Abstract: The invention is a device for controlling a sound reproduction transcriber which provides alternate playback intervals and stopped intervals. The playback interval length in words and the average word reproduction rate are manually selectable by a secretary or instructor. The device meters the reproduced words during the playback interval and initiates the stopped interval at the first audio pause after the selected number of words have been played back. The required total cycle time is computed by effectively dividing the number of words played back during the playback interval by the selected average word reproduction rate. A timer, which counts the time elapsed since the playback interval was initiated, has its counted time compared to the computed total cycle time so that the stopped interval is terminated, the circuit is reset and the playback interval is again initiated upon coincidence of the computed time and the elapsed time.