Hello!  I'm new to PD and was wondering if i could get a "working start" - 
i'd like to someday be able to create a PD applet that can take audio input from a microphone and convert the sounds to text that can simultaneously be applied to a concurrently running program, like a word processor or a presentation program that accepts alpha-numeric input to trigger events.  Can someone create a PD example that does the following:
1.  echo Alpha/numeric characters based on variable pitch
2.  echo alpha/numeric characters based on volume
3.  echo alpha/numeric characters based on rhythm (ie, number of pulses per second or minute)
Sorry if this sounds simplistic - if i can see an example of a PD patch that can incorporate these elements, that will go a LONG way to helping me learn how to program PD on my own!
Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions, PD list!
-- 
Hugh Sung
www.hughsung.com
www.TabletPCMusician.com
www.musicmeetstech.com