Re: Evaluation update
- From: "Ken Buxton" <kenbu@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ptr1-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:40:10 -0800
MessageSay there Jamey; Are you the newfoundlander I used to talk to some
time? Long time no see/punn not intended grin; Ken Buxton in Toronto. phone;
647-438-1000
----- Original Message -----
From: Jamie Cuthbertson
To: ptr1-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 12:11 PM
Subject: RE: Evaluation update
Daveed,
One thing that has just occurred to me is that I am not sure whether the
Pocket records and creates DAISY 3.0 content or DAISY 2.02 content. If it is
DAISY 3.0, it is likely that the PRS software will not work with it. If the
Pocket creates DAISY 2.02 content, you should be OK.
Can anyone confirm the type of DAISY content that the Pocket creates?
Jamie
-----Original Message-----
From: ptr1-users-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ptr1-users-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Daveed Mandell
Sent: 13 January 2009 13:36
To: ptr1-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Evaluation update
So all this means I should end up with separate files for each section, as if
I had marked them using a mainstream digital recorder without Daisy? Thanks.
I'll try this with my new Pocket when it arrives. I assume I must install
the PRS using my PTR2, but will be able to use it with my Pocket?
Thanks so much.
----Daveed Mandell--
At 02:22 PM 1/12/2009, you wrote:
Daveed,
See the instructions below which were copied from the PRS manual.
Jamie
14.3 Audio Export
The "Audio Export" feature allows you to convert the audio format of an
existing DAISY project to an audio format you specify. This is done by creating
a new DAISY project which has your chosen audio format, whilst the existing
project remains unaffected.
To run the "Audio Export" process, do the following:
a.. Select the "Tool" menu from the Menu Bar or press "Alt+T".
b.. Select the "Audio Export" option from the drop down menu or press "E".
c.. You will then be asked to specify the audio format for the new
project. Select one of the audio formats from the list provided and press
"Enter".
d.. Because the process creates a new project, you will then be presented
with a dialogue box which requires you to specify a project name and location
for the exported project. Select a suitable project name and press the "Save"
button.
e.. A confirmation dialogue box will appear. Press "Enter" to confirm or
"Escape" to cancel.
f.. If you accept the new project name, you will then be asked to confirm
the export process. Press "Enter" to start the export or "Escape" to cancel.
g.. After the export is complete, you will be asked to confirm that you
want to open the new project. Press "Enter" to open the project or "Escape" to
keep the old project on screen.
h..
i.. Note: During the export process, the Voice Guidance will regularly
say "Running". If you wish to check the percentage progress, press "F12" or
"F9".
-----Original Message-----
From: ptr1-users-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [
mailto:ptr1-users-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Daveed Mandell
Sent: 12 January 2009 03:35
To: ptr1-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Evaluation update
If someone wouldn't mind going through the steps for Audio Export, I[d be
most grateful. This can be done privately, of course, if desired. Thanks very
much.
--Daveed--
At 06:46 AM 1/11/2009, you wrote:
The only problem I have here is that the transfer software, unless
something has changed with it, only installs on systems with a PTR1 or PTR2
connected to them. Hence, this tool does not seem available to new owners of
the Pocket exclusively. Since I've sold my PTR2, I'll lose it if my computer
crashes. The audio export feature is a handy one.
Dean
From: ptr1-users-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [
mailto:ptr1-users-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jamie Cuthbertson
Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2009 5:33 AM
To: ptr1-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Evaluation update
Gary and Daveed,
Further to what Gary says, if you use the Plextalk Recording Software
that comes with both the PTR1 and PTR2, you can first of all do your editing
and then, by performing an audio export, you can end up with a new .WAV or .MP3
file which only contains the audio that you want.
The audio export feature takes account of all the editing that you've
done and will create a unique audio file for each section in the recording.
Once this has been done properly, you can then pass on the files for
playback on other devices e.g. an ordinary MP3 player.
Hope this helps.
Jamie
-----Original Message-----
From: ptr1-users-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [
mailto:ptr1-users-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gary Schindler
Sent: 10 January 2009 20:48
To: ptr1-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Evaluation update
I don't know a work around other than transferring the main file and
editing it on a computer. this is the only drawback I see to this machine. you
can make excellent edits on the PT-1 but unless you have another daisy machine
to play them on, it isn't much good when you want to provide persons with split
files who don't have a daisy player.
----- Original Message -----
From: Daveed Mandell
To: ptr1-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2009 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: Evaluation update
Yes, yoyu bring up a very important ppoint. I need to be able to
obtain files in .wav form with the edits I make on the Plextalk. Regrettably,
Plextalk doesn't allow this, and it should. Is there any way at all around
this problem? Thanks.
---I don't want to dub material from one machine onto my computer.
That's now really passee and shouldn't be necessary at all.
Thanks.
--Daveed--
At 03:16 AM 1/9/2009, you wrote:
I would like to add that the built-in microphone on the pocket Plextalk
does a superb job, better than I expected. my wife was in another room of the
house, and she was picked up like she was in the same room.
