Module programming using the QV430P adapter and QV300s2 software

Transcription

1 Quadravox Module programming using the QV430P adapter and QV300s2 software Hardware Requirements: - IBM-compatible computer. - 32MB RAM (64MB for NT) - Pentium 166 processor or higher - 1.5MB free hard drive space (plus space for additional project storage) - 16bit 44kHz stereo capable sound card - QV430P programming adapter - Stereo M-M 1/8 (3.5mm) phone plug audio cable - DB9 RS232 M-F modem cable - 12V regulated power supply, 5mm barrel, 2.1mm positive pin, for QV301m2/m3 modules - 9VDC 200mA supply, 5mm barrel, 2.1mm positive pin, for QV301m4 or QV306m4 modules - 8 ohm speaker with 1/8 (3.5mm) phone plug. - QV301m2, m3, or m4, or QV306m4 target module - Microphone, if local recordings are to be made. The microphone can be any type designed for use with a PC sound card. For your convenience, a list of suitable components from Radio Shack is at the end of this document. Software Requirements: - Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 operating system - QV300s2 software (latest version always available from - standard Windows recorder function (sndrec32.exe)

2 Recording Overview: The QV300s2 software manages collections of.wav format sound files and transfers these files to the modules. The sound files can be created on your PC using standard Windows utility programs, or can be imported from other sources. Connecting the QV430P to the PC: 1. Connect the power supply to a wall socket and the jack at the rear of the QV430P board. The m4 modules can operate with a low-current 9V supply equipped with a center-positive barrel plug designed for a 2.1mm pin. For the m2 and m3 modules a 12VDC, 800mA filtered supply is needed. 2. Connect the m-m stereo audio cable from the line out jack on your sound card to the SOUND CARD LINE OUT jack on the QV430P. The jumper adjacent to this jack should normally be in the LEFT position. In very rare cases, the sound card may place the left channel on the ring of the plug and it be necessary to move the jumper to the RIGHT position. If you are using a laptop computer, be aware that some have jacks for headsets which combine a microphone and monaural speaker(s). You will need to use instead the stereo output for speakers for this connection. 3. Connect QV301 modules to the QV430P using the supplied flat cable. Please note that correct connection of the units will have the QV301 upside down relative to the QV430P. The QV306 module plugs into either row of the 16 pin in-line SIP connector. Only one module type can be programmed in any one session. 4. Connect the 8 ohm speaker to the speaker jack on the QV430P if you are programming a QV306 module or directly to the speaker jack mounted on the QV301 modules. If recordings are to be made locally, connect the microphone to the PC s microphone input. If you are using existing.wav files, this step is unnecessary. QV430P with QV301m2 attached (QV301m3, m4 similar)

3 QV430P with QV306m4 attached Creating Messages: The QV300s2 software uses messages stored in the standard Windows.wav format. These messages can be recorded locally using the Recorder utility built into all Windows operating systems, or they can be imported from other sources. Almost all professional recording studios can deliver data in the form of.wav files. Recording messages using the PC: You will first need to set the Windows Sound Recorder to a suitable format. This will be done only once. You can then use Sound Recorder and the microphone to create new files. You may find it necessary to adjust the level of the recording to suit your microphone. If you don t use the PC for other recording functions, this setting, too, need be done only once. To set the recording format: 1. Locate the Sound Recorder utility program and open it. In most installations this will be found under Programs/Accessories/Entertainment/Sound Recorder. The executable file name is sndrec32.exe should you need to search for it. 2. With the Sound Recorder open, use the File menu item, then press the Properties button. 3. In the Properties dialog (the heading will be Sound Selection) set the Format to PCM and the Attributes to 11025Hz, 16bit, mono. The selection Choose from can be All formats or Recording Formats. 4. Press OK to return to the main Sound Recorder dialog. You are now ready to make a recording.

