this article describes how to use speech recognition in windows xp

7/28/2019 This Article Describes How to Use Speech Recognition in Windows XP

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This article describes how to use speech recognition in Windows XP. If you installed speech

recognition with Microsoft Office XP, or if you purchased a new computer that has Office XP

installed, you can use speech recognition in all Office programs as well as other programs forwhich it is enabled, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Speech recognition enables the operating system to convert spoken words to written text. Aninternal driver, called an speech recognition engine, recognizes words and converts them to text.The speech recognition engine may be installed with the operating system or at a later time with

other software. During the installation process, speech-enabled packages such as word

processors and web browsers, may install their own engines or they may use existing engines.Additional engines are also available through third-party manufacturers. These engines often use

a certain jargon or vocabulary; for example, they may use a vocabulary that specializes in

medical or legal terminology. They can also use different voices allowing for regional accents

such as British English, or use a different language altogether such as German, French, orRussian.

You need a microphone or some other sound input device to receive the sound. In general, themicrophone should be a high quality device with noise filters built in. The speech recognition

rate is directly related to the quality of the input. The recognition rate is significantly lower or

may be unacceptable if you use a poor microphone. The Microsoft Speech Recognition Training

Wizard (Voice Training Wizard) guides you through the process, recommends the best positionto place the microphone, and allows you to test it for optimal results.

After you have installed the system and it is working, you must train the engine for yourenvironment and speaking style. To do so, click the Speech Recognition tab, clickTrain

Profile, and then follow the instructions in the Voice Training Wizard to train the system to

recognize background noises such as a fan, air conditioning, or other office sounds. The engine

adapts to your speaking style including accents, pronunciations and even idiomatic phrases.

For more detailed information about using Microsoft speech recognition, click the Help button

on the Language bar.

For the most up-to-date information about speech recognition developments at Microsoft, refer

to the following Microsoft Web site:http://www.microsoft.com/speech/

How to Use the Microsoft Speech Recognition Engines

The Microsoft speech recognition engine enables you to insert text into a document usingspecific programs. You can dictate text in any Office XP program, in Internet Explorer, and in

Microsoft Outlook Express (versions 5.0 or later). Other software programs may eventually

support the Microsoft speech recognition engine. You cannot dictate text in Microsoft Notepad atthis time.

NOTE: Speech recognition engines are language-specific. The first three Microsoft speechengines that are available are Simplified Chinese, U.S. English, and Japanese. Engines for other
http://www.microsoft.com/speech/http://www.microsoft.com/speech/http://www.microsoft.com/speech/


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languages will become available.

In addition to being language-specific, some speech engines may be region-specific. Forexample, the Microsoft English ASR Version 5 engine is intended for speakers of U.S. English.

British, Australian, other non-U.S. English speakers may have difficulty using this engine

because of variations in accent.

For additional information about speech recognition engines, click the article number below to

view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

306537How to Install and Configure Speech Recognition in Windows XP

How to Train the Speech Recognition Engine

When you train the speech recognition engine, the speech recognizer uses the Voice TrainingWizard to adapt to the sound of your voice, word pronunciation, accent, speaking manner, and

even new or idiomatic words. If you train for as little as ten minutes, you can improve speech

recognition capabilities. The system also adapts to your speech on an ongoing basis andrecognition increases over time.

To train the speech recognition engine, follow these steps:

1. ClickStart, clickControl Panel, and then double-clickSpeech.2. Click the Speech Recognition tab, and then click the speech recognition engine that you

want to use in the Language box.

3. Click the profile that you want to use in the Recognition Profile group. Training isspecific to an engine and profile so that training one engine or profile set has no effect on

any other engine or profile set.

4.

ClickTrain Profile, and then follow the directions in the Voice Training Wizard. Not allengines support training. If your engine does not, Train Profile is unavailable.

NOTE: It is recommended that you spend at least 15 minutes training the computer. The more

training you do, the higher your recognition accuracy will be.

How to Use the Speech Recognition Engine

NOTE: The steps in this procedure may vary depending on the program in which you are using

speech recognition.

1. Position the microphone so that it is about an inch or a thumb's width to the side of yourmouth. Make sure that it is not directly in front of your mouth, and you are not breathing

directly into it.

NOTE: If you inadvertently move the microphone as you speak, remember to bring it

back to the correct position.
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2. Start the program in which you want to use speech recognition, and then click thedocument to place the insertion point into your document. If you open a Help topic while

you are working or if a message is displayed on the screen, click the document again tocontinue using speech recognition.

3. On the Language bar, clickMicrophone (if the microphone is not already turned on).NOTE: The Language bar displays labels beside each button on the bar by default. Tohide or show the text labels, right-click the Language bar, and then clickText Labels.

4. Switch between Dictation and Voice Command modes as you work.NOTE: You can save time if you complete dictation first, review your file, and then

format text or make corrections. When you do so, you have to switch between Dictation

mode and Voice Command mode less often. To change modes:

o Using Dictation mode: To turn the words you speak into text, clickDictation onthe Language bar.

As you speak, a blue bar is displayed; this means that the computer is processingyour voice. As your words are recognized, text is displayed on the screen. You

can continue to speak while the computer processes your voice; you do not have

to wait until the blue bar disappears to speak again.

