C H A P T E R 2
Installing and Training
Dragon NaturallySpeaking User’s Guide
19
Next, bend or adjust the boom so that the foam windscreen, which
shields the microphone element from excess noise, is near your mouth.
Correct positioning is crucial for recognition accuracy. Start with the
microphone at the corner of your mouth, about a thumb’s width away.
At the corner of your mouth
If the microphone is too close to the center of your mouth, it may pick
up breathing sounds, which Dragon NaturallySpeaking
®
may mistake for
“the,” “a,” or other small words. In this case, move it closer to the corner
of your mouth.
The right distance away
The windscreen should not touch your face, hair, or beard. The proper
distance from your mouth to the microphone is roughly between one-
half and one inch—about the width of the thick part of your thumb.
Place your thumb between the microphone and your mouth. One side of
your thumb should be touching your mouth, the other should be just
brushing the windscreen. Checking this distance with your thumb is a
good way to get a feel for proper microphone positioning. While you
work, the microphone may shift, degrading recognition accuracy. Doing
a quick “thumb check” ensures that the microphone is where it should
be.
Pointing toward your mouth
To pick up the best sound, the microphone element should be pointed
toward your mouth. The microphone element, covered by the foam
windscreen, is the electronic part that actually hears your voice. On most
microphones a small dot just outside the windscreen indicates the
direction in which the microphone hears best. Be sure that dot is pointed
toward your mouth. (On some microphones you may need to partially