4 To record a file: 1. Open Sound Recorder. 2. When you re ready, press the record button (red dot) and begin speaking. 3. When you re finished, press the stop button (black square). 4. Use File/Save As to name this new file and place it in the appropriate directory. 5. If you find that the level of the recording is too high (saturated or distorted) or too low (faint with noticeable background hiss) adjust the recording level using the Windows Mixer. To adjust the recording level: 1. Open the Windows Mixer. This is usually found in the task bar as a yellow speaker icon. You can also find it under Programs/Accessories/Entertainment/Volume Control. The file name is sndvol32.exe. You will need to double click the icon in the task bar to see the complete dialog. 2. Under Options/Properties, be sure the Recording button is checked and that all available inputs are displayed. 3. Disable all inputs except the microphone. This will reduce the chance of adding background noise from unused input. 4. Use the microphone slider to adjust the volume. You can keep this program open during recording to make it easier to adjust the level. Importing.wav files for use with the Quadravox Software: The QV300s2 software is very flexible and will accept virtually any.wav format. However, to achieve the best possible recordings some limitations apply: - files should be PCM format (the.wav extension also covers ADPCM coding) - files should be 16bit - the file sample rate should equal or exceed 8000Hz The minimum standard Windows format that meets all these requirements is 11025Hz, 16bit, mono. You can use stereo files, but be aware that only the left channel will be recorded. You can use 8 bit files, but the resulting recording will be slightly noisier than with 16 bit files. You can use higher sample rates, but the system will discard any information above 4kHz (equivalent to 8kHz sampling) Managing projects and recording with the QV300s2 software: The 300s2 software has two main functions- it allows you to select, organize (i.e. order), and save groups of files as data sets, and it manages the Windows sound system to record files on the QV30x modules with accurate timing and placement. If you need to duplicate a module, you need only recall the project and press the Record All button. System setup: Press the System Setup tab to bring up the setup dialog. 1. Set the com port to the one you ve used for the QV430P cable. Some PC BIOS setups require you to explicitly select a port address instead of using auto. Some PC s have the usual Com1 dedicated to an internal modem and put Com2 on the connector instead. 2. Set the module type to the family you are programming. Please note that the QV531 is MP3 based and none of the instructions in this manual apply. 3. Set Autonormalize to ensure that all files are automatically brought up to the same peak level. This is done at recording time and DOES NOT modify your files. 4. Use the Start Delay function to adjust for some sound cards that are slow to produce sound. Labtec USB speakers are an example.

5 Data setup: Press the Data Setup tab. To load an existing data set (or initially, the sample data set), use the Load Data Set button and select the desired.tbl file. To create a new data set, press the New Data Set button. The window will be cleared and ready to Add Files. Files can be multiply selected and added in any order. After all files are in the list, you can organize them by dragging and dropping the file names. Message 1 is the first on the list and all others follow in order. The Remaining Time window shows how much of the chip capacity remains. You may notice that even a blank project shows some time used. This is to cover overhead needed by the controller. To delete a file, either select it (them) and use Remove Files, or use the right button to click on the file name. When you have the files you desire in the correct order, use the Save Data Set button to select a name and directory for the project. All projects have a.tbl extension. Hardware view tab: The purpose of the hardware view page is to illustrate the RS232 message traffic during operation. For each module type a list of available instructions will appear. Single-clicking on an item in this list will show the RS232 command. Double-clicking will execute the command. The data return window shows the value (if any) returned by the module following the operation. QV301 modules used in direct-triggering modes do not use RS232 communications. Recording and testing data: Press the Record/Playback tab. There are only three buttons available in this dialog. - The Record All button will cause all files to be transferred in order to the chip. You must record all files at one time for the controller to be able to find them. If you stop during the process, you ll have to restart from the beginning. - Play All is used as a convenient way to hear all the files in order. Double clicking on any file name will cause just that file to be played. - Stop stops playback immediately and recording after the current file completes. The ISD ChipCorder devices used in the QV30x modules are capable of producing telephone quality recordings (equivalent to 8kHz and roughly 8 bit digital recordings). They are best suited to voice, but can record anything provided you accept the bandwidth and precision limitations. Be aware that if you use the suggested 11025Hz 16bit file format (or better) the sound heard during recording will be somewhat better than the best obtainable from the chip. The suggested file format is the nearest standard format that does not impose its own limitations on the recording. You should expect the sound to be clear with only a slight background hiss in quiet sections. If you hear obvious distortion or the sound is faint with lots of static, the recording level must be adjusted using the Windows mixer. In this case, and perhaps contrary to logic, the Windows playback mixer must be used because from the PC s perspective the process is actually a play function. To achieve the best results, set the playback mixer properties to show all inputs and then disable all except the master volume and the Wave input. Windows reads the control names from the sound card manufacturer s driver software so the labels may vary on your PC. Turning off unused inputs to the playback mixer will eliminate extraneous noise being added to the sound. If the sound you hear is weak and fuzzy, increase the level and try again. If it is distorted or muffled, decrease the level. The play volume and recording level are independent, so it is possible to have a quiet file that is still distorted or a loud one that is fuzzy.

6 Radio Shack part numbers for required hardware: Please note that these selections are representative. There are many acceptable alternatives even within Radio Shack s line. Audio cable: a RS232 cable: V supply: w/ plug (type K) 12V supply: w/ plug (type K) Speaker: this product is actually a stereo set. Small extension speakers like this are the type most commonly available with a 1/8 phone plug connection. When used with our modules, only the left channel will play. Microphone: