What Is a Stenomask? How Voice Writers Turn Speech Into a Court Record

By Martel Electronics · Updated November 9, 2026 · Shop all seven stenomasks

A stenomask is a microphone enclosed in a mask that a voice writer holds against the face while speaking. In a voice writing workflow, the reporter listens to a proceeding and repeats speech into the mask, adding the information needed to identify speakers and organize the record. The microphone sends the reporter's voice to compatible recording or speech recognition equipment. The mask helps contain that voice; it does not independently understand a hearing, identify everyone in the room, or deliver a finished transcript.

That distinction makes equipment shopping much easier. You are choosing one part of a working system, and the right choice depends on where your voice needs to go. A computer running recognition software, a separate recorder, and a room microphone serve different purposes. Choosing a stenomask for court reporting starts with understanding those purposes and connecting them deliberately.

This guide follows a practical path from listening to review, with original practice examples and a comparison of all seven Martel stenomasks. If you already know your connection requirements, compare Martel's stenomasks and current availability. If you are planning the complete setup, browse voice writing equipment and accessories.

What the reporter contributes

Consider a simple exchange: one person asks when a delivery arrived, another answers, and a third interrupts to clarify which delivery is being discussed. A general recording preserves sound. A trained reporter must also keep track of the exchange as a record: who spoke, what was said, where the interruption occurred, and which details require follow-up.

In voice writing, the reporter performs that listening and organizational work while speaking into the mask. Recognition software may convert the reporter's speech into text, but its output remains something to check. A correctly recognized word can still be attributed to the wrong speaker if the reporter's method or transcript organization is wrong. A plausible sentence can still contain an incorrect date.

For a beginner, this means a successful first recording is an equipment milestone, not proof of professional readiness. Training develops listening, accurate repetition, terminology, speaker identification, editing, and the procedures applicable to the work. NVRA's education resource lists voice writing programs as a starting point for investigating instruction; the association states that inclusion is not accreditation or endorsement.

Ask a prospective program how it teaches each stage of the workflow, what equipment it requires, and how it evaluates progress. That conversation is more useful than buying a mask solely because its product name includes the words “court reporting.”

Follow the information through four stages

The first stage is listening. The reporter needs to hear the original speakers well enough to follow their words and the structure of the exchange. A stenomask does not solve a weak remote connection or an inaudible participant at the far end of a table. Those are source-audio problems that need attention at the listening stage.

The second stage is capture. The reporter speaks into the mask, and a receiving device accepts that microphone signal. A USB model can provide a digital computer connection. An analog model needs a compatible microphone input or an appropriate interface. The visible connector is only part of that compatibility check.

The third stage is text production, when used. Recognition and reporting applications handle different parts of the process according to the chosen system. Before assuming two programs work together, check their current requirements and the instructions for the versions you intend to use.

The fourth stage is review and delivery. Saved files must be located, opened, checked, and handled according to the assignment. Build the habit of naming an observable result at every stage: the source is audible, the mask recording is clear, the intended program receives the input, and the saved work can be reopened. This turns a vague statement such as “my system works” into something you can demonstrate.

A mask recording and a room recording answer different questions

A mask recording captures what the reporter says into the mask. A room microphone captures sound from its placement in the room. Even when both contain similar words, they are different sources. The room may include overlap, tone, or a brief remark that the reporter did not repeat. The mask may contain the reporter's spoken organization that was never said by a participant.

Imagine an original practice exercise in which two volunteers discuss a fictional delivery schedule. One says “Thursday,” then corrects it to “Tuesday.” The voice writer repeats the exchange using the method being learned. Listening afterward to the room recording lets the student check the source exchange; listening to the mask recording lets the student check what they actually repeated. Comparing both with the draft text separates listening errors, repetition errors, and recognition errors.

This is a useful teaching exercise, not a direction to record a real proceeding without authorization. For actual work, establish the permitted recording arrangement and handling requirements in advance.

When discussing a backup, describe exactly what it preserves. A second recording of the mask is a backup of the reporter's voice. It is not automatically a second recording of everyone in the room. That single sentence can prevent an expensive equipment misunderstanding.

Choose the receiving devices before choosing the plug

Write down the exact model of the computer, recorder, or interface that will receive the mask. Then identify the relevant input in its documentation. “It has a small round jack” is not enough: that jack might serve headphones, a combined headset, a microphone, or another audio function.

