Court Reporting, Dictation & Recording Equipment Guides
Browse buying guides, troubleshooting help, career information and equipment references by topic.
Explore the 15-part Dictaphone and dictation equipment series — buying guides, software, compatibility, remote work and everyday use. Updated October 28, 2026.
New: the complete 10-part transcription series — video, Zoom, MP3, software, foot pedals and kit compatibility.
Court Reporter Laptops: Buying, Setup and File Transfer
Original Martel laptop guides focused on reporting workflows, setup and support.
Voice Writing & VOX Laptops: Buying and Setup
Original Martel laptop guides focused on reporting workflows, setup and support.
Stenomask articles and student guides
Explore original Martel articles for choosing a mask, preparing for voice writing school and understanding your recording paths. Start with the guide that matches your next decision.
What Is a Stenomask? How Voice Writing Works
Understand the mask, the voice writer, speech-to-text input, separate room recordings, connections and first equipment choices. An expanded original guide with practical examples.
Read the complete Stenomask explanation →STENOMASK HELP · NOVEMBER 2026
Stenomask Troubleshooting Guide for Court Reporters
Start with the symptom: no sound, low volume, muffled speech, USB dropouts, recognition errors, or missing saved audio. Use original diagnostic tests and the Martel connection matrix before choosing a repair or replacement.
Open the Stenomask troubleshooting guide →EXPANDED EQUIPMENT GUIDE · NOVEMBER 2026
Dragon Stenomask Setup Guide for Court Reporters
Connect USB, verify Windows and application input, compare seven Martel masks, and practice reviewing separate mask and room recordings. Includes original exercises, a model photo grid, and the courtroom image selected by Martel.
Read the complete Dragon setup guide →Stenomask Guide for Voice Writing Students
Plan school equipment, make your first saved recording, organize practice, review audio and text, and prepare useful support questions.
Expanded November 3, 2026
Complete Stenomask Buyer's Guide
Compare all seven Martel models, receiving inputs, accessories and equipment costs before building your purchase.
Expanded November 3, 2026
Dragon vs. Double Dragon 2 vs. MM-ST1
Understand USB and analog choices, separate recording paths, complete costs and the requirements that distinguish these three models.
Expanded November 3, 2026
Court reporting, voice writing & careers
- Court Reporter Microphone Placement: Long Tables, Quiet Speakers and Paper Noise Published October 26, 2026
- Court Reporter Equipment Costs: Building a Practical Starter Budget Published October 26, 2026
- Courtroom Microphones: Choosing One Microphone or a Multi-Microphone System Published October 26, 2026
- Complete Court Reporter Equipment Checklist: Students, Depositions and Courtrooms Published October 24, 2026
- Court Reporter Recorder Setup and Backup Guide: Verify Your Saved Audio Published October 24, 2026
- USB, 3.5mm and XLR: Court Reporter Microphone Connections Explained Published October 24, 2026
- The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide to Court Reporter Microphones Updated October 24, 2026
- USB Microphones for Court Reporters: Choosing and Testing Your Setup Updated October 24, 2026
- Martel Dragon Stenomask for Court Reporting and Voice Writing Updated October 24, 2026
- How to Become a Court Reporter Without a Steno Machine
- Online Court Reporting School Guide — Start with Voice Writing at College of Court Reporting
- Voice Writer Court Reporter Career Guide
- Voice Writing vs. Steno Court Reporting — Which Path Should You Explore?
- Court Reporting Education, Skills and Equipment Updated October 24, 2026
- List of Court Reporting Associations
- Choosing the Right Digital Recorder for Court Reporting Updated October 24, 2026
- DM246: Digital 4 Channel Courtroom Recording System Updated October 24, 2026
- Standalone Courtroom Recording Equipment: The DM246 Package Updated October 24, 2026
- The Impact of Wireless Microphones on Court Reporting Updated October 24, 2026
- How to Troubleshoot Court Reporter Audio-Sync Recordings Updated October 24, 2026
- What Is CART Captioning? Updated October 24, 2026
Dictation equipment: buying, setup and everyday use
Fifteen original Martel guides for choosing a dictaphone, matching recorder and transcriber equipment, and turning spoken instructions into a document you can review. Updated October 28, 2026.
Buying guides and complete systems
- Dictaphone Buying Guide: Digital Recorders & Transcription Systems
- How to Choose the Right Dictation Recorder
- Dictation Microphone vs. Handheld Recorder for a Law Office
- Dictation Machines for Lawyers: Recorder and Transcriber GuideCompare a shared Dictaphone Machine with a two-unit no-PC recorder and transcriber set. See real Martel product photos, package contents and links to buy.
- Standalone Transcriber vs. Computer Transcription Kit Compare dedicated playback hardware and computer transcription kits, with matched recorder, foot-pedal and headset options.
- No-PC Dictation for Lawyers: One Recorder or Two?
- How Much Does a Law-Office Dictation System Cost?
Software, compatibility and remote work
- Dragon Speech Recognition vs. Recorder-and-Secretary Transcription
- Dictation Equipment for Mac and Windows: Check the Entire System
- Remote Legal Secretary Dictation: Equipment and File Handoff
- Dictation File Formats: DSS, DS2, MP3 and WAV Explained
Using and upgrading your dictation system
- How to Dictate Legal Correspondence for a Secretary
- Replacing a Tape or Microcassette Dictaphone: Digital Buying Guide Plan the move from cassette or microcassette to digital equipment, including package choices, staff practice and access to older tapes.
- Smartphone vs. Dictaphone: Choosing a Dictation Recorder for Lawyers
- How to Set Up Computer-Based Dictation for a Lawyer and Secretary
- Dictation Corrections: Insert, Overwrite and Append
Shop the Martel Dictaphone Machine · Browse dictation recorders