This page describes how you can test your hardware setup, to determine if it is impacting your ability to use Dictation Buddy.

In order to perform this test, you should have a sound card installed in your PC, speakers and you should have an input device, such as:

• a microphone,
• a device, such as a cassette recorder, with the appropriate connecting cable (see re-recording for details)
• a telephone, with the appropriate call-corder connection (see recording phone converstations for details)

You should then connect the input device into either the mic or line-in jack of the sound card.

Testing Using Windows Volume Control

Go to Start==>Programs==>Accessories==>Entertainment==>Volume Control. You should see both the Line-In and Microphone controls in the Volume Control user interface. If not, go to Options==>Properties and specify that the volume controls should be shown for these two input sources. Make sure that neither one of these sources is "Muted".

Send a sound stream from the originating device (mic, recorder or call-corder). Adjust the volume on the appropriate device. You should hear the sound stream coming out of the PC's speakers (watch out for feed-back!). If the sound is garbled, try the other sound card input jack (for example, line-in, instead of mic).

If your speakers provide good quality playback through one of the sound card input jacks, then Dictation Buddy will record these sounds. If you cannot obtain good quality playback through either input jack, then there is a problem with your PC's hardware setup. This problem must be resolved before Dictation Buddy can perform viable recording. 

Testing Using Windows Sound Recorder

Another way to test your hardware setup, is to use the Windows Sound Recorder. This is an optional application that may have been installed when the Windows Operating System was installed on your PC. If it was installed, you may access it by going to Start==>Programs==>Accessories==>Entertainment==>Sound Recorder. The Windows Sound Recorder will allow you to record for up to one minute. If you are having difficulty with Dictation Buddy, try recording with the Windows Sound Recorder. If you cannot obtain a good quality recording with the Windows Sound Recorder, then there is a problem with your PC's hardware setup. This problem must be resolved before Dictation Buddy can perform viable recording.