NOTE: While the blue bar is displayed, avoid using your mouse or keyboard to

type or take other actions. If you do so, speech recognition is interrupted, and

your words are not processed.

o Using Voice Command mode: To select menu, toolbar, dialog box (U.S. Englishonly), and task pane (U.S. English only) items, on the Language bar, clickVoiceCommand. For example, to change font format, you can say "font" or "font face"

to open the Font box on the Formatting toolbar, and then say a font name. Or ifyou want to format selected text, say "bold" or "underline."

5. ClickMicrophone on the Language bar to turn the microphone off when you are finishedspeaking to the computer.

The following list describes some of the shortcuts that you can use:

You can also switch between Dictation and Voice Command modes by saying "dictation"or "voice command."

In Microsoft Word, you can delete the last thing you said in Dictation mode by saying"scratch that."

You can turn the microphone on and off by clicking Speech on the Tools menu (inMicrosoft Excel, point to Speech on the Tools menu, and then clickSpeech

Recognition).

You can also turn the microphone off by saying "microphone".Speech Recognition Tips


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Speech recognition is not designed for completely hands-free operation; you achieve the best

results if you use a combination of your voice and the mouse or keyboard. In addition, use a

consistent quality of speech to achieve the best results. When you speak to others, people usuallyunderstand from the context and environment even if you whisper, shout, or talk quickly or

slowly. However, speech recognition understands words better when you speak in a predictable

manner.

Speak in a consistent, level tone. If you speak too loudly or too softly, the computer maynot recognize what you said.

Use a consistent rate without speeding up and slowing down. Speak without pausing between words; a phrase is easier for the computer to interpret

than just one word. For example, the computer has a hard time understanding phrases

such as "This (pause) is (pause) another (pause) example (pause) sentence."

Start by working in a quiet environment so that the computer hears you instead of thesounds around you, and use a good quality microphone. Keep the microphone in the same

position; try not to move it around after it is adjusted.

Train your computer to recognize your voice by reading aloud the prepared training textin the Voice Training Wizard. Additional training increases speech recognition accuracy.

As you dictate, do not be concerned if you do not immediately see your words on thescreen. Continue speaking and pause at the end of your thought. The computer displaysthe recognized text after it finishes processing your voice.

Pronounce words clearly, but do not separate each syllable in a word. For example, if yousound out each syllable in "e-nun-ci-ate," the computer may not recognize what you said.


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How to install and configure speech recognition in Windows

XPArticle ID: 306537 -View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q306537

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INTRODUCTION

This article describes how to install and configure speech recognition in Windows XP. A

driver, which is known as a speech recognition engine, recognizes spoken words and

converts them to text. You can use speech recognition in all Office programs and other

programs for which it is enabled, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Note You can use speech recognition in Microsoft Office 2003 and 2002 programs in

Windows XP. Versions of Microsoft Office programs that are earlier than Office 2002 do

not support speech recognition. Windows XP does not support speech recognition in

2007 Microsoft Office programs.

For speech systems to work correctly and provide optimal results, you must set up the

components correctly. Speech capabilities work with system default settings. Except for

the physical connection of speakers and microphones, all other components are

intended to work automatically. Some computers are equipped with built-in speakers

and microphones. In these cases, you do not have to configure anything.

To make sure that the engine is installed correctly, follow the setup guidelines

described in this article. If you have problems installing the engine or if you have sound

problems, go to the "Troubleshooting" section.

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Requirements

To use speech recognition, you must have the following hardware and software

components:

Speech recognition engine. It is available with Office XP, but it may not be

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installed.

To determine whether the speech recognition engine is installed on your

computer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.2. Type control mmsys.cpl sounds in the Open box, and then press ENTER.

The Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window is displayed.

3. Click Speech in the Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window.Note If you do not have a Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window,

but have a Sounds and Audio Devices window instead, the speech

component may be in a separate window. In this case, follow these

steps:

a. Click Start, and then click Run.b. Type control in the Open box, and then press ENTER.c. Double-click Speech.

4. Look for the Speech Recognition tab. If the Speech Recognition tab isavailable in Speech Properties, the speech recognition engine isinstalled. If it is not available, the engine is not installed.

A high-quality close-talk (headset) microphone. We recommend a USBmicrophone.

A 400-megahertz (MHz) or faster computer that has 128 megabytes (MB) ofmemory.

Microsoft Internet Explorer, version 5.0, or later versions of Internet Explorer.If the speech recognition engine is already installed, go to the "How to set up your

hardware" section. If the engine is not installed, go to the "How to install the speech

recognition engine" section.

How to install the speech recognition engine

If you recently purchased a new computer, the Microsoft speech recognition engine

may already be installed. In that case, you do not have to install it again. If you installed

Office XP in an older computer, or if you purchased a new computer that has Office XP

installed, the speech recognition engine is included. However, the engine may not be

installed.

This section describes how to install the speech recognition engine. Start with the first

section, "Install speech recognition by using Add or Remove Programs." Then, go to the

"Turn on speech recognition in Microsoft Office 2003 and 2002" section. If you

removed speech recognition as a text service and want to re-add it, go to the "Add

speech recognition as a text service" section.

Install speech recognition by using Add or Remove Programs

To install speech recognition by using Add or Remove Programs, follow these steps:


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1. Click Start, and then click Run.2. Type control appwiz.cpl add new hardware in the Open box, and then press

ENTER. The Add or Remove Programs window is displayed.

3. Click Microsoft Office XP, and then click Change.4. Click Add or Remove Features, and then click Next.5. Under Features to install, double-click Office Shared Features.6. Double-click Alternative User Input, click Speech, click the down arrow, and

then click Run from My Computer.

