Many reporters are exploring Speechmatics as an alternative or successor to Dragon. The experience is different: the engine behaves differently, the latency feels different, and the setup expectations are not identical. This guide explains what to expect so the transition feels controlled instead of chaotic.

How Speechmatics Differs from Dragon

Dragon runs locally on your system and has been tuned for years around court reporting workflows. Speechmatics is a newer engine that can run in the cloud or locally, depending on your setup. It handles audio, latency, and corrections differently than Dragon.

Key differences:

• Speechmatics often runs in the cloud by default
• Latency depends heavily on network conditions (for cloud use)
• Local Speechmatics requires stronger hardware than Dragon
• Correction and training workflows are not identical

What Stays the Same

Even though the engine changes, many parts of your workflow remain familiar. You still rely on clean audio, stable hardware, and a well‑tuned microphone. Your CAT software remains the center of your realtime work.

Common elements:

• High‑quality microphone and audio path
• Stable laptop and USB connections
• Consistent realtime habits and preparation
• Attention to latency and responsiveness

Managing Latency and Responsiveness

One of the biggest differences reporters notice when moving from Dragon to Speechmatics is how latency feels. Cloud Speechmatics depends on upload stability and network quality. Local Speechmatics depends on CPU performance and cooling.

If you experience lag, bursts, or delayed output, the solution may be network optimization (for cloud) or hardware optimization (for local).

Learn more about cloud vs local Speechmatics »

Microphone and Audio Expectations

Speechmatics, like Dragon, depends on clean, stable audio. A poorly positioned microphone, unstable USB connection, or noisy environment will hurt accuracy on any engine. When switching to Speechmatics, it is important to verify microphone placement, gain levels, and USB stability.

Review USB and audio stability guidance »

Do You Need New Hardware?

If you plan to use cloud Speechmatics only, your existing system may be sufficient as long as it is stable and well‑maintained. If you plan to run Speechmatics locally or use a Boost Box, hardware becomes much more important.

M‑Tech systems are designed for sustained realtime workloads, including local Speechmatics. If you are unsure whether your current laptop is ready for this transition, we can help you evaluate it.

Learn about hardware requirements for local Speechmatics »

Moving at Your Own Pace

You do not have to abandon Dragon overnight. Many reporters run both engines during a transition period, comparing behavior and building confidence. Our goal is to give you clear information so you can make decisions on your own timeline.

As Speechmatics continues to evolve, we will expand this guide with more specific tips, examples, and optimization steps.