[Dtb-talk] converting Victor Reader Stream Note files

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Thu Feb 18 02:35:55 UTC 2010 

Best way is to use Stream Companion to convert the .3gp files to .WAV files 
and then use WavePad from NCH Software, TotalRecorder from High Criteria or 
Goldwave or other sound editor to convert from .WAV to .MP3. I know of no 
program that converts from .3gp to .mp3 in one step.

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grover Zinn" <grover.zinn at oberlin.edu>
To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "gzinn" <gzinn at oberlin.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 9:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] converting Victor Reader Stream Note files


> Dear James,
>
> I'm not interested in playing them on an NLS player.  I'm interested  in 
> getting them converted to .mp3 or another format that can be read  by 
> other media players.
>
> Thanks for the information, however, which may well come in very handy  in 
> the future.  The new NLS player just arrived so we are in the  learning 
> stages.
>
> best
>
> Grover
>
> Grover Zinn
> William H. Danforth Professor of Religion, emeritus
> former Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
> Oberlin College
> Oberlin, OH 44074
> grover.zinn at oberlin.edu
>
>
>
> On Feb 16, 2010, at 6:56 PM, James Aldrich wrote:
>
>> 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
>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>>>>> info for Dtb-talk:
>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ 
>>>>>>>>>>> vlewis
>>>>>>>>>>> %40suffolk.lib.ny.us
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your  account 
>>>>>>>>>> info
>>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/chand 
>>>>>>>>>> %4
>>>>>>>>>> 0connect.com.fj
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account  info
>>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ 
>>>>>>>>> gkearney
>>>>>>>>> %40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account  info
>>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ 
>>>>>>>> jajkaldri
>>>>>>>> ch%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>>>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/gkearney 
>>>>>>> %4
>>>>>>> 0gmail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account  info 
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/evans- 
>>>>>> lynn%
>>>>>> 40comcast.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info  for
>>>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/ rob.tabor 
>>>>> %40
>>>>> sbcglobal.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info   for 
>>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/david.hyde%40wcbvi.k12.wi.us
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info   for 
>>>> Dtb-talk:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/grover.zinn%40oberlin.edu
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info  for 
>>> Dtb-talk:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/jajkaldrich%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info  for 
>> Dtb-talk:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/grover.zinn%40oberlin.edu
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Dtb-talk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/dtb-talk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com

More information about the DTB-Talk mailing list