7. Click Update. Speech recognition is now available in all Office programs andother programs for which it is enabled, such as Internet Explorer.

If you receive an error when you install speech recognition, or if you cannot install it, go

to the "Next Steps" section.

The Microphone Wizard might start automatically after you install the speech

recognition engine. If it starts automatically, you can install and configure your

hardware immediately. Or, you can exit the wizard and set up the hardware another

time by using the "How to set up your hardware" section.

Turn on speech recognition in Microsoft Office 2003 and 2002 programs

After you install the speech recognition engine, turn on speech recognition in the

Microsoft Office program in which you want to use it.

To turn on speech recognition in Microsoft Office 2003 and 2002 programs, follow

these steps:

1. Start the Microsoft Office 2003 or 2002 program in which you want to usespeech recognition.2. On the Tools menu, click Speech.

After speech recognition is installed and turned on, you can do several things:

To change the speech recognition engine or specific settings on your selectedengine, go to the "How to configure speech recognition engines" section.

If you are satisfied with your speech engine settings, go to the "How to set upyour hardware" section to set up your hardware to use speech recognition.

If your hardware is already installed, go to the "How to train speechrecognition" section. For best results, we recommend that you spend at least15 minutes training speech recognition to your environment and to the sound

of your voice.

dd speech recognition as a text service

Generally, speech recognition is added automatically as a text service when it is

installed. Follow these steps only if you removed speech recognition as a text service

and want to re-add it.


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To add speech recognition as a text service, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.2. Type control intl.cpl in the Open box, and then press ENTER. The Regional and

Language Options window is displayed.3. Click the Languages tab, and then click Details under Text services and input

languages.

4. Under Installed services, click Add.5. In the Input language list, click a language.6. Select the Speech check box, and then click an option in the list.

How to configure speech recognition engines

This section describes how to configure speech recognition engines. Microsoft speech

recognition engines are language-specific and are currently available for Simplified

Chinese, U.S. English, and Japanese. Engines for other languages will become availableover time.

Change speech recognition engines

To change to a different speech recognition engine, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.2. Type control mmsys.cpl sounds in the Open box, and then press ENTER. The

Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window is displayed.

3. Click Speech in the Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window.Note If you do not have a Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window, buthave a Sounds and Audio Devices window instead, the speech component may

be in a separate window. In this case, follow these steps:


4. Click the Speech Recognition tab. The name that appears in the Language boxis the active engine.

5. Click the active engine or use the arrow to display a list of available engines.6. Click a new engine, and then click OK or Apply to accept the new engine.7. Stop all programs that use speech, and then restart the program that you want

to use to start the different speech engine.

Note You may be unable to determine the language that an engine supports by

the name of the engine. See the documentation for the engine for detailed

information about the engine. This information includes the language

supported and the lexicon purpose. The lexicon purpose indicates whether the

language is a general grammar or is jargon-specific to a profession, such as the


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legal profession or the medical profession.

Change speech engine settings

Some speech engines have additional and specialized features. However, special

features are not required, and not all engines support them. To change speech engine

settings, follow these steps:



3. Click Speech in the Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window.Note If you do not have a Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window, but

have a Sounds and Audio Devices window instead, the speech component may



4. On the Speech Recognition tab, click Settings in the Language section, andthen follow the instructions in the dialog box or the instructions in the

documentation for the engine. Special features depend on the engine's

manufacturer.

Note If the selected speech engine does not support custom features, the

Settings option in the Language section is not available.

Continue to the next section to set up your hardware for speech recognition. If the

hardware is already set up, go to the "How to train speech recognition" section to

prepare to use speech recognition.

How to set up your hardware

This section describes how to set up your microphone and other input devices. It also

describes how to set up your speakers and other output devices.

How to set up input hardware

This section describes how to install a microphone for speech recognition and how to

set several additional audio options. These include configuring the microphone, setting

sound levels, selecting alternative lines for the microphone, and designating which

microphone to use for speech recognition if you have more than one microphone. Start

with setting up your microphone, and then continue through the other steps as

needed.

Set up a microphone

Microphones vary greatly in design and purpose. See your microphone manual for


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hardware and software specifics. However, most models are installed in a similar

manner.

1. Locate the sound connections, and then connect the microphone jack to thecomputer. Most computers use an internal sound card, and the connections

are frequently on the back of the computer.

There are several connections that are the same size and diameter as the

microphone jack. Locate the microphone connection. The connection is

designated with a small microphone icon or a descriptive label.

2. Plug the microphone into the microphone connection.3. To test the microphone connection, follow these steps:

a. Click Start, and then click Run.b. Type control mmsys.cpl sounds in the Open box, and then press ENTER.

The Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window is displayed.

c. Click Speech in the Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window.Note If you do not have a Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window,

but have a Sounds and Audio Devices window instead, the speech

component may be in a separate window. In this case, follow these

steps:

Click Start, and then click Run. Type control in the Open box, and then press ENTER. Double-click Speech.d. Click the Speech Recognition tab.

e. Speak directly into the microphone. The sound level should register inthe Microphone Level indicator.

The Microphone box displays a linear register of the input sounds. If the

microphone is accepting input, a bar is displayed that indicates the sound level.

