Troubleshooting speech recognition issues
If the application isn't hearing you at all, or if the recognition cuts in and out unexpectedly, it is usually related to your microphone settings or your physical environment.
Because you often move away from your device during a rehearsal or a final take, the distance can sometimes cause the microphone to lose your voice.
Below are the steps to ensure your setup is ready for a great performance.
1. Check your microphone
The most common issue is that your microphone doesn't record high quality sound. Please do a mic test. Ensure your mic isn't covered and is good.
2. Mind the gap (distance & volume)
When you are rehearsing or filming a final take, you often step back from the laptop/camera - which means that microphone might not be picking up your speech.
The Challenge: Laptop microphones are designed for Zoom calls where you sit 2 feet away. If you stand 6-10 feet back, the microphone struggles to distinguish your voice from background noise.
How to fix it:
- Project your voice: Speak clearly and slightly louder than conversational volume if you are far from the device.
- Test the distance: Before doing a full take, stand at your mark and say a few lines to ensure the audio bars on the screen are moving.
- Use headphones/External Mic: If possible, using Bluetooth earbuds (like AirPods) or a dedicated USB microphone closer to you will drastically improve accuracy.
3. Reduce background noise
Speech recognition tries to filter out noise, but loud fans, traffic, or echoes can confuse it.
- Close windows to reduce street noise.
- Turn off loud AC units or fans nearby.
- If the room is very echoey, try to face the device directly.
4. Is it just one specific line?
If the microphone works generally, but the reader keeps failing on one specific sentence or phrase, the issue isn't your hardware—it's likely the complexity of that specific line.
We have a specific guide for fixing tricky lines, homophones, and formatting issues.
👉 Read: How to fix "Cue Not Recognized" errors
5. Download our mobile app
Do rule out the device problem - this happens in 90% of cases.
- Refresh the page: This resets the recognition engine.
- Restart the browser: If a refresh doesn't work, close and reopen your browser completely.
Still having trouble?
If you have checked your microphone, reduced noise, and refreshed the page but still can't get it to work:
- Check that your internet connection is stable.
- Try a different browser (Chrome and Safari are recommended).
- Contact support for further assistance.