Philips and OM System each offer a range of hand-held and hands-free dictation microphones. There are even some wireless options. All have microphones that are optimised for use with Speech Recognition software, and all have anti - microbial surfaces.
Checkout the Philips SpeechMike Premium Touch - the official successor to the Nuance PowerMic.
Going from room to room and dictating into different workstations? Have a look at the new Philips SpeechMike Ambient Wearable AI Assistant
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New Feature
New conversation mode for Philips SpeechMike Premium devices
What is the new conversation mode?
Conversation mode is part of the position control settings and adjusts the microphone depending on how the device is used:
· When the Philips SpeechMike Premium is placed on a desk, it switches to conversation mode
· When the device is picked up, it switches back to dictation mode
Key benefits
· Supports both dictation and ambient recording use cases with one device
· Enables a smooth transition towards Ambient Voice Technology without changing the user's way of working
· Reduces training and change management effort due to familiar usage
· Increases flexibility by covering multiple recording scenarios without reconfiguration
· Protects existing hardware investment and lowers total cost of ownership
How to configure
Conversation mode is enabled by default and can be configured in the following ways:
· Device hotkey: on the device by pressing F2 + F4 simultaneously for 5 seconds
· Via Philips SpeechControl Software 4.9
· Using Philips Remote Device Management Software (PRDM)
When using the device hotkey, repeatedly pressing and holding F2 + F4 for 5 seconds cycles through the available position control settings. The Record LED on the SpeechMike Premium indicates the currently selected mode:
· Conversation mode enabled → LED lights up amber for 1 second
· Microphone mute mode enabled (conversation mode is disabled) → LED lights up red for 1 second
· Position control disabled (conversation mode is disabled) → LED lights up green for 1 second
Firmware update
To use this feature, the device must be updated to the required firmware version (3.87 for Philips SpeechMike Premium / Premium Touch, 4.74 for Philips SpeechMike Premium Air). Automatic firmware upgrades can be performed via:
· Philips SpeechControl Software (Download here)
· Philips Remote Device Management Software (PRDM)
Compatibility
This feature is available for the following devices manufactured after June 2021:
· Philips SpeechMike Premium LFH3500 Series with serial number ≥ 594585x
· Philips SpeechMike Premium Touch SPM3700/3800 Series with serial number ≥ 149890x
· Philips SpeechMike Premium Air SMP4000 Series with serial number ≥ 50001x
Here is a comparison chart for the top desktop dictation microphones on the market.
| Model | Slide Switch/Push Button | Trackball or Touch? | Internal Memory | Microphone Type | Suitable for use with Speech Recognition software? | Hygienic casing? | Hands free - docking station | Wearable - neck strap or magnetic clip | Wireless or Bluetooth | Wireless range - distance from dongle or cradle |
| OM System RM-4110N | Slide Switch | Trackball | n/a | intelligent 2- microphone system with 3- layer pop filter | yes | yes | yes | no | no | n/a |
| OM System RM-4010N | Push Button | Trackball | n/a | intelligent 2- microphone system with 3- layer pop filter | yes | yes | yes | no | no | n/a |
| OM System RM-4010P | Push Button | Trackball | n/a | intelligent 2- microphone system with 3- layer pop filter | yes | yes | yes | no | no | n/a |
| OM System RM-4015P | Push Button | Trackball | 8GB | intelligent 2- microphone system with 3- layer pop filter | yes | yes | yes | no | no | n/a |
| Philips LFH3200 SpeechMike III Pro | Push Button | Trackball | n/a | Noise cancelling microphone | yes | yes | no | no | no | n/a |
| Philips LFH3500 SpeechMike Pro Premium Push Button | Push Button | Trackball | n/a | Free floating, decoupled microphone | yes | yes | no | no | no | n/a |
| Philips LFH3510 SpeechMike Pro Premium Slide Switch | Slide Switch | Trackball | n/a | Free floating, decoupled microphone | yes | yes | no | no | no | n/a |
| Philips SMP3700 SpeechMike Premium Touch Push Button | Push Button | Touch | n/a | Decoupled studio quality microphone with optimised microphone grille and built in noise reduction filter | yes | yes | no | no | no | n/a |
| Philips SMP3710 SpeechMike Premium Touch Slide Switch | Slide Switch | Touch | n/a | Decoupled studio quality microphone with optimised microphone grille and built in noise reduction filter | yes | yes | no | no | no | n/a |
| Philips SMP4000 SpeechMike Premium Air Push Button | Push Button | Touch | n/a | Studio quality, decoupled free-floating microphone with built in triple layer nose reduction filter | yes | yes | yes | no | Wireless - docking station | 5m |
| Philips SMP4010 SpeechMike Premium Air Slide Switch | Slide Switch | Touch | n/a | Studio quality, decoupled free-floating microphone with built in triple layer nose reduction filter | yes | yes | yes | no | Wireless - docking station | 5m |
| Philips PSM5000 SpeechMike Ambient - Wearable AI Assistant | Push Button | Touch | n/a | four high performance beam forming microphones | yes | yes | yes | yes | Bluetooth - dongle | 25m |