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Infinity, Philips and Olympus: compare the control with its software

A useful foot-pedal comparison begins with the program that receives the commands. Pedals with similar shapes can communicate differently, and a familiar brand name can cover several generations. Keep the complete model number beside the software name when requesting a replacement. The examples below describe products listed by Martel; they do not establish compatibility with every application bearing a similar name.

Infinity IN-USB-3 · SKU 617. Three controls, including a large center pedal, connected by USB. Confirm support in the exact transcription program and edition. The pedal-only listing does not include transcription software.
Philips LFH-2330 · SKU 1878. Four functional pedals and a USB computer connection. Confirm the software's supported device mode and what the extra control can do. Software is separate.
Olympus RS-31 · SKU 330. A configurable four-pedal arrangement for the supported Olympus workflow. Check the precise model suffix, application version and connection. Do not assume specifications for RS31H or RS31N describe every earlier RS-31.

Three controls can be enough when playback is the main task

For straightforward typing from recorded speech, the essential actions are usually play or pause, rewind and forward. A three-control layout can keep those actions easy to distinguish. Consider whether the center control will operate while held down or toggle playback with a press. That behavior comes from the supported software configuration; the pedal's shape does not tell you which behavior is active.

Before adding a fourth action, identify a task that interrupts your hands regularly. A command that opens the next recording may be useful in a queue-based dictation job. A timestamp command may be useful during video review if the software supports assigning it. An unused extra control has little value, and a poorly chosen assignment can interrupt playback or move you away from the file you intended to finish.

Use the full Olympus model number

OM SYSTEM documents a configuration tool for its RS31H that can assign keyboard commands and switch operating modes. That is model-specific information. See the manufacturer's RS31H customization guidance. If your pedal or order says RS-31 without the same suffix, have the supported functions confirmed before relying on that tool. Photograph the underside label for a purchasing inquiry rather than identifying the pedal from its top view alone.

The same care applies to an older cradle connection. A pedal used with a recorder and dock may have a different connection path from the one used directly with a computer. Replacing a cable or fitting a plug adapter does not establish that the destination understands the control commands. Identify both ends of the connection and the software or recorder that will respond.

Compare the controls while the document has your attention

Create a short practice file containing ordinary sentences, a pause, a corrected name and a sequence of numbers. Open it in the intended transcription application, put your cursor in the document, and type while using the foot controls. Try each command separately first. Then practise the transition from play to rewind and back to play without looking under the desk.

Pay attention to the result after releasing each pedal. Did playback stop as expected? Did a brief rewind return far enough to recover the preceding word? Did a held command repeat continuously? Check the application's available settings before deciding that an unfamiliar response means the pedal is defective. Record the chosen assignments so another person can reproduce the setup.

Keep the pedal in its intended floor position during this comparison. Make sure the cable has enough slack for the chair's normal movement and does not cross a wheel path. If you use a laptop dock, repeat the exercise after reconnecting it. The practical question is whether the whole workstation resumes the expected behavior, not merely whether Windows displays a connected USB device.

Keep live mute control separate from transcription playback

A Zoom mute pedal controls participation in a live meeting. A transcription pedal controls review of an existing recording. Those are separate jobs even when both devices sit under a court reporter's desk. An AudioSync-specific pedal is another application-specific purchase. Match the product to the intended action instead of ordering a generic “court reporter foot pedal” and assuming it performs all three roles.

For a final recommendation, send Martel the exact pedal model, operating system, application name and version, and the action you want each control to perform. Include whether you already own a software license. That lets the order cover a replacement control or a complete kit as appropriate, without overlooking the program that actually makes the pedal useful.

Transcription Foot Pedal Buying Guide

By Martel Electronics · Updated November 3, 2026

A transcription foot pedal lets you control playback while your hands stay near the keyboard. That makes it a useful tool for people who repeatedly pause, replay, and move through recordings while typing or reviewing text. The best choice depends on the application you use, the way that application accepts commands, and the physical arrangement at your desk. Start with those requirements before comparing pedal shapes or prices.

