Mac OS 8.1: Speech Recognition 1.5.1

1) The new Sound & Monitors control panel (v1.3.2), provided with Mac OS 8.1, does not offer an option for "Microphone" as the Sound Input source. If "Sound In" is selected as the input source, you will get the following message when activating Speakable Items;

"Warning. The sound input source is "Sound In," not the standard microphone, so speech recognition might not work or might not work well.

You will also get this error on startup if Speakable Items is active on startup.


2) Selecting "Sound In" allows you to input commands into Speakable Items but you will hear yourself through the speakers. This makes it difficult to input commands into Speakable Items because of all the background noise. The only workaround is to mute the computer speakers. However, if you mute the speakers, you cannot hear the computer when you have the "Speak text feedback" option selected in the Speech control panel.
Workarounds:

1) Make sure the sound input source is set to something other than "Sound In" before activating Speakable Items or just click the OK button on the error message.

2) Do not use the "Speak text feedback" option selected in the Speech control panel, or use a pair of headphones.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012