Supply List for Training

LAPTOP SPECIFICATIONS:

DUE TO CONTINUING ISSUES WITH VARIOUS NEW AND USED COMPUTERS STUDENTS HAVE PURCHASED, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU PURCHASE YOUR LAPTOP FROM M-TECH.  SEE INFORMATION BELOW. 

LAPTOP:  Intel 11th (or newer) generation processor with quad core; 32 gigs of RAM; preferred – two 500 GB (or larger) solid state hard drives (this is bare minimum) or at least 1 TB solid state hard drive.

Your laptop must meet these specifications to be adequate for voice writing.
Make sure you have at least TWO FREE USB PORTS.
More ports are better but make sure you have at least two free.  FYI, some laptops have two USB ports but use one for the power cord.  That does not leave you with two FREE UBS ports.
These are minimum specifications.
Upgrades worth considering would be an i9 10th generation, i5 or i7 11th or 12th generation processor, 64 gigs of RAM, and the second drive being a terabyte.  Strongly suggest you do not get a Ryzen processor and that you stick with an Intel.

FYI:  YOU MUST COMPLETELY DELETE, REMOVE, DESTROY ONEDRIVE FROM YOUR COMPUTER BEFORE LOADING ANY SOFTWARE!!!!  One you have signed up for the training, there are videos that will help you with this.

PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING PURCHASING YOUR LAPTOP.  This is my current recommendation:  M-Tech Laptops.  Contact Jerry Michrina for additional information:  231-547-5562.  Please tell him you are one of RVT’s students (Charlene Hansard) so he’ll know the correct configuration you need.  Please note that M-Tech is NOT your personal computer technician.  They will only help with tech on laptops purchased through them. 

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SOFTWARE NEEDED:

DRAGON PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUAL 16 ONLY – NO ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS OR ADD-ONS ARE REQUIRED.  Current price is $699.
NOTE: There is an option to purchase the additional Dragon Installation and Training Flash Drive – 16 Gb USB 3 Flash drive containing any Dragon product full installation, Installation/Training Manuals for an additional $35.  This is not required, but you can purchase if you wish.  You do NOT need any of the additional products offered by Knowbrainer.  DO NOT PURCHASE DRAGON LEGAL.

ECLIPSEVOX STUDENT SOFTWARE: Student software cannot be
purchased until Advantage Software has proof of enrollment.
Eclipse (Computer Aided Transcription/CAT) use begins five weeks into the
session. $349 will be paid to Advantage Software AFTER classes start.
Eclipse student software is NOT required until later in the course.
This is STUDENT software. Upgrading to the professional version will be necessary upon certification.

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HARDWARE AND ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE:

TRANSCRIPTION PEDAL: Infinity USB three-pedal transcription pedal – MUST HAVE 

Express Scribe transcription software – free download for home use only (when you click on this link, go to bottom right corner and click on “Get It Free.”

AUDIO RECORDER & VOICE RECORDER PRO – download from Microsoft store – free download

WIRED TRANSCRIPTION EARBUDS or HEADPHONES: No microphone –
MUST HAVE.  You don’t have to get these exact items. The links are examples.

STENOMASK:  MUST HAVE – 2 options

1.  Stenomask SR Pro-1 (my preference) – By default, the SR Pro-1 comes with a cushioned facepiece.  Amazon link.  Optional:  Dual microphone SR Pro-2.  There is an optional facepiece that is available.  CONTACT ME DIRECTLY FOR DISCOUNT CODE FOR TALK TECHNOLOGIES.

2.  Martel mini mask – new mask I am currently testing which have received good reviews from students.

USB SOUND CARD (pod): – MUST HAVE
(You can pick whichever one you prefer.  The new favorite and cheapest option is the Sound Blaster Play! 3.)

       Choice of either:  
       Andrea PureAudio
       Creative Labs Sound Blaster Play! 3 (new favorite)
       SpeechWare (formerly known as SpeechMatic)

GEORGIA STUDENTS ONLY! If you plan to sit for the Georgia test with
backup, you will need a USB microphone.  USB CM-1000 microphone

LAPTOP COOLING STAND: X-Stand or Thermaltake Fan Cooling Pad – All laptops need some way to cool the fan.  You should never sit your laptop completely flat upon your desk or lap.

PRINTER:  of your choosing

MY REALTIME COACH:  Beginning January of 2024, all students will be required to purchase a subscription to My Realtime Coach for the 20-week training.  You will be able to extend this month-to-month after the training if you still need the program up until you test.  The cost will be $39 per month for the 20 weeks for a total of $156.  We will walk through setting up this subscription in class so no need to purchase before classes start.  You will receive an email with instructions to sign up for My Realtime Coach once you have registered for training.

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BOOKS:

The Essential 99 Punctuation Rules for Court ReportersMUST HAVE                        • The Complete Court Reporter’s HandbookMUST HAVE (You can order directly from NCRA without joining the association.)

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 11th Edition – HIGHLY SUGGESTED (Kindle copy okay)
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Realtime Voice Training – Court reporting student package – $2500 – 20-week training class package

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TOTAL APPROXIMATE COSTS:

$1500-2500 Voice-writing laptop

$699 Dragon Professional Individual 16 speech recognition software

$349 Student EclipseVox voice writing software – paid to Advantage
Software

$260-$290 Voice input for court reporting students, Stenomask

$60 Andrea USB sound card

$65 approximately-USB transcription pedal

$156 for My Realtime Coach for the 20-week period.  Optional $39/month after classes on a month-to-month basis if needed

GEORGIA STUDENTS TAKING GLE ONLY :  $70-$100 Georgia students wishing to take the Georgia GLE test will need an external microphone.

Realtime Voice Training program:  $2500

Estimated expenses: $6000 

(Please note that all amounts are estimated amounts and are subject to change by the individual vendors at any time.  All supplies are purchased by the student directly and are not supplied by Realtime Voice Training.)

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