Step-by-step instructions on how to create voice segments
are given later in this section, but there are different approaches
to this, so it is worthwhile taking some time to plan what you are
going to do:
- Decide whether to store voice segments in compressed format, uncompressed
format, or both.
- Decide on the source for your voice segments. You have the following
options:
- Record directly into Blueworx Voice Response using
the telephone.
- Record high-quality voice data, by one of the following methods:
- Recording directly into Blueworx Voice Response using
a microphone and an audio adapter such as the Ultimedia Audio Adapter
in the Power System
- Using a recording studio.
- If using a recording studio, decide how to transfer the voice
data into the Power System. You
can use either direct file transfer (recommended), digital audio tape
(DAT), or analog tape. Note that you may have to convert the format
of the voice data after transfer.
- If using a microphone directly or transferring voice data from
a recording studio, decide how to import segments into the Blueworx Voice Response voice
segment database. There are two methods:
- The Voice Segments window (select the voice segment in the Application
window and open it)
- The Batch Voice Import command-line process (a set of command
line utilities, with a control file).
Note that you can use both the voice segment editor and the Batch
Voice Import (BVI) utility to import voice data created on another
system. The voice segment editor supports only raw unformatted voice
data files, the BVI utility supports .wav files and audio interchange
file format (AIFF) files. Table 1 shows
you which tool to use.
Table 1. Creating
voice segments for Blueworx Voice Response
| Source
|
Tool
|
Ultimedia Audio Adapter Required?
|
| Telephone
|
Record_Comp, Record_Uncomp
|
No
|
| Microphone
|
Voice segment editor, BVI utility
|
Yes
|
| Tape recorder, CD player, DAT
|
Voice segment editor, BVI utility
|
Yes
|
| ‘Raw’ unformatted audio file
|
Voice segment editor
|
No
|
| Windows .wav file
|
BVI utility
|
No
|
| Apple Macintosh AIFF file
|
BVI utility
|
No
|
| Other file format
|
Custom server you have written. (Not supplied
with Blueworx Voice Response)
|
No
|
Note:
- Although the voice segment editor can be used to import multiple
voice segments, depending on the number of voice segments, you might
find it quicker to use the BVI utility.
- The voice segment editor and the BVI utility both support only
IBM audio adapters for direct input of voice from microphone, tape
recorder, and so on. For PCI Power Systems, you
might or might not have the audio function available on the planar
(there is currently no PCI plug-in audio board).
If you do not
have audio on your PCI Power System, you
can record voice segments in one of the following ways:
- Using the telephone
- Using another Power System with
a Ultimedia Audio Adapter installed
- Using a separate personal computer with an industry audio adapter,
and import standard audio files (such as .wav) using Batch Voice Import.
- To import audio files from other computers, use either the TCP/IP
file transfer program (FTP) over a LAN or other network, or use a
removable storage device, such as a tape. You might find tape more
convenient to move bulk voice data to your Power System.
- For top-quality audio segments, we recommend that you record your
voice segments in a professional recording studio, then either import
a digital file (.wav or .aiff) or
use digital audio tape.