Many buyers begin with a search such as transcription foot pedal, USB transcription foot pedal, or foot pedal for typing. Those phrases describe a useful general function, but they do not identify a complete compatible system. A USB plug alone does not establish that a control will work as intended with every player. The exact model and the supported software arrangement matter.

This guide helps you decide whether you need a separate pedal or a full kit, compare controls for different Martel workflows, and evaluate a purchase through ordinary work tasks. It also explains why an Infinity pedal, an Olympus footswitch, and a Case CATalyst pedal should be compared in the context of their intended applications. Their shared purpose is hands-free control, but a useful purchase must fit a particular workstation.

Infinity IN-USB-3 transcription foot pedal — Infinity IN-USB-3 foot control image from Martel's current product listing. The separate pedal does not include transcription software.

Begin with the application name

Identify the program in which you want to control the recording. Write down the full name and version, rather than the general phrase transcription software. If the recording is opened in a standalone player, that player is the first compatibility question. If playback happens inside Case CATalyst, that is a different arrangement. If you use an ODMS transcription station, describe that environment directly.

Ask how the proposed pedal is supported in that application. Some arrangements involve a supported device selection; others use a particular configuration process. Follow the instructions for the actual combination. A setup guide written for another pedal or player can be useful background while still being the wrong procedure for your station. Keep the model names visible when asking for help.

If more than one program will use the control, describe both. A station used for standalone listening on one day and CAT-linked review on another may need an explicit plan. Do not assume that a setting useful in one program will be appropriate in every other program. The question is how each required application will respond during the work you expect to perform.

Know whether you are buying a control or a complete workstation

A separate foot pedal provides the physical control. A transcription kit can include a player license, a pedal, and listening equipment. The difference matters when you compare prices or read a product title. Someone replacing a failed pedal has a different purchasing problem from someone starting with no software, no control, and no headset.

Inventory the station before buying. Record the working software, the license arrangement, the headset connection, and the computer. Mark the item that is missing or unsuitable. If the player is already supported and the only problem is a worn pedal, a verified replacement may be enough. If there is no suitable player, buying a pedal alone may leave the central problem unsolved.

For a complete standard-audio station, review the All N One Transcription Kit. For supported video work, review the audio and video kit. Use these as package comparisons, then decide whether the software and headset are actually needed at your desk.

Compare the Martel workflows separately

The Infinity IN-USB-3 Universal Foot Pedal is a separate product to examine when the intended application supports that model. The word universal in a product name should not replace a compatibility answer for your particular software. Ask about the application and configuration you plan to use before treating it as a drop-in replacement for another model.

The Case CATalyst AudioSync pedal, SKU 895, addresses foot control inside an existing CATalyst setup. It does not include a separate CATalyst software license or a new audio recording. This option belongs in the comparison when your goal is hands-free AudioSync playback within the reporter's existing working environment.

For the AS-2700 kit, the footswitch is one part of the ODMS transcription package. For the T147 DM246 kit, the control serves a specialized supported four-channel playback process. Match the whole system before comparing the pedal as an isolated accessory.

Distinguish common command styles

During setup, establish what each part of the pedal will do. Frequent tasks include play, stop, backward movement, and forward movement. The behavior can depend on the application and configuration. A press-and-hold action and a press-to-toggle action feel different during typing, so ask which arrangement will be used and practice it before beginning a long assignment.

Think about the actions you repeat most. A typist who constantly revisits short phrases may value a predictable back-step routine. A reviewer moving through a completed document may need a different navigation rhythm. The useful question is whether the control reduces the actions that interrupt your work. There is no need to assign every possible command if a small, clear set meets the task.

Record the chosen mapping in plain language. Write “center starts playback while held” or the actual behavior of your setup rather than an unexplained code. Keep the note near the equipment record. If another person covers the station, that description is easier to use than a photograph of settings with no explanation of the intended result.