Ordinary speech should register slightly less than halfway on the graph. If no

sound registers, make sure that the microphone is turned on. Some models

have a mute switch. Also, verify the connections to the computer. Some

computers have several locations to plug in a microphone

o If sound registers, continue to the next section to configure yourmicrophone if this option is available to you. If that option is not

available to you, but your microphone is operating, go to the "How to

set up output hardware" section to make sure that you have installedthe speakers correctly.

o If you have more than one microphone and you want to use onemicrophone for speech recognition and another microphone for all

other sound input, go to the "Select an audio input device" section.

o If no sound registers after you connect the microphone, there areseveral things that you can try:

First, go to the "Configure the microphone" section to see


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whether you can make adjustments that will address the issue.

If sound still does not register, go to the "Select the audio inputdevice line" section to see whether a line other than the one

that you are using works, and then go to the "Change the input

volume levels" section to make sound level adjustments to the

line, if it is necessary.

If this still does not resolve the issue, go to the "How totroubleshoot speech recognition problems" section for

troubleshooting procedures.

Configure the microphone

Microphone performance depends on many factors. This includes the distance from

mouth to microphone and the correct positioning of the microphone. Each

manufacturer has specific requirements.

To configure the microphone, follow these steps:






a. Click Start, and then click Run.b. Type control in the Open box, and then press ENTER.c.

Double-click Speech.4. Click the Speech Recognition tab, and then click Configure Microphone to start

the Microphone Wizard. The features that are supported depend on the

manufacturer of the engine.

Note The Configure Microphone option is available only if the current engine

supports microphone training.

5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.Select the audio input device line

To select the input line into which you plug the microphone, follow these steps:






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4. Click the Speech Recognition tab, click Audio Input, and then click Properties.5. Click any one of the following options:

o Use automatically chosen line: When you click this option, the inputline is set to a default that is determined by the speech system.

Because of differences in drivers, capabilities, and languages used,

there may be variances in the selected option.

The default may not work with all options. If the default line does not

work correctly, manually select a new line. To do this, click Use this

audio input line.

o Use this audio input line: When you click this option, you can select adifferent line for audio input. The options include all audio lines for the

computer. However, be aware that not all audio lines are supported for

speech.

Select an audio input device

To select an audio input device, follow these steps:




have a Sounds and Audio Devices window instead, the speech component maybe in a separate window. In this case, follow these steps:


4. Click the Speech Recognition tab, and then click Audio Input.5. Click one of the following options:

o Use preferred audio input device: When you click this option, the inputdevice is set to the default device for the computer. Click this option if

you want your speech programs to use the same input device as all

other sound devices for the computer. Frequently, computers have

only one input device, such as the headset microphone. This device isthe default device in Speech properties. The default device is

designated in the sounds or multimedia properties in Control Panel for

each operating system.

o Use this audio input device: When you click this option, you can selecta different device for speech programs only. Click this option to change

to a different input device. The drop-down list is available only if other

devices are available. In the drop-down list, click the device that you


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want to use. If you make a selection here, the default device is not

changed for other audio programs. For example, you may want all

speech input to use the headset microphone instead of an omni-

directional microphone.

Change the input volume levels

To change the speech recognition volume input levels, follow these steps:







4. Click the Speech Recognition tab, click Audio Input, and then click Volume.5. A volume control mixer is displayed. Adjust the volume to the level that you

want.

Note Not all devices support this option in the same manner. Some devices do

not support volume control and the Volume option is not available. Other

engines may use their own interface. In these cases, follow the instructions that

appear on the screen or that are documented separately with the engine.

If you want to set up speakers or another output device, continue with the "How to set

up output hardware" section. If you do not have to set up an output device, go to the

"How to train speech recognition" section to prepare to use speech recognition.

How to set up output hardware

Set up the speakers

Speakers vary greatly in design and purpose. See your speaker manual for hardware

and software specifics. However, most models are installed in a similar manner.

To set up the speakers, follow these steps:

1. Locate the sound connections and connect the speaker jack to the computer.Because most computers use an internal sound card, the connections are

frequently located at the back of the computer. There are several connections

that are the same size and diameter as the speaker jack. Frequently, there are

two sound-out connections:

o One connection is labeled as a line-out connection. Most speakers thatrequire a separate power supply (such as an electrical adapter or


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batteries) use this connection. This connection is also used to export

amplified sound to recording devices, such as recordable CDs and tape

cassette systems.

o The other connection is for non-powered speakers. Because thecomputer increases the signal, powered speakers may be damaged if

they are connected here.

2. Plug the speaker into the correct connection.3. To test the speaker connection, follow these steps:a. Click Start, and then click Run.

b. Type control in the Open box, and then press ENTER.c. Double-click Speech.d. Click the Text-to-Speech tab, and then click Preview Voice to hear the

selected voice. The text is spoken, and words are highlighted as they

are spoken. If the speakers are working correctly, you hear the spoken

words.

o If you hear sound, go to the "Set audio output device options" sectionto set advanced audio output options, or go to the "How to train

speech recognition" section to prepare to use speech recognition.o If you have more than one output device and you want to use one for

speech recognition only and use another device for all other sound

output, go to the "Select an audio output device" section.

o If you do not hear sound after you connect the speakers, go to the"How to troubleshoot text-to-speech problems" section.

Select an audio output device

To select an audio output device, follow these steps:







4. Click the Text-to-Speech tab, and then click Audio Output.5.

Click either of the following options:

o Use preferred audio device: When you click this option, the outputdevice is set as the default device for the computer. Click this option if

you want to use the same output device for speech as for all other

sound for the system. It is also the default option for Speech

properties. Frequently, computers have only one output device, such as

a pair of speakers. The default device is designated in the sounds or

multimedia properties in Control Panel for each operating system.


