A stenotype machine looks similar to a typewriter but works differently – data is entered phonetically and the software within the machine translates sounds into readable text. This allows court reporters to type at speeds fast enough to keep up with the pace of human speech.The stenotype machine has a keyboard, where the keys are phonetic sounds instead of individual letters, helping to maximize typing speed and recorded intonations. Court reporters press multiple keys at once to ensure the proper sound and inflection are noted.