Voice Recorder Workshop
UAA Adaptive Computing Lab - UAA Rasmuson Hall 103 - September 7, 2007

Common reasons to use a voice recorder and methods to enhance these approaches

Recording lectures and meetings

1) note of the time (how many minutes in) important content is stated so it’s easier to find later

2) produce a synopsis from the raw file

a) audio editing software allows for cutting and pasting of the audio itself

b) listening later helps with creating and/or fleshing out written notes (speech recognition is typically
not a good solution for lectures)

3) use good file management system such as naming files with subject and date if storing on computer

Creating notes to self

1) set aside time to go through daily notes

2) transfer information from daily notes to calendar or pda as needed

Dictating for later transcription with voice recognition software

1) dictate to voice recognition software live rather than transribing from recorder whenever possible

2) create training files specific to recorder

Examples of some of the features for two different models (these models are both used by DSS)

Model / Storage Capacity / Audio File Format / Microphone Settings / Recording Options / Playback Options / Indexing or Prioritizing
Sony
ICD-SX25 / 9-20 hr
99 mess in each of 3 folders
32MB / Records in DSS (Digital Speech Standard) which is highly compressed but requires DSS player. DSS can also be converted to wav for playback on the computer / Both directionality and sensitivity can be adjusted
external mic can be plugged in / Adding to an existing recording
Dividing and/or combining messages
Pause recording
(VOR ) voice operated recording starts and stops recording based on volume / Voice up amplifies speaker voice over background
(DPC) digital pitch control to adjust speed
Jump back 3 or forward 10 seconds at a time
Press A-B button to create start and end times / Priority markings load messages to the front of the folder in which they are stored
Olympus
WS-320 / 13-45 hr
199 files in each of 5 folders
1GB / Records in WMA and can be played with Windows Media Player or the free DSS Player Lite for index searching on the computer but also plays MP3 / Sensitivity can be adjusted (conf = high and dictation = low)
external mic can be plugged in / Pause recording
(VCVA) variable control voice actuator starts and stops recording based on volume (turns on when a set volume is reached and turns off when it is quiet) / Press Play while playing file to adjust speed
Press and hold OK to create start and end times for repeat playback
Enable auto backspace to review last 2 seconds with rewind button / Press the index button to create bookmarks within a recording

Please contact DSS with any questions. We are located in Rasmuson Hall 105 and our website is http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/dss. We can also be reached at 786-4530 or ka