Question for the steno machine user

I keep remembering how much faster you said it is than typing and I am wondering how one would go about learning how to use one?  Is it something that can be self-taught with a book?  Would I likely be able to find a good used machine?  Also, will they work with any transcribing software?

I am a slow MT and need all the help I can get!    Thanks for any further information you can give me.

• Question for the steno machine user - Lacy
  • Stenoscription - csmr-mt

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Well, learning machine ShortHand isn't the easiet thing in the world.  I think it is what you make of your practice time.  I'm returning to an online school for this in the near future.

Good luck!

 Yes, it is definitely possible to use a steno machine and do transcription.  I have done so for over 10 years.  I never could pass all my tests to be a court reporter, so finally decided to use that skill in medical transcription and has worked out great for me.

But when I started I used tapes and a selectric typewriter with 3 carbon copies.  We used to use a scapel blade to correct the carbon copies and then slide a little piece of carbon paper in to re-type the correction. 

I think it started going downhill when the  MTSO's started showing up more and more.  Only because, they cut the wages because after all, you got to stay at home, didn't have to pay for work clothes, transportation, meals, etc.  And you could write off part of your house mortgate, utilities, etc. as long as you had a room that used only as an office.  Everyone bought into it saying they wanted to work at home and thus they bought into the little less in wages that they offered.  I still think there is a distinct advantage to knowing the doc's you are transcribing for.  Working in a clinic or a hospital and getting to know the doc's make it alot easier to look at them and tell them they sound like they are gargling with peanut butter, they acutally laugh, and listen and I found they would make a bigger effort to be a better dictator because of it.  Better dictators = easier to type = faster TAT = less errors = less need for as much editing.  We used to transcribe all day and our work never went to QA (what was QA) QA was the doc complaining about our work which = counseling from your supervisor = getting written up = out the door if you didn't fix the problem.  That was what it was like when I first started 30 years ago.  I didn't have google, I had little notes taped all over  my workstation for those words I had never heard before until they came naturally to me, then that piece of paper was replaced by another one.  I had what I called my "bible" of phrases, etc. certain doctor's always said, no short cuts or expanders, we typed it all out.  That was real transcription.

I got a Brother fax machine several years ago at Office Depot for around $80 or so.  I later got an HP all-in-one in 2005 at Sam's.  I don't remember what it cost, but it's worth it if you'll be faxing regularly.  Some of your clients may prefer a scanned version.

You could also compare on-line fax capabilities, which seems to be more current, for obvious reasons.  I can't remember the details, but I've heard it advertised on talk radio.

Just a thought.

It was on sale at Best Buy (there were only 3)  That is w/o the monitor, cause I didn't need one at the time.  I know the support people are usually Dave or Keith (yeah, right) they barely speak English, but I don't actually know where the computers are made.   Check for sales at Best Buy and get there early.

I pulled out my old Lanier machine to work for a company I worked for previously and I forgot how to set it to go back a couple of seconds when I take my foot off the pedal.  I tried Googling,,found nothing.. Does anybody know?  thanks

Several jobs I worked in the past allowed the capability to send a fax through the computer without using a fax machine.  However, I have no idea that program was set up but would really like something similar at home.  I can't figure out where to start.  Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks.

I gotta admit that I love these bloopers. 

I am an at-home MT and I have been using an Olympus Pearlcorder T1000 for the last several years. I am on my second one - the first one the hinge doesn't work correctly to insert/remove the microcassette tape but the machine still works (but I have to use something to flip/pry the lid open-lol) ! In fact, I am using it now because about a year or more ago I purchased another one (exact same model) as I felt it would be wise to have an extra machine). Anyway, the new one started pulling out the tape out of the microcassettes and won't backup/rewind like it should. It did this a couple months ago and I did the alcohol cleaning with a q-tip and that didn't work, so tried some silicone spray and finally it started working properly again but now I have run into the same problem. I tried all the above mentioned tactics but it didn't work this time. :( I hardly feel it is worth taking it in to have it repaired since they are not a costly machine, and BTW, I have an older Sony business quality transcription machine (around $500 over 10 years ago!) that I had so many problems with and had it in/out of the business machine repair shop several times (so additional $ spent) and still ended up with problems, so that is why I lean now more toward the cheaper models and if I get a couple years use out of them I am happy.

I am just wondering if there are any other machines that you might recommend around the $200 price range that you have had good luck with or should I just buy another Pearlcorder.

TIA.