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o Use this audio output device: When you click this option, you canselect a different device for speech programs only. The drop-down list

is available only if other devices are available. In the drop-down list,

click the device that you want to use. When you do this, the default

device for other audio programs is not changed. For example, you may

want all speech output to use your headset instead of the speakers.

Set audio output device options

By default, the option to set audio output device options is disabled. However, other

speech engines may include advanced properties for audio line-out options. In these

cases, Audio Output is available. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen or in

the documentation for the engine.

To set up audio output device options, follow these steps:







4. Click the Text-to-Speech tab, and then click Audio Output.5. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

After you complete your audio setup, continue to the "How to train speech

recognition" section to prepare to use speech recognition.

How to train speech recognition

After the system is installed and working correctly, train the engine for your

environment and speaking style. We recommend that you spend at least 15 minutes

training the computer. The more training you do, the better your recognition accuracy

will be. The engine adapts to your speaking style, and accommodates accents, varying

pronunciations, and even idiomatic phrases. The engine can also be trained to

recognize background noises, such as a fan, air conditioning, or other office sounds. Use

the information in this section to train the engine. This section also covers some

additional settings and properties that you can use to customize speech-enabled

programs on your computer.


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Note Not all speech recognition engines support training.

Train the speech recognition engine

To determine whether your speech recognition engine supports training, and to start

the training if it does support training, follow these steps:



3. Click Speech in the Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window.Note If you do not have a Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices window, but have

a Sounds and Audio Devices window instead, the speech component may be in

a separate window. In this case, follow these steps:


4. Click the Speech Recognition tab, and then click the speech recognition enginethat you want to use in the Language box.

5. Click the profile that you want to use from the Recognition Profile group.Training is specific to an engine and a profile. Therefore, if you train one engine

or profile, this training does not affect any other engine or profile.

6. Click Train Profile, and then follow the directions in the Voice Training Wizard.If your engine does not support training, Train Profile is not available. For

additional information about how to use speech recognition in Windows XP,

click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft

Knowledge Base:

306901How to use speech recognition in Windows XP

Set speech recognition options

During training, you can experiment with different options to find the best

configuration for you. To set speech recognition options, follow these steps:







4. On the Speech Recognition tab, click Settings in the Recognition Profilessection.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306901http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306901http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306901


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5. Click any one of the following options:o Pronunciation Sensitivity: When you click this option, you can set the

level of confidence that is required for the computer to respond to your

command. The High sensitivity setting indicates that you want the

computer to reject any command when it is not confident of what you

said. When you use this setting, the computer makes fewer recognition

errors but more frequently rejects your commands. Therefore, you may

have to enunciate more slowly and clearly. The Low sensitivity setting

indicates that you want the computer to respond to your command

when it has almost no confidence that it has correctly recognized what

you said. When you use this setting, the computer recognizes fewer

commands but rarely rejects a command. This option affects only

command and control programs.

o Accuracy vs. Recognition Response Time: When you click this option,you can set the tradeoff between the accuracy of speech recognition

and the processing time that the computer requires to generate the

recognized speech. With the Low/Fast setting, the computer limits the

time that is spent processing. The recognized text appears on thescreen quickly but with low accuracy. With the High/Slow setting, the

computer processes more for better accuracy but produces the

dictated text more slowly. This option affects command-and-control

programs and dictation programs.

o Background Adaptation: When you click this option, you can setwhether the computer adapts to your voice and manner of speech.

With this option, the computer learns what your voice sounds like (in a

particular environment). This information is stored in your profile and

contributes to an improvement in recognition accuracy. It is a best

practice to select this option.

6.

To accept a new option, click OK. To ignore any changes that are made in thedialog box and to keep the current options, click Cancel. If you click Restore

Defaults, all changes are overridden, and the options are set to a default state.

Note These features are unique to Microsoft speech recognition engines. Some

speech engines have additional and specialized features. However, special

features are not required, and not all speech engines support them. If the

selected speech engine does not support custom features, options in the

Recognition Profiles group are not available.

After you complete the training, continue to the "Set speech recognition properties"

section to customize speech-enabled programs. Or, you can go to the "More

information" section for other resources to help you use speech recognition.

If you experience errors when you try to train the speech recognition, or if you

experience other problems when you try to set the speech recognition properties, go to

the "Next Steps" section.

Set speech recognition properties


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You can use either the Speech Recognition tab or the Text-to-Speech tab in the Speech

properties to set up and to customize speech-enabled programs. These settings control

general attributes, such as input and output devices, the language that is used, the

playback voice, and the accuracy of word recognition. Individual programs may

implement speech differently. See the documentation for more specific information.

However, some attributes are shared by speech engines or by computers across

different software programs. These shared features are set in the Speech properties.

For additional information about how to use text-to-speech in Windows XP, click the

following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

306902How to Use text-to-speech in Windows XP

You can select from several optional settings and customize the speech profile

according to your requirements. However, many options are proprietary and may vary

between computer systems. Therefore, some buttons and screens may not act the

same under all circumstances. See the instructions for your computer, speech software,

or device hardware.