For a computer workflow, decide whether you want a direct USB mask or an analog mask with a separately verified interface. For a recorder workflow, confirm the recorder's microphone input requirements. If you need two destinations at once, sketch both paths and identify which equipment supplies each recording.

Here are three illustrative purchase statements that are much more useful than “I need a good stenomask”:

• “I need a direct computer connection for my approved recognition setup, with no second mask output required.”
• “I need a computer input and a separate compatible recorder input for my voice.”
• “I already own an approved analog interface and need two independent 3.5mm microphone paths.”

These statements help narrow the catalog without making unsupported assumptions about performance. They also expose missing information before checkout. If you cannot yet name the receiving input, pause the connector decision and ask the equipment supplier or instructor to confirm it. Buying an adapter after delivery is a poor substitute for checking the complete path first.

Compare all seven Martel stenomasks

The following models cover different connection arrangements. Use the links to review the current product description, price, and availability. A model appearing here does not mean it is currently in stock, and a matching plug does not establish compatibility with every device using that shape.

For a straightforward compatible 3.5mm setup, the MM-18 is the single-connection starting point. For a direct USB arrangement, review the Dragon Stenomask. If the plan calls for a second mask microphone path, examine Double Dragon 2, MM-ST1, or MM-ST2 according to the receiving devices. The MM-XLR and MM-14 address particular input arrangements rather than serving as universal upgrades.

Do not interpret the number of outputs as a complete reliability rating. A second output can be valuable, but the recorder still needs to be connected, configured, powered, and checked. Likewise, a simpler single-path setup can be the appropriate choice when it matches the actual assignment and equipment requirements.

Build a first-session checklist around evidence

Before a practice session, put the equipment in the arrangement you expect to use. Route the cable so it does not pull on the mask when you shift position. Confirm the intended input in the receiving application, then make a short recording and listen to the saved file. Hearing that file is stronger evidence than seeing a device name in a menu.

Include ordinary speech, a date, a number, and a few names you have invented for the exercise. For example: “The appointment for Rowan Ellis is Tuesday, March twelve, at nine fifteen.” This sentence is an original test prompt, not a recommended command sequence. Read it in your normal working style and compare the recording with the text you intended.

If recognition software is involved, inspect both sound and text. Clear audio with the wrong spelling of an invented name calls for different investigation from broken or distorted audio. Avoid changing several settings at once; you will lose the ability to tell which change mattered.

Finish the check by closing and reopening the saved file from its actual folder. Give it a recognizable practice label and date. This extra step catches a surprisingly basic failure: a successful-looking session whose useful output was never saved where the user expected.

Separate practice goals so progress is visible

A practice block can target listening, repetition, equipment consistency, or text review. Trying to improve all four at once makes it difficult to recognize progress. Start by choosing one primary goal and one way to assess it.

For listening, use a short passage and mark every place you were uncertain about a word. For repetition, compare the source passage with your mask recording. For equipment consistency, repeat the same passage before and after a planned configuration change. For review, identify errors in a draft and explain whether they originated in hearing, repetition, recognition, or editing.

Keep practice material appropriate to your training level. A faster passage is not automatically a better exercise if you cannot identify why the result deteriorated. A slower passage with a difficult sequence of names or numbers may reveal a more actionable problem.

Record the outcome in plain language: “I omitted the second speaker's correction,” “the recorder received no signal,” or “the audio was clear but the name was misspelled.” Those observations suggest next steps. “The mask was bad today” does not.

Follow your instructor's established methods when practicing professional techniques. The purpose of this framework is to make the equipment and review process observable, not to replace a curriculum or prescribe the conventions for a particular reporting system.

Plan for interruptions before a real assignment

Interruptions create two different problems: maintaining the record and restoring the equipment. The first belongs to the procedures of the assignment and the reporter's training. The second can be rehearsed with harmless practice material.

In a controlled practice session, save your work, stop recording, and disconnect a device only when doing so is safe for that equipment. Reconnect it and observe whether the computer and application return to the intended input. Do not assume they do. A computer may offer several audio devices with similar names, and a newly attached device can change the choices available to an application.

