V-9908 Message Page Panel Programming Utility

Transcription

1 General V-9908 Message Page Panel Programming Utility The Message Page Panel Programmer (MCPP.exe) is a Windows Tool used to record phrases for the Message Page Panel (V-9908), to save the digitized audio to a file, and to transfer the message file (.VCI) to/from the Message Page Panel (V-9908). The program also has an option to import professionally recorded (8k, 8 bit ulaw).wav files. Hardware Requirements A serial port is required to transfer data to/from the Message Page Panel (V-9908). If not available, a USB to serial port adapter may be required. A properly configured sound card with the appropriate microphone is required to preview or record messages. Starting the Message Control Page Utility The installation program (MCPPSetup.exe) will place a Message Control Page Panel Utility entry, with a microphone icon, in the computer s Programs menu. To bring up the program press Start on the taskbar, select Programs, and select Message Control Page Panel Utility. Connections To use the Message Control Page Panel Programmer to transfer a.vci file you must connect the supplied NULL Modem cable between the PC s serial port and the DB9 connector on the Message Page Panel board. The end with the right-angle connector, marked VCS, must be connected to the Message Page Panel. Program Cable Connection 1

2 Main Window Create New Message File 1. Start the Message Page Panel Programming Tool 2. Highlight first message position 3. Click Edit button 4. Click Record button It is important to have the microphone gain adjusted correctly when recording. During recording, the signal level should come close too, or just reach, the red level on the meter. Microphone gain is adjusted with the Mixer controls that were installed with your sound card. The mixer is typically accessed by right clicking on the speaker (volume) icon on the task bar. Suggestion: Speaking across the microphone at approximately 45 degrees often gives better recording quality than speaking directly into it. 5. After recording the message click Stop. 6. To listen to the recorded message, click Play. 7. To re-record the message, click Record 8. To accept the recording click OK 9. After all messages have been recorded click Save to name file and store. NOTE: A Total of 8.5 Minutes of Storage Is Available for Message Recording. 2

3 Loading an Existing Message File into the Programming Tool 1. Start the Message Page Panel Programming Tool 2. Click on Load Image File (or from the Tool File menu select Open 3. Locate, select and open the new.vci file Updating the System with Message Changes When the Message Panel Programmer has been used to create a new or modified.vci file, you must perform the following to fully implement the changes: 1. Connect a NULL Modem cable between the PC s serial port and the DB9 connector on Page Message Panel PC Board 2. Start the Message Page Panel Programming Tool 3. Use the Message Panel Programmer to transfer the.vci file to the message panel by clicking Read/Write Unit, then click Write Unit 4. After the message transfer is complete, close programming tool and disconnect the cable. Downloading Messages from Message Panel 1. Connect a NULL Modem cable between the PC s serial port and the DB9 connector on Page Message Panel PC Board 2. Start the Message Page Panel Programming Tool 3. Use the Message Panel Programmer to transfer the.vci file to the message panel by clicking Read/Write Unit, then click Read Unit 4. After the message transfer is complete messages may be changed using the Edit function. 5. When changes are complete Save the file and use Read/Write to write the file back to the unit. 3

4 Main Window File Options Load Image File Read a saved voice file into the tool for editing or sending to the Page Message Panel. Save Image File Save your modifications to the same or a new file. Read / Write Unit This opens a new window: Unit Communications, used to transfer a voice file to or from the Page Message Panel. Print Image Data Prints a list of message names, Length in Bytes, Duration in Seconds and message play count (1 9, continuous). Print Labels Prints a list of message names used to label the message buttons. Close Exit the program. Preview Highlight a message name in the Message box, select Preview to listen to the highlighted message. Edit This opens a new window: Edit Message, used to record, or re-record, a message. Delete Highlight a message name in the Message box, then select Delete to remove the highlighted message. Import WAV Import a pre-recorded message. The message will be imported to the highlighted location in the message box. The message to be imported must be a.wav file saved in 8k, 8 bit, ulaw format. Export WAV Make a copy of the highlighted message, in the form of a.wav file. This could be used to save a copy of a message before deleting it from the.vci file, or to make a copy to import into another system. Note: Exporting a message does not remove it from the programmer or.vci file 4

5 Edit Message Window Message Options Message Name Name a new message, or rename an existing message. Play Count Sets the number of times for selected message to play (1 9 times or continuous). Recording level meter Use in conjunction with your sound card s audio mixer program to optimize the recording level. Record / Stop Press to begin recording a message. Press again to stop. It is important to have the microphone gain adjusted correctly when recording. During recording, the signal level should come close too, or just reach, the red level on the meter. Microphone gain is adjusted with the Mixer controls that were installed with your sound card. The mixer is typically accessed by right clicking on the speaker (volume) icon on the task bar. Suggestion: Speaking across the microphone at approximately 45 degrees often gives better recording quality than speaking directly into it. Play / Stop Press to listen to the recording. Press again to stop. Make Silence Creates a completely silent phrase. Append File Append the file Append Recording Append the recording by adding audio OK Accept changes and exit the window. Cancel Exit the window without saving any changes. Settings Advanced options that should not need to be changed. 5

6 Unit Communications Window File Transfer Options Com: Port Select the COM: port connected to the Message Page Panel. Baud Rate The baud rate should remain set to Even at this rate, transfer of a full data file can take several minutes. Read Unit Read the voice data file from the Message Page Panel. Write Unit Write the current data to the Message Page Panel. Sectors Shows the read/write progress. Modem Status CTS must be green during file transfer. Status Bar The Status Bar (bottom of window) will display informational messages about the status of the Voice Chip, such as Ready, Reading, Erasing, and Programming. Checkbox Options These selections are primarily for testing use, and should be left unchecked: Write one sector at a time Disable Timeouts Change system default setting 6