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A CFS Cameo Presentation

by

John Edw. Gulow

Chatham, MA

“I shall be briefhowever long ittakes!!”

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• Background: Since its earliest versions, Windows has been provided with a neat user-friendly sound recording and editing utility called “Sound Recorder”. It is still available in Windows XP [and Vista]...and is much the same as first provided. This Cameo will provide an overview of some of its capabilities and uses. You’ll love it, and wonder why you haven’t used it more!

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• Windows 3.1 “Sound Recorder”...

Record

Go To End Play StopGo To Start

Slider

File TimeFile Place

SoundDisplay

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• The XP “Sound Recorder” Window...

Record

Go To End Play StopGo To Start

Slider

File TimeFile Place

SoundDisplay

• Vista Home “Sound Recorder”...

[Version 6.0]

• But…it can only record sound!!!

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File Time LengthStart/Stop Recording

Help

SoundDisplay

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• What XP Sound Recorder can do:– Record Sound input…as a “.WAV” file.

– Link/Merge WAV Sound files.

– Play WAV Sound files…

– Mix WAV Sound files…

– Add Effects to WAV Sound files…

– Edit WAV Sound files…

– Change/Convert WAV file Attributes.

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• You will need a Microphone/Headset

• Source: Radio Shack, K-Mart, etc.

$7.99 $9.99$14.95

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• Your PC likely has a Speaker set:

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• Your PC has I/O Multimedia Jacks:

• Color Coded Jacks…– Blue: “Line In” Audio Device Input

– Green: “Line Out” Output to Speakers

– Pink: Microphone Input

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• Your PC may have Front I/O Jacks:

• Color Coded Jacks Above…– Green: “Headset” Output Jack

– Pink: Microphone Input Jack

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• XP Sound Recorder has some limits:– 60 second record limit [except Vista].– “.WAV” file types only [except Vista].– File size depends on Attribute selected

• XP Sound Recorder has some plusses:– It’s FREE…comes with Windows thru XP.– Easy to use…virtually foolproof.– There are some “tricks” you can use!– May play some files WMP 9/11 won’t.

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• To Access XP “Sound Recorder”…– Click Windows “Start” button...

– Click “Programs” [or, “All Programs”]…

– Click “Accessories”…

– Click “Entertainment”…

– And then click “Sound Recorder”…

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• The XP Sound Recorder Window:

• Next, lets review menus..

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• “File” Menu...• New: Opens a new blank file.

• Open: Access an existing file.

• Save: Save to file current title.

• Save As: Save to a new title.

• Revert: Return to initial state.

• Properties: File info/Attributes

• Exit: Close Sound Recorder.

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• “Edit” Menu...• Copy: Copy current file

• Paste Insert: Insert at Slider

• Paste Mix: Mix at Slider

• Insert File: Add at Slider

• Mix with File: Play over file

• Delete Before…: Before Slider

• Delete After…: After Slider

• Audio Properties:For Play/Record

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• “Effects” Menu...

• Increase Volume: Play louder

• Decrease Volume: Play quieter

• Increase Speed: Play faster

• Decrease Speed: Play slower

• Add Echo: Add echo/reverb

• Reverse: Play backwards

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• “Help” Menu…and Help Topics:

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• Lets Demo 3 different tasks:

1. Record a simple voice message.

[Useful for many applications]

2. Merge 3 WAV audio files.

[To make 1 long WAV file]

3. Make a 5 minute File “template”.

[To avoid 60 second record limit]

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• To Record a Simple Voice Message:

1. Connect Microphone to PC I/O “Mic” jack.

2. Open Sound Recorder...

3. Click Red Record button to start.

4. Click Black Stop button to end.

5. To hear, click Play button...

6. Click FILE…click Properties…click Convert Now and choose Attributes…then click OK.

7. If OK, use “Save As…” to save recording.

• Sound Recorder

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• To Merge Existing WAV audio files.