Evaluate the pedal at the desk where it will be used

Place the pedal where your foot can rest naturally and reach the controls without stretching. Check that the chair position and desk height do not force an awkward reach. Route the cable so it is not caught under a wheel or pulled tight when you move. A well-supported device can still be inconvenient if the physical placement is poor.

Try ordinary movements rather than holding yourself still for a demonstration. Sit as you would during a normal assignment, reach for a reference document, and adjust your chair. Notice whether the pedal moves out of reach or the cable becomes a snag. These observations help you improve the station before blaming the software for a control that is simply in an inconvenient place.

Comfort and control preference are individual. Do not assume that a large pedal is always better or that a smaller one is always easier to use. Compare how clearly you can find the intended control and release it. The purpose is dependable operation during your work, not matching someone else's desk photograph or choosing by appearance alone.

Check connections without confusing their roles

The pedal connection and the headset connection are separate. A USB pedal sends control information to the computer; the listening device provides the audio path. If you hear no sound, that does not by itself prove that the pedal is faulty. If the audio plays with the mouse but the pedal does nothing, that is a different observation and a better starting point for support.

Include docks, hubs, and adapters in the planned arrangement. A laptop buyer may have fewer direct ports than an older desktop workstation. Describe the actual connection path when asking about support. If you change the path during troubleshooting, keep a note of the result so that the final working arrangement is known and can be reproduced.

Check the physical condition of the cable and connector before making software changes. A visible damaged connection or a cable under strain deserves attention. Avoid treating every loss of control as an application problem. At the same time, a clean-looking connector does not establish full compatibility. Physical condition and supported software operation are separate parts of the buying decision.

Understand adjustable backspace

Some transcription players offer adjustable backspace, meaning playback can return to an earlier point when you resume under the configured behavior. This can help restore the words immediately before a pause. Ask how the feature operates in your chosen player and try a modest setting. Too much repeated material can interrupt your rhythm just as too little can leave you searching for context.

Use a clear practice passage to learn the response. Pause after a sentence, resume, and listen to how much earlier audio is included. Then repeat while typing. Keep the setting that makes it easy to follow the source. The right preference is the one that supports your work, and it may differ between initial transcription and close review of an existing document.

Keep backspace distinct from manually moving backward. One is a configured response within the player; the other is a deliberate navigation action. Knowing which behavior produced a jump helps you adjust the station intelligently. If the recording seems to return unexpectedly, describe the exact action rather than assuming that the pedal is randomly losing your place.

Keep playback speed and foot control separate

A pedal can make frequent control commands convenient, while playback speed is a feature of the player. If you need speed adjustment, verify that the software provides the relevant function. Buying a different physical pedal does not automatically add a feature that is absent from the application. Keep the responsibility of each component clear during a comparison.

Practice at normal speed before adjusting the pace. Once the control response feels familiar, try a small change and observe whether understanding improves. The goal is a manageable listening and typing rhythm. A faster setting is not an advantage if it produces more corrections or causes you to miss the context needed to resolve a passage.

When asking for help, report whether the problem concerns a command, the pace of playback, or the source itself. “The pedal starts playback, but the speed setting is wrong” describes a different issue from “the pedal does not start playback.” Clear distinctions shorten the path to an answer and reduce the temptation to replace hardware that is already doing its job.

Buying a pedal for a laptop

A laptop can support a useful transcription station when the required application and hardware arrangement are suitable. Identify the operating system, connection path, and the software in which the pedal must work. If you regularly move between desks, consider how the control and headset will be connected each time. A consistent arrangement can make setup easier to repeat.

If the laptop belongs to an office, find out who can install or configure the necessary software. A pedal purchase may be simple, but the computer can still require an authorized setup process. Explain any restriction on remote assistance or application installation before arranging support. That allows the equipment conversation to include the person who can actually complete the changes.

Do a short check after reconnecting at a different desk. Open a known working sample, confirm the audio path, and try the control while the document is active. This does not need to become a long procedure. Its purpose is to establish that the station is working as expected before a deadline-driven assignment begins.

