The Extended Recorder

Introduction

Starting the Extended Recorder

Making a Recording

Adding the Recording Control

Playing an Audio File

Adding the Volume Control and Mixer

MENU COMMANDS

File Menu

Options Menu

Help Menu


Introduction

The Extended Recorder is designed as a tool for recording meetings, conversations, and dictation.

Like the Audio Recorder, the Extended Recorder records, compresses, stores, and plays voice, music, and other sound.  Unlike the Audio Recorder, the Extended Recorder compresses and stores the audio file directly to your hard disk, using on-chip ESPCM compression.  The recording time is limited only by the hard disk space available.

The Extended Recorder can record to and playback from both PCM and .AUD formats.  PCM is the Microsoft Windows 3.1 audio file format.  The .AUD format developed by ESS uses ESPCM compression to produce an audio file.

The Extended Recorder provides a choice of linear PCM (8 or 16 bits) and ESPCM low (4 bits) compression.

Warning:  Because of the large data transfer involved, recording at a high data rate (for example, 16 bit stereo at 44 kHz) can overwhelm your computer, especially if your machine is a 386 or has a slow hard disk drive.  This may cause a loss of audio during recording and playback.


Starting the Extended Recorder

Open the Audio Applications program group and double-click the Extended Recorder icon. The Extended Recorder window appears.

The record, play, and stop buttons enable you to start and stop recording and playback.

The  Extended Recorder's status boxes show:

- the name of the current audio file

- the current location and total length of the audio file in minutes and seconds

- the audio file length in megabytes

- the sample rate

- mono or stereo

- bits per sample

- the amount of free disk space and recording time available


File Menu

New creates a new audio file and opens up the File Attributes dialog box, where you can set the sampling rate, the bits per sample, and whether to record in mono or stereo.

Open displays the Open dialog box, from which you can select an audio file to bring into the Extended Recorder.

Save As saves the audio file with the name and in the location you specify.  Click the Read Only box to prevent recording over the audio file.

Exit closes the Extended Recorder.


Options Menu

Temp. File Directory enables you to set the hard drive location for the .TMP files that the Extended Recorder creates while recording.  When you save an audio file, its .TMP file is copied to the name and location you specify.

To use Voice Activation, click the check box in front of Pause Recording After.  Voice Activation will pause the recording when there is no input from the recording source, but only after the amount of time set in Seconds of Silence has passed.  Recording will resume when input from the recording source resumes.

Expanded View enlarges the Extended Recorder window to show the length of the recording, the sample rate, mono or stereo, bits per sample, and the amount of free disk space and recording time available.


Help Menu

Contents displays a list of topics you can choose for information on the Extended Recorder.

About Extended Recorder gives the version number and copyright information.


Making a Recording

1.  Open the File menu and select New.  Set the new audio file attributes and click OK.

2.  Click the Record button, then speak into the microphone or turn on the line-in source.

3.  Click the Stop button to end the recording.

4.  Select Save As from the File menu.  In the Save As dialog box, choose a directory location, type a name for the audio file, then click OK to save it.  Click the Read Only check box to prevent recording over the audio file.


Adding the Recording Control

If your hardware includes a mixer, you can use the Recording Control window to regulate the mix of audio from several sources.  If you do not open the Recording Control window, the Extended Recorder uses the source settings previously in effect.

To display the Recording Control, double-click its icon in the Audio Applications program group.


Playing an Audio File

1.  Load an audio file into the Extended Recorder.  It can be a recording you have just made, or choose Open (File menu) to load a file.

2.  Click the Extended Recorder's Play button to hear the audio file.  The file will play to the end unless you interrupt it by choosing the Stop button.

You don't have to play an audio file from the beginning.  Use the scroll bar to select any place in the file to begin playing.


Adding the Volume Control and Mixer

To regulate the playback sound level or stereo balance, open the Volume Control window.

To mix the audio file with other sound sources, open the Mixer window.