Realtime lets you read the testimony as the witness speaks. The reporter's steno machine translates strokes into rough text that streams to your laptop or tablet within a second or two, so you can mark passages, flag inconsistencies, and prep your next question before the answer is even finished. It is one of the highest-leverage tools in a deposition, but it only works if your hardware and software are ready before the witness is sworn.
Here is how to set up cleanly so you spend the deposition reading testimony, not troubleshooting cables.
Realtime vs. CART vs. Rough Draft
These terms get used loosely, so know what you are actually ordering:
- Realtime feed: Live, unedited steno output streamed to your device during the proceeding. It contains untranslated words and errors but is searchable and markable on the spot.
- Rough draft (rough ASCII): The same uncertified text delivered as a file afterward, usually same-day. Useful but not live.
- CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation): The same technology used as an accommodation for deaf or hard-of-hearing participants, often displayed on a large screen.
When you book a reporter, ask specifically for "realtime to counsel" and confirm they have realtime certification or routinely provide it. Not every reporter writes realtime-ready; many do quality work but do not output a clean live feed. You can compare reporters' listed services and certifications for free on the courtreporter.co directory before you book.
What the Reporter Provides vs. What You Bring
The reporter brings the steno machine and the host software that broadcasts the feed. You bring the receiving device and a viewer.
There are two common ways the feed reaches you:
- Cloud / browser-based: The reporter uses a service that gives you a web link or session code. You join from any browser, no install required. This is now the most common method for both in-person and remote depositions.
- Local connection: A direct hookup over the room's Wi-Fi or a dedicated router the reporter sets up. Older setups occasionally still use a serial/USB bridge, but Wi-Fi has largely replaced cables.
Always email the reporting agency 24-48 hours ahead and ask: cloud or local, what link or app do I need, and is there a test you can run with me beforehand.
Software Options for Your Laptop
You have three practical paths:
- Browser-only (easiest): Services like the reporter's cloud platform stream straight to Chrome, Edge, or Safari. Nothing to install. Best for occasional users and remote depos.
- Dedicated viewer apps: Programs built for attorneys let you receive the feed, highlight, annotate, search, create issue codes, and timestamp marks tied to the transcript. These range from free or low-cost viewers to fuller annotation suites. Pricing varies widely and many offer trial or per-seat licensing, so confirm current terms with the vendor.
- Tablet apps: iPad apps are popular for reading and quick highlighting at the table. Lighter on annotation power than desktop tools but excellent for review.
If you only need to read and lightly mark, a browser or tablet app is plenty. If you build a deposition outline live and want exportable annotations, invest in a desktop viewer and learn it before the day you need it.
Laptop Prep Checklist
Do this the day before, not in the conference room:
- Charge fully and bring the charger. Realtime sessions plus a bright screen drain batteries fast.
- Update your browser and viewer app. Run any pending OS updates the night before so nothing reboots mid-session.
- Test your Wi-Fi adapter. Confirm you can join the room network or a hotspot. Bring a phone hotspot as backup.
- Disable auto-sleep and screen savers for the session length, and silence notifications.
- Pre-install and license your viewer and confirm your login works. Free trials sometimes lock features without warning.
- Do a dry run with the agency if they offer it. Five minutes of testing prevents an hour of lost realtime.
Connecting on Deposition Day
Arrive 15 minutes early and find the reporter before anyone sits down.
- Confirm the connection method and get the session link, code, or network name and password.
- Join the feed and verify you see live text when the reporter tests a few strokes.
- Set your font size and scroll behavior so you can read comfortably from your seat.
- Confirm where the feed will pause for breaks and whether you keep the file afterward.
If the feed drops mid-deposition, tell the reporter immediately and reconnect using the same link. The reporter's record is unaffected; only your view is interrupted. Most platforms let you rejoin and the backlog repopulates.
Reading Realtime Without Being Misled
Realtime is a rough translation, not the certified transcript. Keep that in mind:
- Untranslated steno appears as bracketed or garbled words. Do not quote the live feed as if it were final.
- Numbers, proper names, and technical terms are the most error-prone. Give the reporter spellings and a witness/exhibit list in advance to improve accuracy.
- For anything you intend to use in motion practice, wait for the certified transcript.
Used well, realtime sharpens your questioning, helps you catch evasive answers in the moment, and shortens post-deposition review. The setup is modest; the payoff is reading the record as it is made.
When you are choosing a reporter, you can search and compare professionals who offer realtime, CART, and same-day roughs for free on courtreporter.co.