(caution) when using the audio setting when recording, make sure there
is enough line level to keep the recorder recording. I connected the PT-1 to
the board out on my churches mixer/PA system. it is always weak no matter where
you set the pot. what happened was that I got 30 seconds of the choir
practicing,. the machine stopped recording, and eventually powered off.
never owning a plextalk of any kind before, I found that when you make
your edits from one large MP3 or Wave file, the SMIL files are made, but the
MP3 or Wave file remains in tact when you build a book when you make several
recordings within a title, all the files remain the same but the smil files
direct how the title should play. I haven't figured out how to record my
precise edits onto an audio compact disc other than recording from the plextalk
to the computer using the sound card, using Sound forge or Goldwave.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Cuta" <cuta@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ptr1-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 12:37 AM
Subject: Evaluation update
Now, after 4 weeks of use and comments from other users, I have some
additions and corrections to make to my previous appraisel of the PT
Pocket.
* Editing is not limited to adding & removing heading marks. You can
delete individdual titles or individual sections or any sequential
group of sections within a dasy recorded file.
* movement by time starts at 5 seconds and ramps up as you hold down
the
advance butten. (I had reported that it was initially 10 seconds)
* I confused some readers with my discussion of the need for an
accessible quick start guide. The manual does come on CD in both word
and plain text format -- you just need a computer to read it unless you
already know how to startup and begin using the PT Pocket.
* As far as I know there are as yet no user keys available to make
possible the playback of protected reading materials from either the
Library of congress or from Recordings for the Blind.
* I have performed extensive tests with the audio inputs and outputs
and
find the associated electronics to be either comperable or superior
to
those in both of the previous Plextalk models. Music reproduction is
excellent.
* the PT Pocket permits you to choose to manually control recording
level even when using the internal microphone. (on previous models
manual recording level was restricted to use with external inputs.
* time compression during playback is really not functional for much of
the externally provided material that I have tested. However I have
taken the speed setting all of the way up to level 8 when obtaining
internal information (the 5 key on the keypad) with very
satisfactory results.
Previous evaluation:
Well I have had my Pocket a week now and it is one beautiful little
marvel. Here is a preliminary short appraisal. First, let me mention
a couple of other products that you are more familiar with -- the
Plextalk PTR 2 and the Humanware Stream. I heard that as well as being
a player the Pocket was going to incorporate most of the more
powerful recording capability of the PTR 2. In short , it does. And
the package is smaller in all 3 dimensions than the Stream. It feels
silky and extremely sensual just to hold this diminutive little item
in your hand.
It is a powerful recorder with all of the same recording modes that you
are used to on the PTR2. You can enable or disable auto recording
level
and while recording you can choose to enable monitoring of the signal
or
audible level annunciation on the fly. You can also add headings on
the
fly or after the fact. While recording you can monitor battery level,
confirm that you are recording (not paused) and obtain time recorded
and
time remaining information. Editing is very limited, basically to
adding and removing heading marks . However, it features two powerful
new processing options that should compliment its ability to move files
from SD to thumb drive and from thumb drive to SD. These permit you to
process files that you create so they will play on other players and to
process material from other recorders for editing on the pocket. I
have yet to explore these features but they look promising.
The unit has Only a single input jack but it is switchible for either
microphone or line level. I have always been annoyed by the input
characteristics of the preamp and built in microphone on my PTR 2.
No
such problem exists on the pocket. In fact I love the built in
microphone.
Playback on the Pocket can be navigated by character, word, phrase
paragraph, book mark, heading levels, time and a new method by
percentage of the total length. Of course which of these options is
available to you is predetermined by the format of the file you are
reading. The pocket features both a built in male and female text
to
speech voice. The female is the default and it is excellent.
The buttons on the Pocket are not too small -- its been cold out and
I
have been able to operate it while wearing leather gloves. Speaking of
buttons and switches it has 24 just 5 less than the PTR 2. Even so an
operation like adding a heading mark to an existing file which has a
dedicated key on the PTR 2 takes exactly the same number of keystrokes
on the Pocket even though the option is selected off a menu. This is
great engineering!
Time to list desired improvements. The most obvious is the lack of a
case. It comes with a pouch but it really needs a skin to protect it
while it is being used. Also, when you receive it you get only a
print quick start
guide and a CD. Its up to you as a totally blind person to struggle
through getting started. And if you do not have a computer you are
kind
of stuck. Of course the lack of a box running Microsoft's finest is
not one of my personal deficiencies but I resisted reading the manual
on the computer -- I was too eager to start using the pocket. As soon
as I found someone to assist me with the quick start guide I copied the
manual from the CD to a thumb drive and from the thumb drive to the
pockets SD card. A Braille quick start guide or cassette guide like
the
one I received with my PTR 2 from IRTI would be a great improvement.
A
feature that I appreciated in version 2 of the PTR software was an
annunciation of available recording time that changed respectively as
you cycled through the various recording qualities/modes. On the
Pocket
this has been replaced with the respective bandwidth spec. This is
much
less functional and of little use to the average user. Navigation by
time on the PTR2 can be set to 1 minute and ten minute increments which
I have grown to love. On the Pocket it can not be fixed at a specific
value and instead changes on the fly but always starts at ten seconds
and increases as you hold down the control. I find this a little
cumbersome. Lastly the Pocket lacks the ability to create page marks.
I actually regularly use this feature on my PTR 2. Not for page
numbering but as another powerful way of marking information for future
reference. It is a reference mark that is saved when you backup.
Price $360 or a little less.
Frank cuta
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