Adjusting speeds in Windows Media Player

I may be the last person on earth to discover this, but did you know that you can adjust the speed of your MP3 audio takes in Windows Media Player? It comes in handy for court reporters who want to adjust the speed of their MP3 audio takes.

Here's how you do it:

1. Open your MP3 in Windows Media Player.

2. Click on "Now Playing" to drop down the menu bar.

3. Click on "Enhancements" to drop down another menu Bar.

4. Select "Play Speed Settings".

5. Now you'll be able to see an area at the bottom of your Media Player which will allow you to select the speed you want.

6. Simply grab the little marker on the slide bar and move it to the right or left depending on the speed you're looking for.

I wish I learned this trick months ago. Now I can challenge myself with lists of briefs, phrases, and other audio that has become too slow for me!

More commonly used words

Every steno student has studied, practiced and memorized the 100 most commonly used words in the spoken English language, right? Well, I've found an interesting list of the most commonly used words in printed material through W.E.B. DuBois Learning Center's website. It's slightly different than what you're used to seeing since it's for published material and not the spoken word. It's ranked in order of use and is excellent practice material. I've printed out each page and placed it on my typing stand. That's a total of 1,000 words that I'm going to use for my daily drills. If I can get these words to fall naturally under my fingers without hesitation, my speedbuilding classes will be a helluva lot more fun!

Here are the links if you're interested:

First 100 most commonly used words

Second 100 most commonly used words

Third 100 most commonly used words

Fourth 100 most commonly used words

Fifth 100 most commonly used words

Sixth 100 most commonly used words

Seventh 100 most commonly used words

Eighth 100 most commonly used words

Ninth 100 most commonly used words

Tenth 100 most commonly used words

Getting my groove back

Well, I'm finally starting to relax in speed class. I know this may sound trivial, but simply moving to another desk has helped. During the first few classes, I was sitting front and center. Everyone was staring at the back of my head. I had to careen around whenever another student was talking - or be rude and just stare forward at the whiteboard. So I moved to a desk on the right side of the classroom and rotated sideways so I can see everyone.

Also, I no longer freak out and panic when the instructor reads at 100 words per minute. I simply write what I can and jump ahead when I need to. Thankfully, she doesn't ask us to read back our notes at that speed. That would be torture.

At the end of every class we take an 80 wpm quiz. Those students who want to transcribe their notes do so. Since I'm still writing at 60 wpm, it seems senseless for me to transcribe my notes at this point. My goal is to be at 70 wpm by the end of October, and 80 wpm by the end of November. Sigh . . . I feel like I'm in control again.

Just for Grins

I was browsing through the latest JCR magazine this afternoon and noticed the Just for Grins page where court reporters send in their funny transcript excerpts.

I thought I'd share a couple of them here:

WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO BE ONE, TOO?

Q. You still use a calculator with your right hand?
A. Yes, and the computer keyboard, I'm not a full typer,
I'm just a pecker.
Q. Your words, not mine.

WHAT A JOB!

THE COURT: Ma'am, are you employed?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, I am.
THE COURT: What type of work do you do?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: CPA for a plant in Monroe.
THE COURT: Thank you. Are you married?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes.
THE COURT: What type of work does your spouse do?
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: He passes gas for a living.
(Short period of silence)
THE COURT: I'm just so excited my six-year-old has a future.
(Prospective jurors and spectators roaring with laughter)
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: He markets natural gas.
THE COURT: Again, I'm happy about that.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Residentially and commercially.
THE COURT: That has to be a fun one at parties.
PROSPECTIVE JUROR: Yes, it is.