You may also create a new profile or set a profile to fit your speaking style. It is good

practice to create a new Recognizer Profile if you change offices, if the noise level

permanently changes, or if more people are frequently present. To do this, click New

on the Speech Recognition panel. With Recognizer Profiles, different users can share

the same computer without interfering with other speech configurations. For additional

information about speech recognition profiles, click the following article number to

view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

306899How to use speech recognition profiles in Windows XP

Troubleshooting

This section describes how troubleshoot issues that may occur with speech recognition.

How to troubleshoot speech recognition problems

If no sound is detected after you test the system, one of the following conditions may

be true:

The microphone is muted. Some microphones have an external control formuting. Make sure that the muting is turned off. The microphone input level is set too low. To change this setting, click the

Speech Recognition tab, click Configure Microphone, and then follow the

directions in the Microphone wizard to set the input level.

The microphone may not be selected as the current input device. To changethis setting, click the Speech Recognition tab, and then click Audio Input to

make sure that the microphone is selected.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306899http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306899http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306899http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902


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The microphone connections may not be secured. Make sure that themicrophone wires are intact and unbroken. Unplug the wires, and then

reconnect them to make sure that they fit snugly. Go to the "Set up a

microphone" section for additional connection information.

See the documentation for the microphone's hardware for information that isspecific to the manufacturer. This information may include instructions to make

sure that the sound card for the computer is seated and installed correctly, and

that the correct drivers are available.

The speech recognition engine may be corrupted. To test, switch to a differentspeech engine if you have one. Go to the "Change speech recognition engines"

section for more information. If the other engine is working correctly, reinstall

the specific engine from the original source. If no engine is working correctly,

reinstall the speech recognition engine from the original source or CD.

How to troubleshoot text-to-speech

If you cannot hear speech after you test the computer, one of the following conditions

may be true:

The speaker volume is not turned up or is muted. Some speakers have externalcontrols for volume and muting. Make sure that the volume is turned up

sufficiently or that muting is turned off.

The speakers may not be selected as the current output device. To change thissetting, click the Text-to-Speech tab, and then click Audio Output to make sure

that the speakers are selected.

The speakers may not be connected correctly. See the speaker hardwaredocumentation for more information. Make sure that the sound card for the

computer is seated and installed correctly, and that the correct drivers are

available. Go to the "Set up the speakers" section for additional connection

information. The text-to-speech engine may be corrupted. To test, switch to another engine.

Go to the "Change speech recognition engines" section for more information. If

another speech engine is working correctly, reinstall the specific speech engine

from the original source. If no engine is working correctly, reinstall the speech

recognition engine from the original source or CD.

If you experience reduced computer performance after you install speech

recognition

After you install speech recognition, your computer's performance may be reduced.

Speech recognition requires computer memory and can affect your computer's

performance. To work around this issue, use one of the following methods:

Temporarily remove speech recognition as a text service when you are notusing it. Go to the "How to remove speech recognition" section for more

information about how to remove speech recognition as a text service.

Note If you remove speech recognition as a text service, it is no longer an

available text service and it is prevented from loading into memory. However, it


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is not deleted from your computer and you can add it again later.

Upgrade your computer processor. Add RAM.

How to use speech recognition

For detailed information about how to use Microsoft speech recognition, click Help on

the Language bar.

For the most up-to-date information about speech recognition developments at

Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/speech/

For additional information about how to use speech in Windows XP, click the following

article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

306901How to use speech recognition in Windows XP

306899How to use speech recognition profiles in Windows XP

306902How to use text-to-speech in Windows XP

306993How to use the Language Bar in Windows XP

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the

Microsoft Knowledge Base:

278927WD2002: Part 1: Speech and handwriting recognition frequently askedquestions

How to remove speech recognition

If you remove speech recognition, it is not deleted from your computer. Instead,

speech recognition is no longer available as a text service and it is prevented from

loading into memory. You can add it again later.

Note To remove the speech recognition engine from your hard disk, follow the

instructions in the program that it was installed with, or use the Add or RemovePrograms tool.

To remove speech recognition as a text service, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.2. Type control intl.cpl in the Open box, and then press ENTER. The Regional and

Language Options window is displayed.
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3. On the Languages tab, click Details under Text services and input languages.4. Under Installed services, click Speech Recognition under the language that you

are using, and then click Remove.


NEXT STEPS

If these methods did not help you install speech recognition, you might want to ask

someone you know for help. You can also use the Microsoft Customer Support Services

Web site to find other solutions. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support

Services Web site provides include the following:

Searchable Knowledge Base: Search technical support information and self-helptools for Microsoft products.

Solution Centers: View product-specific frequently asked questions and supporthighlights.

Other Support Options: Use the Web to ask a question, contact MicrosoftCustomer Support Services, or provide feedback.

If you continue to have questions after you use these Microsoft Web sites or if you

cannot find a solution on the Microsoft Support Services Web site, click the following

link to contact Support:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus


Properties

Article ID: 306537 - Last Review: May 1, 2013 - Revision: 7.0

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How to configure and use Text-to-Speech in Windows XP and in

Windows VistaArticle ID: 306902 -View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q306902

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On This Page

Summary

Text-to-Speech (TTS) capabilities for a computer refers to the ability to play back text in a spoken voice.

This article describes how to configure and use text-to-speech in Windows XP and in Windows Vista.

TTS is the ability of the operating system to play back printed text as spoken words. An internal driver,

called a TTS engine, recognizes the text and using a synthesized voice chosen from several pre-

generated voices, speaks the written text. A TTS engine is installed with the operating system. Additional

engines are also available through third-party manufacturers. These engines often use a certain jargon

or vocabulary; for example, a vocabulary specializing in medical or legal terminology. They can also use

different voices allowing for regional accents such as British English, or speak a different language

altogether such as German, French, or Russian.