A more useful rehearsal than deliberately causing a failure is to walk through a recovery card. Include the mask model, receiving device, selected input, storage location, and the first short playback test to perform after restoring the connection. Keep the card limited to your verified setup rather than collecting every possible internet troubleshooting suggestion.

For a two-path system, check the second destination independently. If both recordings depend on the same computer and the same application, describe that dependency honestly. A separate mask output creates an opportunity for another path; whether that path addresses your particular failure concern depends on the complete equipment arrangement.

Make comfort a repeatable setup decision

A mask that is positioned differently each time makes both comfort and sound harder to evaluate. Start with a seated position that lets you listen, see the screen, and support the equipment without constantly pulling against the cable. Adjust one aspect at a time and repeat a short sample.

Pay attention to practical observations: whether the cable catches on the desk, whether you keep shifting the mask to reach the keyboard, and whether the position becomes difficult to maintain during an ordinary practice period. These are specific issues you can discuss with an instructor or equipment supplier.

Martel's stenomask accessories include options to investigate for support, replacement parts, and compatible connections. Confirm that an accessory is intended for your exact model before ordering. A stand or mouthpiece is a physical equipment choice, not a guaranteed solution to every comfort problem.

Use the manufacturer's care directions for the actual components you own. Do not assume that a cleaning product suitable for a desk is suitable for a mouthpiece, foam insert, cable, or internal microphone. If a part is worn or damaged, identify it accurately before choosing a replacement. Keeping a simple equipment record makes that conversation much faster.

Organize files so later review is possible

The recording stage and the filing stage should agree with each other. If you label a session “practice three” on paper but save it under a default application name, you create unnecessary work when you return to it. Choose a naming convention before the exercise and use it consistently.

For an invented training session, a name such as “practice-delivery-2026-11-09-mask” distinguishes the mask audio from a separately labeled room recording. Put the text draft and your review notes in the same planned practice folder or another clearly documented location. This is an example, not a required naming rule for professional records.

When working with real material, use the storage, access, retention, and transfer arrangements required for the assignment. Do not upload recordings to an unfamiliar service simply because it offers a convenient transcription button. Determine where data goes and whether that handling is permitted before using the service.

A basic end-of-session check asks three questions: what was saved, where was it saved, and can the intended file be opened? If your workflow includes a separate backup, verify that copy through the approved process as well. A label reading “backup” does not demonstrate that the file is present or usable.

Evaluate a purchase with a complete working example

Suppose a student has an approved computer and software list but no external microphone input selected. The first decision is not whether the most expensive mask is affordable. It is whether the program expects direct USB or an analog input through a particular interface. That answer determines which products deserve comparison.

Now suppose an experienced user already has a compatible recorder and wants a separate computer path. A single-output mask might not provide the intended arrangement without additional equipment. The user should compare the independent paths on Double Dragon 2, MM-ST1, and MM-ST2, matching each output to its destination.

Finally, imagine a user replacing an existing mask in a fixed recorder installation. The important information is the previous model, the recorder model, and the input requirements. Buying a different connector because it sounds more professional could add work without solving a problem.

These examples illustrate a consistent rule: define the task, inventory what already works, and identify the missing connection or capability. Then compare products. This approach supports a purchase that can be explained and tested, instead of relying on a product adjective or an assumed universal compatibility claim.

Use a review example to locate the real problem

Here is an original practice comparison. The source passage says that an appointment moved from April six to April sixteen. Your mask recording clearly includes both dates, but the text shows April six twice. That observation points to the text interpretation or correction process. Repeating the same exercise with a different mask is not the most direct first investigation when the intended words are already clear in the recording.

Now change the example: the mask recording contains only April six because you missed the correction while listening. The equipment may have captured exactly what you said. The next practice goal concerns following and repeating the correction, using your instructor's method. Adjusting the computer input would not supply words that were never repeated.

In a third version, the recording cuts out midway through the sentence. That is a capture-path problem to investigate before evaluating the resulting text. The same visible transcript error can therefore have different origins. Keep the source, mask audio, and text roles distinct, and your review becomes more precise. This is a practical reason to understand the workflow before deciding that a new product will solve a disappointing result.

Prepare questions that a supplier can answer

A useful equipment question contains a model, a destination, and a purpose. “Will this work with my computer?” leaves too much unspecified. “I have this computer model, this interface, and this software version; I want this mask output to feed this input” gives a supplier something concrete to evaluate.

