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Bytescribe Export Utility |
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The Bytescribe Export Utility (shown in the figure below) is a Windows program that converts sound files recorded by the Bytescribe Orator Pro Digital Dictation System into TrueSpeech .wav files.
The Export Utility takes each file through a two stage conversion process. In the first phase of the conversion process, the original *.vox files are converted to a 8 KHz, 16 bit, mono .wav file. In the second phase the .wav files are compressed to a TrueSpeech .wav file format. TrueSpeech files require only about 3.6MB of disk space per hour of recorded dictation. The speed of conversion is dependent upon the speed of the processing computer.
To install the Bytescribe Export Utility, download and run the setup program from the link at the top of this page. The install wizard will walk you through the installation process. Leave all default settings (directories and program groups) as they appear in the installation wizard. After the installation, the Export.exe program and other program files will appear in the "C:\Program Files\Bytescribe\Export" directory. A shortcut to the Export Utility program will be created on the Windows desktop.
The Bytescribe Export utility is recommended to be installed on a computer that is networked to the Orator dictation system. For help with networking networking issues, please read the document belowhttp://www.bytescribe.com/pdf/Export_Utility_Installation_and_Configuration.pdf
For additional networking support, please see the Orator section of the Bytescribe Support Site.
Setting Up the Input and Output Directories
The Export Utility will convert vox files from a given input directory and copy the converted TrueSpeech wav files to an output directory. The input and output directories are stored in a grid that can be edited by selecting View | Directories from the main menu. A Directories window is shown below.
The user can use the grid to add, edit, or delete input and output directories. Pressing the Save button will save any changes to the Directories window. The input directories should be the directories on the Orator dictation system that store voice files. The directories will usually appear similar to those shown above where F: would represent the drive letter for the Orator system hard drive.
The Export Utility will convert two types of vox input files: PCM 8 kHz and ADPCM 8 kHz. The correct format needs to be selected in order for the output files to be audible after the conversion process. If the proper file format is not selected, the output file produced will be inaudible. The conversion process may be scheduled to run periodically. All options may be set by selecting View | Options from the main menu. The Options windows is shown below.
The Options are discussed below.
Input Vox format - Select from two possible vox file formats: PCM 8 kHz or ADPCM 8 kHz.
Output format - Drop down list with various output formats. TrueSpeech wav is the default and is the smallest output format.
Output Gain - Setting to determine of the output file is amplified.
Scheduled Conversion - Select this option to schedule automatic conversion of all files. To set this feature, check the Scheduled Timer On checkbox and set Timer Interval in minutes.
Create error log - Check this box to log all errors during conversion. SelectView | Error Log from the main menu to view logged errors and View | Clear Error Log to clear logged errors. An errorlog.txt file is created in the installation directory.
Generate underscores in output file - Check this box to replace all spaces in the output file name with underscores. Some older UNIX FTP servers will not accept files with spaces in the file name.
Append Type directory to output file name - Check this box to append the "Type" folder name to the output file name.
Append dictation date to output file name - Check this box to append the date of dictation to the output file name. The date appears after an '@' symbol in the format MMDD-hhmm.
A sample output file name may be "N_1226-001_4487_7878_00_Type1_@1226-1822.wav"
To start the actual conversion process, select Run | Convert All Files or Run | Convert Selected Files from the main menu. Hold down the CTRL key if selecting multiple files. Once a vox file is converted the first letter of the filename is changed to a "D" and a red flag appears next to it. Use View | Refresh to refresh the screen and display only non-converted files. During the conversion process, the status window shown below will be displayed.
To generate a report of files converted, highlight the files of interest and chooseRun | Create Report from the main menu. A report similar to the one shown below will be created. This report is saved in the installation directory.
Any column in the main window may be sorted alternately in ascending or descending order by clicking on the column headers below.
The total number of files, time until next conversion (for auto-scheduling), and input vox format are displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the main window.
The main window and each column is resizable to allow the user to view more of the output if desired.
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