[Dtb-talk] converting Victor Reader Stream Note files

Tue Feb 16 23:56:44 UTC 2010

Hello Grover and list,

If you are playing the Stream's .3gp audio file format on an NLS player, you 
need not convert the files.  The audio .3gp file format plays nicely on the 
NLs player.  You can place those files in the root directory of a thumb 
drive or cartridge I'm pretty certain is the case if the file is on the 
media by itself.  If this audio file is included with other books, it will 
need to be in a folder called audio+podcasts and read this letter by letter. 
This is true whether we discuss .3gp, .mp3 or .wpa files or any other file 
types the NLS player will work with.  Text files requiring a TTS engine will 
not work.

My wife was considering sending some recipes to a friend on an NLs 
cartridge.  I told her she would need to record the recipe in her own voice 
so it would play on the player.  I became curious so recorded two note files 
which played beautifully on the advanced NLS player.  I could navigate to 
each file with no problems. Those audio files I recorded were the only files 
in the root of my thumb drive at the time.

I haven't heard this discussed since I've been on this list so thought I'd 
discuss my observations.  I'm certain this is old hat to you veterans to 
this new technology.

HTH and thanks for reading!

Jim

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grover Zinn" <grover.zinn at oberlin.edu>
To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 10:50 AM
Subject: [Dtb-talk] converting Victor Reader Stream Note files