The Text-to-Speech tab in the Speech tool in Control Panel presents the options for each TTS engine.

See the individual Help topics for specific help. In addition to the general options, each engine can have

a different set of specific features. For that reason, not all the resulting dialog boxes will look the same.

It is possible that no special features have been included and some of the properties buttons will not

have an associated dialog box.

Setting Up Your Hardware

NOTE: This article assumes that you use Classic View in Control Panel. To change views, follow these

steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.2. In Control Panel, click Switch to Classic View or Switch to Category View.

Set Up Speakers

Speakers vary greatly in design and purpose. Consult the speaker manual for hardware and software

specifics. However, most models can be installed in a similar fashion.

To set up speakers, follow these steps:

1. Locate the sound connections and connect the speaker jack to the computer. Most computersuse an internal sound card and often the connections are in the back of the computer. These are

a series of connections the same size and diameter as the speaker jack. In many cases there are

two sound out connections:

o One will be labeled as a line-out connection. Most speakers that require a separatepower supply (such as an electrical (AC) adapter or batteries) should use this


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connection. It is also used to export amplified sound to recording devices including

recordable CDs and tape cassette systems.

o The other connection is for the non-powered speakers. Because the signal is boosted bythe computer, powered speakers may be damaged if connected.

2. Plug the speaker into the proper connection.3. To test the connection, follow these steps:

a. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Speech.b. On the Text-to-Speech tab, click Preview Voice to hear the currently selected voice. The

text is spoken and the words are highlighted as they are spoken. If the speakers are

working properly, you will hear the spoken words.

If you do not hear sound after you connect the speakers, see the "Possible Text-to-Speech

Problems" section of this article for troubleshooting procedures.

Select an Audio Output Device

To select an audio output device, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Speech.2. On the Text-to-Speech tab, click Audio Output.3. Select either Use preferred audio output device or Use this audio output device.

o Use preferred audio device sets the output device as the default for the system. Selectthis option if you want to use the same output device for speech as all other sound for

the system. It is also the default option for Speech properties. Often, computers will

have only one output device, such as a pair of speakers. The default device is designated

in the appropriate sounds or multimedia properties in Control Panel for each operating

system. Additional information for the specific panel is available through the associated

Help files.

o Use this audio output device allows you to select another device for speech programsonly. The drop-down list is active if other devices are available. In this drop-down list,

select the device that you want. This does not change the default device for other audio

programs. For example, you may want all speech output to go through your headset

rather than the speakers.

Set Audio Output Device Options

By default, this option is disabled. However, other speech engines may include advanced properties for

audio line out options. If so, Audio Output will be available. Follow instructions on the screen or those

documented separately for the specific engine.

To set up audio output device options, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Speech.2. On the Text-to-Speech tab, click Audio Output.3. Follow the instructions presented on the screen.

Configure Text-to-Speech Options


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Determine the Selected TTS Voice or Engine

To determine the selected Text-to-Speech voice, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Speech.On the Text-to-Speech tab, the displayed name in the Voice selection drop-down list is thecurrently active voice.

2. Click Preview Voice to hear the active voice. The text is spoken and the words are highlighted asthey are spoken.

Preview TTS Voice

To preview the Text-to-Speech voice, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Speech.On the Text-to-Speech tab, the displayed name in the Voice selection drop-down list is the

active voice.2. Click Preview Voice to hear the currently selected voice. The text is spoken and the words are

highlighted as they are spoken.

3. During playback, Preview Voice will change to Stop. Click Stop to interrupt the voice playback.NOTE:You can change the text to be read by the Preview Voice by highlighting the text and typing in

new text. These changes are not permanent and when you reopenSpeech properties or select a

different voice, the text will reset to the default.

Change the TTS Voice or EngineTo change the Text-to-Speech voice or engine, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Speech.2. On the Text-to-Speech tab, the name displayed in the Voice selection drop-down list is the

active voice.

3. Click the active voice inside the drop-down list, or use the arrow to display a list of availablevoices.

4. Click a new voice to select it.The newly selected voice speaks the text in Preview Voice box.

5. Click OK or Apply to accept the new voice.Notes:

A Text-to-Speech voice is closely associated with a particular speech engine. It may not be clearfrom the displayed name which language a voice is using. After selecting a speech engine or

voice, test the voice and language by clicking Preview Voice.


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The language or voices supported by a speech engine may not be obvious from the engine'sdisplayed name. Refer to the specific user's guide for detailed information about the engine.

This includes not only the language supported, but also the lexicon purpose. The lexicon

purpose indicates whether it is a general grammar or jargon specific to a profession such as legal

or medical.

Microsoft does not provide additional speech engines (voices), but a number of third-partyproducts are available that support the new Microsoft Speech API. For information on these

products, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/speech/evaluation/thirdparty/engines.mspx

Change TTS Voice Rate

To change the Text-to-Speech voice rate, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Speech.2. Select the Text-to-Speech tab.3.

Move the Voice speed slider to change the rate of the Text-to-Speech voice. By default, it is setto Normal.

4. Click Preview Voice to hear the currently selected voice at the new rate. The text is spoken andthe words are highlighted as they are spoken.

