or a mute switch, our current favorite headset is the Audio-Technica Pro 8HEmW microphone (w/KB PLUS PACK) combined with a USB soundcard. All of the previously mentioned microphones are approximately the same price.

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