Buying a pedal for a Mac arrangement

Treat Mac compatibility as a question about the complete software and device combination. A USB connection or a familiar pedal brand does not establish that a particular Windows transcription kit runs on macOS. Identify the exact player you intend to use, the computer arrangement, and the pedal model. Ask for a compatibility answer for that combination rather than relying on a general search result.

If your plan includes a separate Windows computer or another supported environment, describe it clearly. Do not assume that a method described by another user is supported for every application revision. The practical issue is whether the arrangement you are buying can be installed and used under the current product requirements. Resolve that before purchasing hardware around an uncertain software plan.

Keep the final configuration with the equipment record. If support confirms a particular player, version, and device, retain that information. A later upgrade can change the question, so the old answer should remain tied to the environment in which it was given. This is more useful than a note that merely says the pedal works with Mac.

Replacing an older foot pedal

Read the label on the existing device and record its model before removing it. Note the application, current command behavior, and any configuration utility involved. If the old pedal still works intermittently, use that opportunity to document the arrangement. A familiar shape is not enough to identify the correct replacement, especially when several revisions look similar.

Describe the actual failure. A worn switch, a damaged cable, an unsupported software change, and a connection problem can all appear to the user as a pedal that does not work. Replacement may be appropriate, but it should address the cause you can identify. If the issue began after a software or computer change, include that fact in the conversation.

Once the replacement is configured, compare it with the tasks you need rather than only with the old pedal's feel. Confirm the intended commands while typing and check how the station behaves after a restart. Keep the old and new configuration notes distinct so that future support does not unknowingly follow instructions for the retired device.

Use a short acceptance exercise

Choose a non-sensitive recording that opens reliably in the intended application. Start playback with the ordinary on-screen control, then stop it. This establishes that the file and listening path are working before you evaluate the pedal. Next, use the pedal for the intended playback commands and observe each response.

Move the typing focus into the working document and repeat the exercise. Confirm the behavior you will rely on during actual work. If the setup requires a specific application state, understand and record that requirement. A pedal that responds only during an artificial demonstration has not yet been evaluated in the arrangement you intend to use every day.

Finish with a brief realistic task. Type or review a few paragraphs, use backward movement to revisit a passage, and resume from a marked location. Note any unexpected behavior in clear language. The exercise should answer whether the configured station meets the requirement, not simply whether the computer recognizes that a USB device has been connected.

Compare prices using complete requirements

Price comparisons are most useful after unsuitable options have been removed. Record whether each option is hardware only, includes setup help, or comes as part of a larger kit. List any additional purchase that would still be necessary. A lower accessory price may be appropriate for an established station while leaving a first-time buyer without essential software.

Use current product listings or a dated quote rather than an old article's sale price. The package description and included services can change as well as the price. Keep the order details with your equipment notes. If someone else makes the purchase, provide the exact product link so a similar name does not lead to a different configuration.

Avoid turning a small price difference into the main decision when compatibility remains unknown. The more useful first question is whether the item supports the required work. Once that is established, compare the complete cost and support arrangement. This keeps the purchase tied to the workstation's purpose rather than the most attractive number in a search result.

Questions for professional transcription work

A legal secretary may receive supported dictation files from one author or many. A court reporter may need control inside a CAT application. A video typist may need to watch and navigate supported MP4 material. The same search term can describe all three buyers, but their application requirements differ. Tell the seller which situation applies to you.

If several people share a desk, decide whether they need the same control behavior. A station becomes easier to support when its configuration is documented and changes are intentional. If users have different preferences, agree on how those preferences will be restored without confusing the next person. Hardware alone does not manage that handoff.

For someone starting a transcription business, begin with the source types you have a reason to expect. Do not buy every specialist control on the assumption that more equipment creates more suitable work. Build a supported general station, identify genuine additional requirements as they arise, and choose any specialist purchase around a concrete assignment or recurring need.