To Change the Text-to-Speech Volume

To adjust the volume output levels, follow the procedure below. Note that not all devices support this

option in the same way. Some devices will not support volume control and the Volume button will be

unavailable. Other devices may use their own display. In those cases, follow the instructions presented

on the screen or documented separately with the engine.

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Speech.2. On the Text-to-Speech tab, click Audio Output, and then click Volume.3. A volume control mixer will be displayed. Adjust the appropriate device to the required level.

Using Text-to-Speech with Narrator

Narrator is a Text-to-Speech utility for users who are blind or have impaired vision. Narrator reads what

is displayed on your screen: the contents of the active window, menu options, or the text that you type.

Narrator is designed to work with the Notepad, WordPad, Control Panel programs, Microsoft Internet

Explorer, the Windows desktop, and Windows Setup. Narrator may not read words aloud correctly in

other programs.

Narrator has a number of options that allow you to customize the way screen elements are read.

You can have new windows, menus, or shortcut menus read aloud when they are displayed. You can have typed characters read aloud. You can have the mouse pointer follow the active item on the screen.
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You can adjust the speed, volume, or pitch of the voice.The accessibility tools included with Windows are intended to provide a minimum level of functionality

for users with special needs. Most users with disabilities will need utility programs with more advanced

functionality for daily use.

Narrator is not available for all languages and is only supported on the English version of Windows XP

and Windows Vista.

To Have Narrator Announce Events on the Screen

1. Start Narrator by using one of the following methods:o Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to Accessibility, and then click

Narrator.

-or-

o Press CTRL+ESC, press R, type narrator, and then press ENTER.2. In the Narrator dialog box, select the Announce events on screen check box.

To Have Narrator Read Typed Keys Aloud

1. Press CTRL+ESC, press R, type narrator, and then press ENTER.2. Select the Read typed characters check box.

To Have the Mouse Pointer Move to Active Items When You Use Narrator

1. Press CTRL+ESC, press R, type narrator, and then press ENTER.2. Select the Move mouse pointer to the active item check box.

Navigating with the Keyboard and Narrator

Reading options

To read an entire window, click the window and then press CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR. To get information about the current item, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. To get a more detailed description of an item, press CTRL+SHIFT+INSERT. To read the title bar of a window, press ALT+HOME. To read the status bar of a window, press ALT+END. To read the contents of an edit field, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER, or use the arrow keys. To silence the speech, press CTRL.

Keyboard Options

To switch to another program, press ALT+TAB.


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To switch to the next button or tool, press TAB. To go back, press SHIFT+TAB. To select an item from a drop-down list, use the arrow keys. To select a check box or option button, press SPACEBAR. To open Utility Manager, press the Windows logo key+U.

To Set Narrator Voice Options

1. Press CTRL+ESC, press R, type narrator, and then press ENTER. Click Voice.2. In the Voice Settings dialog box, select the voice options that you want to change:

o To change the speed of the voice, click a number in the Speed box.o To change the volume of the voice, click a number in the Volume box.o To change the pitch of the voice, click a number in the Pitch box.

Note: When you change voice settings, it may take from a few seconds to a minute before the

new settings take effect.

To Start Narrator Minimized

You may find it useful to run Narrator minimized (after you have set the options in Narrator), because

you do not need to see the Narrator dialog box when Narrator is running.

1. Press CTRL+ESC, press R, type narrator, and then press ENTER.2. Select the Start Narrator minimized check box.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Text-to-Speech

To determine if Text-to-Speech is working properly, use the following tests.

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Speech.2. On the Text-to-Speech tab, click Preview Voice. The text in Preview Voice should be spoken

audibly with each word highlighted in turn. If so, TTS and the speakers are working. If you

cannot hear the Preview Voice and see words highlighted as they are spoken, see "Possible Text-

to-Speech Problems" section of this article for troubleshooting solutions.

Possible Text-to-Speech Problems

If you do not hear speech after testing the system, consider the following:

1. The speaker volume is not turned up or is muted. Some speakers have external controls forvolume and muting. Make sure the volume is turned up sufficiently or that muting is off.

2. The speakers may not be selected as the current output device. On the Text-to-Speech tab, clickAudio Output to make sure that the speakers are selected.

3. The speakers might not be connected properly. Consult the speaker hardware documentationfor additional information. Make certain that the sound card for the computer is also properly

seated and installed, and that the correct drivers are available. See "Set Up Speakers" for

additional connection information.


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4. The Text-to-Speech engine may be corrupted. To test for corruption, switch to another engine.See the "Changing the TTS voice or engine" section of this article. If another engine is working

properly, reinstall the specific engine from the original source. If no engine is working properly,

reinstall the speech engine from the original source or CD.


References

For additional information about using speech in Windows XP, click the article numbers below to view

the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

306537How to Install and Configure Speech Recognition in Windows

306901How to Use Speech Recognition in Windows XP

278927WD2002: Part 1: Speech and Handwriting Recognition Frequently Asked Questions


Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization.

The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the

speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any

time without notice. SeeTerms of Usefor other considerations.


PropertiesArticle ID: 306902 - Last Review: May 22, 2013 - Revision: 1.0

Applies to

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Windows Vista Ultimate
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306537/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306537/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306901/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306901/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/278927/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/278927/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151500http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151500http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151500http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151500http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/278927/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306901/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306537/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#top


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Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Enterprise Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition

Keywords:kbhowtomaster KB306902


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http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#tophttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-UShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#surveyhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/306902/EN-US#top

this article describes how to use speech recognition in windows xp

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