Converting 8bit to 16bit WAV files

[Sebastian42]

I had a rethink - and decided what I wanted from THIS exercise was not accurate transcription, but to see if I could get Audacity to convert a WAV file for me so that DRAGON could analyse it. When I chose a trained USER, instead of the new one which stalemated me, Dragon COULD proceed with analysis. Predictably the transcription was a hash, but Dragon 'worked'.
Thank you again.

[Edgar]

Sebastian42,

I use DNS11 Pro a lot as I have a hard time with the keyboard and mouse (old injuries). Are you familiar with the Knowbrainer forum ( http://www.knowbrainer.com/PubForum/ind ... tegoryId=2 ? Exactly what are you trying to accomplish? What are the source files? Can you attach a small example (at least a few sentences) of source audio?

[Sebastian42]

<<Are you familiar with the Knowbrainer forum>> I saw THAT term for the first time recently - in THIS thread I think. I have checked your URL. I suspect that the instructions I unsuccessfully followed to set up a NEW USER for WAV input came from that source. B.T.W. I found it impossible to access the speechcomputing.com references I found in google searches, but Nuance gave better results. <<Exactly what are you trying to accomplish?>> I have been using audio-tape dictaphones for many years to take notes of 'random thoughts' which are the basis of my 'todo' file. Obviously, the tapes and dictaphones are nearing the ends of their respective lives. Digital dictaphones are considerably more expensive. When I came across a cheap source of audio recording and its output was WAV files (8bit, 8KHz) I thought : "Why not go the whole hog and try to automate the transcription ?" Before I attach a sample, I want to stress that the current problem is not converting the audio to suitable input, but accessing the transcription function of Dragon as a 'new user' , untainted with any microphone-input training. In a fortnight or so I hope to upgrade to DNSv11 myself.

[Edgar]

I know DNS is designed to do what you are asking--i.e. transcriptions, you might end up needing the Legal or Medical but I know there are folks on the Knowbrainer forum who can be of great help with both the general transcription stuff and the more specific of training a new user from audio. That forum is almost (if not) as good as this one in re. helpful "elves"!

[Sebastian42]

That post 'snuck away from me' - I was actually trying to create the attachment you asked for, but my device (new to me) is not behaving as I expect i.e. I can't find the WAV it is supposed to produce (and did before). The following is what I untended to record and send to you/here "It occurred to me that you might want this sample to see if there is ANY chance of ever using this as adequate input after conversion. So having spoken this into my recorder, which is a miniature video camera, I will send the WAV file as an attachment, and hope for a positive outcome."