Hi Larry, thank you for your very interesting queries regarding dictaphones and recording, playback, slowing down the speech, etc., without distortion. Your best bet is to reach out to a sound recording engineer, or professional audiovisual company, to assist with this query. They are much better placed to answer a query such as this. All the best, Catherine.

[Not everyone types 65+ wpm.]

Also, with the addition of “modern technology”, does a modern dictaphone have the ability to “slow down” the speed of the “dictator’s” speech, WITHOUT lowering the pitch of the voice?

Obviously, the technology that allows singers to “correct” the pitch of their voices, etc., ought to be able to be applied to the “slowed-down” recording, to:

1) lift the pitch of the slowed-down voice, to the same pitch as was evident, in the “normal-speed” version of the voice;

2) separate words, without causing a “staccato” “feel”, when listening to the slowed-down recording;

3) “clean up” the enunciation of the individual words; and

4) use some kind of “slider” or “knob”, to slow-down (and speed-up) the recording.

But, can that technology be licensed?

I know an older person whose native language is OTHER THAN the language that is spoken, on TV, in the country where that person lives.

I would like to “record” TV shows –the news, game-shows, etc.,– and re-play the audio, for the shows, but at a slower pace, so the person can understand what’s being said.

[Obviously, a video version would be great, also.]

Hi Tamara, what you are looking for is voice-to-text or speech-to-text software. Just Google those phrases and you’ll find what you’re looking for. All the best, Catherine.

Hi Colin,

Yes! A Dictaphone would be a great option for you. You would want to use it conjunction with a Speech Recognition program as the Dictaphone on its own won’t convert your voice into text. For your purpose I would recommend using one of our more affordable Dictaphones such as the Olympus DS-2600 or the Philips DPM-6000. I hope you find this helpful. Feel free to contact us if you require further assistance. Good luck, Sophie.