Keep troubleshooting evidence useful

Record whether the pedal fails with one file or all files, whether on-screen playback works, and whether the issue appeared after a change. These observations separate the media path from the control path. A support person can investigate a specific pattern more effectively than a long list of unrelated settings that were changed in an attempt to fix everything at once.

Make one relevant change at a time and note the result. If an adjustment has no useful effect, keep the prior known arrangement available where appropriate. Avoid adding several control utilities without knowing which application each serves. An unexplained collection of settings can make a simple fault harder to isolate.

When a problem is resolved, update the short configuration note. Include the actual device, application, and behavior that now work. This turns the support conversation into a resource for the next computer replacement or staff change. The note can be brief; it only needs to preserve the facts that would otherwise be lost after the issue is no longer urgent.

A buying checklist you can use

Before ordering, identify the application and version, pedal model, computer operating system, and connection path. State whether the purchase is a replacement control or part of a new kit. Ask how the required playback commands will be supported and whether setup help is included. Keep any unanswered point as a question rather than assuming the product name has resolved it.

Before accepting the station for daily work, open a known sample, confirm audio playback, and test the pedal while typing. Check backward movement, stopping, and resuming under the chosen settings. Make sure the cable and desk position suit normal use. Record the final configuration so that another person can understand the intended arrangement.

After the first normal assignment, review what actually helped and what still caused interruptions. The answer may involve a setting, a desk adjustment, or clearer source notes rather than more hardware. A good pedal purchase is part of a useful process, and the process becomes stronger when its remaining problems are described accurately.

Map the commands to a normal work session

Think through the sequence of one short task. You start the recording, listen to a sentence, stop to finish typing, move back to hear an unfamiliar name, and resume. Write those actions in the order they occur. This makes the desired control behavior concrete and helps you notice whether an unnecessary mouse action is interrupting the same point in every cycle.

Next, consider a review task in which a document already exists. You may listen for longer stretches, pause at a discrepancy, and add a source reference before moving on. The same physical pedal can serve a different rhythm in that assignment. Explain which task you perform most often during setup so that your preferences are based on the work rather than a demonstration selected by someone else.

Do not assign controls that you cannot comfortably distinguish. A complex mapping can create more interruptions than it removes if you repeatedly press the wrong area. Begin with the functions you need and expand only when an additional command serves a clear purpose. Consistent use of a small set of commands is often easier to learn than a large set that changes between tasks.

Keep a configuration record with useful fields

A practical record can fit on one page. Include the pedal's exact label, the application and version, the computer operating system, the connection used, and the meaning of each control. Add the name or role of the person responsible for installation. The purpose is to make the station understandable when the original user or installer is unavailable.

Include a dated note describing the sample task that was checked. For example, record that playback, stopping, and backward movement were evaluated while typing in the intended word processor. That is more useful than a bare statement that the station was tested. It identifies the actual behavior that was observed and avoids implying that unrelated applications were also evaluated.

Keep private license information in the location approved by the office rather than printing it beside the pedal. The visible workstation note can identify who manages the license without exposing its details. A clear equipment record does not require every credential or administrative setting to be displayed at the desk.

Introduce a replacement control to another user

Allow the person who will use the station to practice before assigning a deadline-sensitive task. Show the command behavior, then let the user perform a short sequence without prompting. Ask what felt unclear. A device that seems obvious to an experienced installer may still require a few minutes of practice for someone accustomed to a different pedal response.

Use a non-sensitive sample for the first exercise so attention can remain on the controls. Once the user understands the response, move to an authorized representative task. Keep the distinction between learning the device and judging a difficult recording. If both happen at once, the user may blame unfamiliar controls for uncertainty that comes from the source itself.

When the user identifies a preference, connect it to an observed task. Perhaps a longer back-step repeatedly replays too much material, or the pedal needs to sit farther to one side. Record the chosen adjustment rather than expecting everyone to remember it. Small, explained changes are easier to support than a station that gradually accumulates undocumented preferences.