You can make one long WAV sound file from say 3 [or more] WAV files...here’s how to do that.

1. Open Sound Recorder…Click Edit…click Insert File…and choose the WAV file and let load…click End.

2. Now, click Edit…click Insert File…and choose the 2nd WAV file and let load…click End...note file length!

3. Again, click Edit…click Insert File and choose the 3rd WAV file and let load…click End…note file length!

4. You can now use Save As… to save long file.

NOTE: There is NO 60 Second file length limit here!!!

• Sound Recorder

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• To Make a 5 Minute File Template.This is a “trick” used to record a file longer than 60 seconds by using this Template. You later record over the template file and use Save As… for a new long file.

1. Open Sound Recorder

2. With NO Mic connected, click Record button

3. At 55 seconds, click Stop button.

4. Now, click Record button…click Stop at 110

5. Repeat Record/Stop in 55 second increments to reach a 300+ second file time and use “Save As…” to save this as a Template file.

• Sound Recorder

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• Add Effects to a WAV sound file…1. Open Sound Recorder & load WAV file

2. Click Play button to listen…3. Click Effects…Add Echo…click Play.4. Click File…click Revert…click Yes.5. Click Effects…Reverse…click Play.6. Click File…click Revert…click Yes.7. You can Increase/Decrease Speed.8. You can Increase/Decrease Volume.

• Sound Recorder

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• You can Edit a WAV file…– You can Delete Before a file location

– You can Delete After a file location.

• You can Insert into a WAV file…– Adds selected 2nd file into existing.

• You can Mix two WAV files…– Plays selected 2nd file concurrently.

• Sound Recorder

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• Sound Recorder File “Format”:– Click File…then Properties…see:

Click “Convert Now…” button and see new “Sound Selection” dialog Box as shown below...

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• See “Format” options in listing:

• Only PCM format is uncompressed!

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• See “Attributes” options in listing:

• Attribute controls fidelity & file size

• Effect of Changing File Attribute:

• Select Attribute depending on sound.

• Sound Recorder

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Note: Sound File is my recorded voice and is 13.44 sec.

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• Effect of Changing File Attribute:

• Select Attribute depending on sound.

• Sound Recorder

Note: Tune is Glenn Miller’s “String of Pearls” and is 3:16.2 min.

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• How/Where To Get WAV Type Files:1. Record voice with Sound Recorder…or,

2. Use Windows Media Player [WMA or WAV]…or,

3. Download from Internet or CDs…or,

4. Use a “File Converter”…ie “Format Factory”• Format Factory is FREE…Internet download from:

http://www.FormatAtoZ.com [size: 14.5Mb]

5. There are commercial File Converters, but why buy when a good FREEWARE is available??

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• Sooo…In conclusion…

• XP Sound Recorder really works!

• XP Sound Recorder is pretty simple!

• XP Sound Recorder is pretty handy!

• XP Sound Recorder has plusses!

• Win: 3.x, 95, 98, ME & 2K are OK!

• And all you Vista users are “SOL”

“Format Factory”Slide 30 of 33

• A FREE utility that can convert most media file types into different file types. It supports converting between various Image, Audio and Video formats as well as converting Mobile formats and DVD / CD files. Check it out!!!

• Download [14.5 Mb] from:

http://www.formatatoz.com

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• Format Factory Opening Window:

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Format Factory has four option “Skins” that can

change the color scheme. The default Blue was changed to Onyx Black for better contrast.

Click Bar to select conversion for Video, Audio, Picture, Mobile Device or ROM Device

Click Icon to select file type conversion to a new type.

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• Format Factory Features…– Convert popular Video/Audio/Picture files

– Repair damaged Video/Audio files.

– Reduces multimedia file sizes.

– Supports iPod, iPhone, PSP, Blackberry

– Convert Pix with Zoom/Rotate/Flip/Tags

– Rips DVDs to video format files.

– It’s FREEWARE so just download & use.