If your setup involves two recordings, describe both. Say whether the second device should capture the reporter's mask voice or original room sound. Ask what is included with the product and which necessary items are separate. Confirm current availability against your actual deadline rather than assuming an order can arrive before a class or assignment.

For school purchases, obtain the current written equipment list and identify which items are required, optional, or allowed substitutes. If a product listing and the school list appear to disagree, resolve the disagreement before ordering. Do not use the article as a substitute for that confirmation.

Keep the answers with your purchase record. They will be useful when the equipment arrives, when you test it, and when you later replace a component. A well-defined order also makes support easier because everyone can discuss the same intended signal path.

Put the system through an acceptance rehearsal

Before declaring a new setup ready, run a complete practice session from unpacking the working equipment through reopening the final files. Use your normal seating arrangement and the applications you actually intend to use. A successful test in a different program is helpful, but it does not fully test your intended workflow.

Include at least one point where you stop and restart the session normally. Check that file names remain distinguishable and that the selected microphone has not changed. If you use two destinations, listen to a sample from each. If you use recognition, inspect representative words, names, and numbers in the text.

Write down any unresolved issue in a form that can be reproduced. “The second recording is silent when connected to input two” is more actionable than “backup seems unreliable.” Resolve the issue before relying on that path, and repeat the relevant test after the correction.

When the equipment passes, save a brief description of the working arrangement. Your future self should be able to reconstruct the setup without remembering which unlabeled cable went where. That practical record is one of the most useful accessories a voice writer can create, and it costs nothing beyond a few careful minutes.

Choose the next step that matches your situation

If you are learning what a stenomask does, arrange appropriate instruction before investing in an entire system. If your requirements are established, compare the connection arrangements and current listings. If you already own equipment, identify the specific limitation before replacing it.

Start with all seven Martel stenomasks, or review the MM-18 for compatible 3.5mm inputs if that is the path your equipment requires. For a wider system purchase, the court reporting and voice writing equipment category brings related options together. Check the individual listing before ordering; product availability and the items included in a package can change.

More ways to understand and review the workflow

A working vocabulary for the rest of the guide

In this article, “mask audio” means the signal intended to contain the voice writer's speech. “Room audio” means a separate source intended to capture participants around the courtroom or deposition space. “Recognition” means software processing spoken input into text. “Playback” means listening to material that has already been recorded. “Monitoring” means listening to a signal while the system is operating. These words describe tasks rather than a promise that every application implements them in the same way. When a provider uses a term differently, ask to see the actual operation rather than relying on a shared label.

Another useful distinction is between a connection and a result. A cable can be connected while the application selects another microphone. A recording indicator can be active while the saved material contains the wrong source. A screen can show text while a separate audio file was never retained. None of those observations makes the mask mysterious. They show why each stage needs its own check. A reader who learns this distinction early can evaluate equipment demonstrations more intelligently and describe problems more precisely. The rest of the article builds on that idea without requiring a background in audio engineering.

Preserve the distinction during a remote practice meeting

A remote meeting can introduce additional audio sources, such as incoming participant audio and a local microphone selected by the meeting application. Those sources should be added to the drawing explicitly. Do not change the recognition application's input simply because another application selected a convenient default. Each task needs the source intended for it. A rehearsal should check what the remote participant hears, what the writer receives, and what the recording arrangement retains. Those observations can differ. Understanding the differences before an assignment is more useful than treating a successful meeting connection as proof that every reporting path is ready.

Keep the rehearsal simple enough to explain. For example, use a helper to speak a short fictional statement through the remote connection, repeat the appropriate material into the mask using the trained method, and review the saved sources separately. Record which application handled each task. If an echo, missing source, or confusing playback result occurs, that small example gives support a defined case to investigate. It is harder to diagnose a long session whose applications and input changes were never documented. The goal is an understandable arrangement that the user can operate, rather than a collection of applications that happen to be open together.

References and scope

Model connections are based on Martel's seven-model comparison. Educational program information is linked to NVRA's program resource. The exercises, purchase scenarios, and checklists above were written for this guide and are illustrative, not accounts of customer results. Professional procedures and equipment requirements should come from the relevant instructor, employer, or receiving organization.

