Dictation timing out more quickly on Sonoma

Question

Level 1

11 points

Dictation timing out more quickly on Sonoma

Since updating to Sonoma 14.5 yesterday, dictation functionality seems to be reduced. It transcribes fewer words before cutting off and needing to be restarted using the shortcut. I've come to rely on it quite heavily due to losing fine motor control as a result of Multiple Sclerosis, so this is a real impediment! It also often loses the last few words spoken when it cuts out.

For example, I've dictated this and have had to restart it multiple times for even this short message – it would have taken two goes, three at most, before the upgrade!

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on May 14, 2024 1:14 PM

Reply

Answer 1

May 14, 2024 3:52 PM in response to jmiers

Although it seems this shouldn't be necessary, many times problems can be resolved by rebooting your computer into safeboot. Then reboot again and login normally to your account and test it out.

How to use safe mode on your Mac

Safe Mode boot time can take a little extra time to boot, as it's doing the following:

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required system extensions and prevents 3rd party apps and extensions from loading

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

Reply

Answer 2

jmiers Author

Level 1

11 points

May 20, 2024 10:44 AM in response to Ethics_Gradient

thanks for the reply, and sorry for the slow response. I've just tried this out and so far I am not sure it's made very much difference – the current sentence took five goes to dictate, so I'm still only getting a few words in between having to restart dictation.

Reply

Answer 3

May 20, 2024 11:22 AM in response to jmiers

No problem, thanks for responding.

That's terrible performance. Sorry you're struggling with dictation when you obviously rely on it. I use it for work and I think it's better than Dragon Naturally Speaking, which seems to get slower the more I use it.

I think I'll stick with Sonoma 14.4 for a while, just in case. Are you running it on an Intel Mac or an M?

Reply

Answer 4

jmiers Author

Level 1

11 points

May 21, 2024 3:14 AM in response to Ethics_Gradient

maybe the extra horsepower rolls over any niggles

Could well be it! I'm on an old work machine (which is also why I had no choice but to upgrade) that struggles to do too much, and ofc OS updates in general tend to be more resource-hungry

Reply

Answer 5

May 17, 2024 10:49 PM in response to jmiers

Did this fix itself yet?

Reply

Answer 6

jmiers Author

Level 1

11 points

May 20, 2024 2:12 PM in response to Ethics_Gradient

Intel Macbook air. I've been getting good results from MS Word built-in dictation since raising this question, but it was just so useful being able to use it in any text field!

Reply

Answer 7

May 21, 2024 12:17 AM in response to jmiers

I took the plunge and all seems fine. I have an M1 Mac Mini so maybe the extra horsepower rolls over any niggles. I can highly recommend the upgrade!

Reply