Use a replacement decision example

Suppose an office has a working player, a suitable headset, and one pedal that no longer responds reliably. First confirm that the player still handles a known file through its on-screen controls. Then identify the pedal and ask about the supported replacement for that application. If the fault is isolated to the physical control, the office has a focused purchasing question and can avoid replacing unrelated equipment.

Now suppose the same office has moved to another program and the old pedal stopped responding immediately afterward. The first question changes. The device may be physically sound while the new application needs a different supported arrangement. Buying an identical pedal without checking the software would repeat the same unresolved compatibility problem. Describe the timing of the change before ordering another unit.

Finally, suppose a new employee has neither a player nor a pedal. A replacement accessory recommendation from the first scenario is incomplete for that person. Compare a full transcription starter kit or a documented set of separate components. These examples show why a useful recommendation includes what is already installed, what changed, and what function the user still needs.

Choose a supported control arrangement

Browse Martel transcription kits and foot pedals and compare the product intended for your software environment. Call 800-553-5536 with the application, computer, and pedal model involved. Whether you need an Infinity USB foot pedal, a CATalyst control, or a complete kit, those details make the conversation useful and help keep the purchase focused on the task you need to perform.

Questions and answers

What is a transcription foot pedal?

It is a physical control used with supported software to manage playback while the user's hands remain available for typing or review. The application and configuration determine what its inputs do. Identify the player and exact device before assuming compatibility from a USB connection.

What is a USB foot pedal for typing?

In a transcription context, the phrase usually describes a control used to pause and navigate recordings while someone types. The pedal does not type the document itself. Match it to the application and command behavior you need rather than buying solely from that broad search phrase.

Does the pedal contain transcription software?

A separate pedal purchase does not necessarily include software. Martel explicitly identifies the Infinity IN-USB-3 as hardware without included transcription software. Check each listing. A complete kit and a separate control serve different purchasing needs and should be compared accordingly.

Will any USB pedal work in my program?

Confirm the exact model and supported arrangement for your software version. A shared connector does not establish identical command support. Give the seller the application name, version, operating system, and intended use so the compatibility answer concerns your actual workstation.

What does a three control pedal do?

A three-control arrangement provides separate input areas that the supported software uses for the configured functions. Typical transcription tasks include playback and movement through the recording. Verify the actual mapping and whether actions are held or toggled in your application rather than assuming one universal behavior.

Do I need a special pedal for Case CATalyst?

Use a supported arrangement for your existing CATalyst environment. Martel's SKU 895 is the product to examine for AudioSync foot control. Follow the relevant current Stenograph instructions. Buying that pedal does not supply a CATalyst license or a missing recording.

What is the difference between a pedal and a footswitch?

Both terms can describe physical controls used for hands-free commands. The wording alone does not establish function or compatibility. Compare the actual model, supported application, and required command behavior rather than treating either label as a standard specification.

Can I use a transcription pedal with a laptop?

A laptop can form part of a suitable station when the application, operating system, connections, and control are supported. Include any dock or adapter in the setup you evaluate. Check operation while the intended document is active, not only in a player demonstration.

What should I check for Mac compatibility?

Check the whole application and device combination. A supported USB accessory does not make a Windows transcription program run on macOS. State the computer environment and player you intend to use, then retain the specific compatibility answer with your equipment notes.

Should I replace my whole kit when the pedal fails?

First identify the failure and whether the rest of the station remains suitable. If supported software and listening equipment still work, a verified replacement pedal may be enough. If the problem followed an application change, resolve compatibility before buying an identical physical device.

Can a pedal make me transcribe faster?

It can make frequent playback commands more convenient, but there is no universal time saving for every user or assignment. Speech clarity, required notation, review scope, and your method also matter. Evaluate a short realistic task and observe which interruptions the control actually removes.

What information should I give Martel before ordering?

Provide the exact application and version, computer environment, current pedal if any, and the function you need. State whether this is a replacement or a new station. Those details help distinguish a supported accessory purchase from the need for a complete software and hardware package.