30 questions and answers about stenomasks for court reporters

1. What is the main purpose of a stenomask in court reporting?

It provides a microphone path for the voice writer's spoken record while helping contain the reporter's voice. The reporter still listens, identifies speakers through the chosen method, and reviews the resulting work. A stenomask is a capture device within that process, rather than a complete reporting service or a self-contained transcript generator.

2. Does the mask listen to every person in the courtroom?

Its intended microphone source is the person speaking into the mask. A room microphone has a different role and placement. When planning recordings, state which source each device should capture. Otherwise, a second mask recording can be mistaken for a room recording even though the two preserve different information.

3. Is voice writing just ordinary dictation?

Both involve speaking into a microphone, but reporting adds a demanding listening and record-building task. The reporter follows other speakers and preserves their words using the required professional method. Ordinary dictation of your own ideas does not demonstrate those skills, even if the software produces clean text during a simple microphone test.

4. Does buying a stenomask qualify someone to report proceedings?

No. Equipment ownership is separate from training, competency, and any applicable qualification or authorization requirements. Investigate the requirements for the work you intend to perform. A supplier can help with equipment selection, but a product page cannot establish that you are qualified for a particular assignment or jurisdiction.

5. Which Martel model should a beginner buy?

Start with the instructor's current equipment requirements and the receiving device. A beginner using an approved USB workflow has different needs from one using an analog interface and separate recorder. Compare the seven models only after those requirements are clear. There is no single beginner model that fits every program and system.

6. What does MM-18 mean for my purchase decision?

The relevant feature is its single 3.5mm microphone connection. Review it when your verified computer interface or recorder accepts that microphone arrangement. Do not assume every small audio socket is a compatible input. Use the exact receiving-device model when checking compatibility before purchasing the MM-18 or an adapter for it.

7. When is a direct USB stenomask worth considering?

Consider it when the intended computer workflow accepts the device and a direct USB connection meets your needs. The Dragon Stenomask is Martel's USB-only option in this comparison. Double Dragon 2 adds a separate 3.5mm microphone path. Decide whether that additional path has a defined purpose in your setup.

8. Why would a reporter need two microphone outputs?

Two outputs can serve two compatible destinations, such as a computer and a recorder. The useful question is what you want the second destination to preserve or protect against. Both paths must be connected and tested. Merely owning a dual-output mask does not prove a second recording exists or is usable.

9. Does a second mask output replace a room microphone?

No. It provides another path for the mask microphone arrangement, not a microphone positioned to capture original room sound. If the assignment calls for room recording, plan that source separately and confirm the permitted arrangement. Keep the resulting files clearly labeled so their roles remain understandable during later review.

10. Can I judge the setup by watching an input meter?

An input meter is useful evidence that a selected path is receiving some signal. It does not establish that speech is clear, the correct source is selected, or the file is saved. Complete the check by listening to a recorded sample and reopening the saved file from its expected location.

11. What should a first test recording contain?

Use a short original passage with ordinary words, an invented name, a date, and a number. Speak in the style you are learning to use. Compare the saved audio with the passage, then examine recognition output if applicable. This makes different kinds of errors easier to distinguish without using confidential material.

12. Should I test with real client recordings?

For initial equipment experiments, use invented or otherwise appropriate practice material. That avoids introducing unnecessary handling questions while you are still learning the setup. If actual work material is used later, follow the assignment's requirements for access, storage, transfer, and retention, including any restrictions on external transcription or cloud services.

13. How do I tell a recognition error from a recording error?

Listen to the corresponding mask audio. If the intended word is clearly present but the text differs, investigate recognition, vocabulary, or text handling. If the word is missing or unclear in the recording, look earlier in the process. This comparison narrows the problem without assuming the microphone caused every incorrect word.

14. Can a new mask fix poor listening conditions?

It cannot restore source speech the reporter could not hear clearly. Address the original audio path, seating, remote connection, or other relevant source issue through the appropriate procedure. A mask improvement may help the reporter's captured voice, but that is a different part of the system from hearing the participants.

15. What information should I give Martel before ordering?

Provide the mask model under consideration, the exact receiving-device models, the intended inputs, and whether you need one or two destinations. Mention the software and interface when relevant. If you have a school equipment list, identify its required connection arrangement. Specific details make the compatibility discussion considerably more useful.