> Mention of converting VR Stream note files leads me to ask a question:
>
> I use a Mac, which means I cannot use the companion software (unless I 
> also run Windows on the Mac, which I would prefer not to do).
>
> Does anyone know of aMac  utility that will convert the notes files to 
> MP3 files?  I've looked but had no luck
>
> Thanks in advance for any information.
>
> Grover Zinn
>
> Grover Zinn
> Oberlin, OH 44074
> grover.zinn at oberlin.edu
>
>
>
> On Feb 16, 2010, at 8:48 AM, Hyde, David W. (ESC) wrote:
>
>> I have not found much that really needs the companion software,  except 
>> for converting note files to MP# files. Windows has the zip  and unzip 
>> utility built in.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk- bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>> On Behalf Of Rob Tabor
>> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 10:15 PM
>> To: Discussion of Digital Talking Books
>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players
>>
>> I have the HumanWare companion package and don't remember seeing a  zip 
>> or unzip feature. This is news to me. Where do you find these  features?
>> Just curious
>> Rob "RockChalk Jayhawk" Tabor
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Lynn Evans" <evans-lynn at comcast.net>
>> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 9:13 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players
>>
>>
>>> I use the HumanWare companion software to unzip and transfer my books
>>> to flash drives and cartridges.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Greg Kearney" <gkearney at gmail.com>
>>> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 5:55 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players
>>>
>>>
>>>> Yes we are using them in Western Australia on the east coast they  use
>>>> CDs.
>>>>
>>>> We have found that we can use small USB SD card readers and plug
>>>> VictorReader Stream SD cards into the NLS players and they will find
>>>> the books even if there are several VR Stream folders on the card.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Gregory Kearney
>>>> Manager - Accessible Media
>>>> Association for the Blind of Western Australia
>>>> 61 Kitchener Avenue, PO Box 101
>>>> Victoria Park 6979, WA Australia
>>>>
>>>> Telephone: +61 (08) 9311 8202
>>>> Telephone: +1 (307) 224-4022 (North America)
>>>> Fax: +61 (08) 9361 8696
>>>> Toll free: 1800 658 388 (Australia only)
>>>> Email: gkearney at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>> On 16/02/2010, at 5:00 AM, James Aldrich wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hello!
>>>>>
>>>>> So are you folks in Australia using the cartridges as well?
>>>>>
>>>>> I use a Victor Stream and the NLS Player and I'm very happy with 
>>>>> both!
>>>>> The player will last over 29 hours on a charge according to the
>>>>> information key where the stream lasts 15 hours on a good battery.
>>>>> I think the battery in my stream could be going down now but I'll
>>>>> use it till I only get minutes on a charge.  I also like the tone
>>>>> quality of the player.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jim Aldrich
>>>>>
>>>>> the
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Kearney"
>>>>> <gkearney at gmail.com>
>>>>> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 12:44 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> But we should remember who we are serving. OVer 80% of our clients
>>>>>> here, and we are typical, are over the age of 70 many have lost
>>>>>> their sight in the recent past and do not have either access to or
>>>>>> even the means to obtain extensive rehabilitation. They will never
>>>>>> be downloading books form the internet. They can not even handle  SD
>>>>>> cards well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We use VictorReader Streams (Library Editions) here for some of  our
>>>>>> clients but other require a robust simple and loud player with
>>>>>> simple controls.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> While I have been known to be critical of some of the decisions  the
>>>>>> NLS made on the matter of the form factor of the drives and player
>>>>>> I think they were right on the mark. We have been very happy with
>>>>>> that aspect of the program that we adopted here.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Gregory Kearney
>>>>>> Manager - Accessible Media
>>>>>> Association for the Blind of Western Australia
>>>>>> 61 Kitchener Avenue, PO Box 101
>>>>>> Victoria Park 6979, WA Australia
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Telephone: +61 (08) 9311 8202
>>>>>> Telephone: +1 (307) 224-4022 (North America)
>>>>>> Fax: +61 (08) 9361 8696
>>>>>> Toll free: 1800 658 388 (Australia only)
>>>>>> Email: gkearney at gmail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 15/02/2010, at 3:21 PM, Rakesh Chand wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I suppose, with all the new technology people are generally
>>>>>>> looking for smaller compact gadgets so, we from the blindness
>>>>>>> community need to perhaps, catch-up. Let's forget about cassettes
>>>>>>> let's put our focus on MP-4 or MP-3 players USB-drives etc etc.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I personally can have a desk-top at home & I don't have one,
>>>>>>> because, I like to have something that is more mobile & more
>>>>>>> accessible. I'm really fancying to have a V-stream as currently,
>>>>>>> I've a Note-book but, my wife keeps reminding me how bulky the  old 
>>>>>>> V-stream looked like...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So all in all, we blind folks need to be in the community rather
>>>>>>> than shying away... People who have vision fancy small compact 
>>>>>>> stuff!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But hey yes, Valerie has a point to be noted. Trust you all had a
>>>>>>> beautiful day!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Have a great evening!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Rakesh
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Valerie Lewis"
>>>>>>> <vlewis at suffolk.lib.ny.us>
>>>>>>> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>;
>>>>>>> "Tim Gillett" <tim.gillett at optusnet.com.au>
>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 6:28 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Players
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Aditionally, the National Library Service program is designed  for
>>>>>>>> people with physical disabilities who cannot hold a book or turn
>>>>>>>> pages. The cartridges can be used more easily than the
>>>>>>>> microscopic electronics that are commercially available. People
>>>>>>>> with dexterity problems can grab/grasp/hold the NLS cartridges
>>>>>>>> and can use the larger buttons on the NLS DTB machine.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Valerie
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Mon, Feb 15, 2010, Tim Gillett  <tim.gillett at optusnet.com.au> 
>>>>>>>> said:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> David wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> "NLS does not provide blank cartridges or thumb drives.
>>>>>>>>> They are in the business of providing books preloaded on
>>>>>>>>> cartridges
>>>>>>>>> - in the way that they have provided cassettes."
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Yes it's easy to forget the whole purpose of the NLS larger
>>>>>>>>> cartridge housing is to make it easy for the Print handicapped
>>>>>>>>> to read books.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> One of the downsides of the miniaturisation of electronics has
>>>>>>>>> been its effect on the blind.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The compact cassette was still reasonably large enough for easy
>>>>>>>>> use by the blind.  Whereas on the modern flash card there is
>>>>>>>>> usually not enough room  for adequate braille or printed
>>>>>>>>> labelling for example, let alone reliably inserting such small
>>>>>>>>> media into a player.
>>>>>>>>> And what if the blind person drops a tiny memory card? How do
>>>>>>>>> they find it again?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Similarly players with tiny control buttons and tiny screens
>>>>>>>>> make them almost impossible to use, especially for the elderly
>>>>>>>>> blind.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I came across this many times with the blind here in WA when
>>>>>>>>> cassettes were the current format and here in WA. but clients
>>>>>>>>> had to find their own cassette player.
>>>>>>>>> The old "shoebox" cassette player with its large piano key
>>>>>>>>> operation was fairly easy for most blind to use.
>>>>>>>>> But once it started to disappear from the market and was
>>>>>>>>> replaced by smaller, more fiddly Walkmans the blind struggled  to
>>>>>>>>> use these players.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I'm pleased to see the designers of the NLS player specified a
>>>>>>>>> largish cartridge even though it only contains a small memory
>>>>>>>>> stick inside. This is practical for the blind, however
>>>>>>>>> antiquated and "uncool" it might appear by sighted people's
>>>>>>>>> standards.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Similarly it's pleasing in the NLS DTB to see other features
>>>>>>>>> carried over from the old TBC1 players such as internal  speaker,
>>>>>>>>> rechargeable battery, variable speed control, automatic power
>>>>>>>>> down etc.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> It's important we stay real and remember  the many blind people
>>>>>>>>> in their homes who have to use these devices.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Tim Gillett
>>>>>>>>> Audio/Electronics Technician
>>>>>>>>> Perth, Western Australia
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
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>>>>>>>>> %40suffolk.lib.ny.us
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
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