16. Is the MM-14 suitable for a USB sound card?

Martel's current comparison specifically says the MM-14 is not compatible with Andrea or USB sound cards. Its 1/4-inch connection is intended for compatible equipment requiring that arrangement. Do not treat a plug adapter as proof that the complete electrical and microphone-input requirements will be met.

17. Does XLR automatically mean better recognition?

No connection label alone establishes recognition performance. The microphone, receiving equipment, settings, speech, and software all matter. Review MM-XLR or MM-ST2 when your system requires a compatible XLR microphone path. Choose that connection because it fits the equipment plan, rather than assuming it guarantees better text.

18. Should I buy accessories at the same time as the mask?

Buy items that solve an identified requirement, such as an approved interface or a needed replacement component. Separate necessary items from optional comfort or convenience choices. Confirm compatibility and package contents before checkout so you do not buy duplicate parts or omit something required for the first working test.

19. How can I make a practice session more informative?

Give it one main purpose and record a specific observation afterward. For example, compare your repeated words with a source passage or test whether both recording destinations save usable files. A focused result provides a useful next step. A general impression that the session was good or bad provides much less guidance.

20. What should I do if the second recorder is silent?

Treat the second path as unverified. Check its selected input, connection, recording state, and saved playback using appropriate practice material and the equipment instructions. Do not assume the first computer recording proves the second path works. Each destination needs its own successful test before it can serve its planned purpose.

21. Will a stenomask make my voice completely inaudible?

Do not assume total silence in every setting. The mask is designed to help contain the user's voice, but the working arrangement and use matter. Evaluate the actual setup with an instructor or other appropriate person. Avoid making an absolute privacy or sound-isolation promise based only on a product category name.

22. Can I share a mask between users?

Before arranging shared use, consult the manufacturer's care and component guidance and the organization's practices. Each user's working position and software setup may also need attention. Do not assume that changing a file name is enough to prepare an entire voice writing system for a different person.

23. What belongs on a simple equipment record?

List the mask, receiving devices, interface if used, intended inputs, and the purpose of each recording path. Add the known working application input and where practice files are saved. Keep it understandable enough that you can reproduce the arrangement later without relying on memory or a photograph of unlabeled plugs.

24. How do I prepare for travel with the setup?

Create a packing list based on the complete working arrangement, including necessary cables, power supplies, and approved accessories. After unpacking, repeat a short capture and playback test. A successful session at home does not verify that every connection and selected input remained correct after transport and reassembly.

25. Should every practice file be kept forever?

Use an intentional retention approach appropriate to the material and your training needs. Keep useful examples of a problem and its correction when permitted, rather than an unmanageable pile of unidentified files. For actual assignments, follow the applicable retention and handling requirements instead of applying a personal practice-folder habit.

26. What if my school list conflicts with a product description?

Ask the school and supplier to resolve the exact difference before purchasing. Provide the model names and the disputed requirement rather than paraphrasing it loosely. Equipment lists can refer to particular configurations, and products can have different connections. A confirmed answer is more valuable than guessing from similar product names.

27. Can I use the same setup for every kind of reporting work?

Do not assume so. Assignments can differ in software integration, recording arrangements, portability, and other requirements. Maintain a verified baseline setup, then check any changed requirement before accepting that the same equipment plan applies. A successful practice session demonstrates a particular arrangement, not universal suitability for all work.

28. When should I replace equipment instead of adjusting it?

First identify the actual failure or missing capability. A damaged component, unsupported connection, or unmet workflow requirement may justify replacement. A wrong selected input may only require configuration. Describe and reproduce the issue before buying, so the replacement addresses a demonstrated need rather than an unexplained disappointing result.

29. Are the seven listed models guaranteed available now?

No. The comparison describes the models listed in Martel's stenomask catalog, while current stock and prices belong on the individual product pages. Open the relevant listing before ordering, especially when working toward a class or assignment deadline. Do not infer delivery timing from inclusion in an informational article.

30. What is the best next step after reading this guide?

Write down your receiving device, required input, and whether you need a second mask recording path. Then compare all seven Martel stenomasks and open the matching product listings. If any requirement remains uncertain, resolve that specific point with your instructor or supplier before completing the purchase.