Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station ReadMe and Release Notes:
In this document you will find:
1) Install information
2) General information
3) System Requirements
4) Known Problems and Limitations
5) Troubleshooting information
6) Technical Support Information
When reading this document, please enable "Word Wrap" from Notepad's
Edit Menu.
Please use this ReadMe in conjunction with the User Guide located in the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station folder in your Start Menu.
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INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS
Install:
1. Insert the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.
2. The installation program will automatically launch.
If the installation program does not automatically launch, run the installer by double-clicking on "setup.exe" located in the main directory on the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station CD-ROM.
3. When you have read and accepted the License Agreement, click "Yes". The installation program will guide you through the installation process.
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GENERAL INFORMATION:
- The Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station application will disable your screen saver while the application is running and enable it when the application is shutdown.
- The Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station application will disable suspend while the application is running and enable it when the application is shutdown.
- The Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station application will disable Control-Alt-Delete while the application is running and enable it when the application is shut down.
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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
Here's what you need to play with your PC Animation Station application software:
--Windows« 98, 98SE, 2000, XP, or ME
--Intel(R) Pentium(R) or Celeron(TM) processor, 200 MHz (or faster)
--32 MB of RAM
--Minimum 140 MB free hard disk space required at install, 90 MB of disk space used after installation
--4x CD-ROM
--SVGA 800 X 600 display, 16 bit color
--16 bit Windows*-compatible sound device
--DirectX* 6 (Included with install)
--Standard mouse and keyboard
*Other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.
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KNOWN PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS:
Software Installation-----
Software will not install properly on Windows 2000 or XP unless it is installed by an administrator. If you experience any problems using the application, run the software as an administrator.
Software will not run properly if installed in the system folder (c:\windows\system). If you have installed the application into the system folder on your computer, use the uninstall program located in the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station folder in your Start Menu to remove the application. Then reinstall the software into a different directory.
Audio Feedback-----
Audio feedback is a loud screeching sound that may occur if the tip of the toy is turned toward the speakers or headphones while it is turned on.
When using the toy away from the computer with headphones, always point the tip of the toy away from the headphones in order to prevent feedback -- or to stop it once it starts.
At the computer, make sure to position the toy so that the microphone does not point at the speakers. If you continue to hear feedback, use the Audio Setup Wizard to adjust your speaker and microphone levels until you no longer have a problem with feedback. The Audio Setup Wizard is use the located in the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station folder in the Audio Setup Wizard in the program group, accessible from the Windows Start Menu. Use the Audio Setup Wizard to adjust your speaker and microphone levels until the feedback stops.
Slow performance-----
Buttons on the toy may become slower to respond if you have a large number of recordings on the toy. To improve button response time, download your recordings to your computer more frequently.
Within the application software, long recordings may result in sluggish performance. For example, dragging and dropping long sounds or deleting a 4-minute recording can result in delayed responses in the application. For best results with slower computers and/or computers with less than 64 MB RAM, work with shorter recordings.
Sluggish performance in the application software may also occur after the hard disk is turned off by Windows* power management settings. To correct this problem, change the power management settings on your computer so that the hard disk does not turn off. Reboot your computer and restart the application.
Maximum Recording Times-----
The Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station toy can store up to 99 individual recordings. When downloading 99 files, extra tones may be heard along with your recorded sounds. These tones will be heard in your recordings when these recordings are played back. Use the Cut-it-up tool in the Editing Screen to remove these unwanted tones from your recordings.
Minimum and Maximum Recording Length-----
Recordings must be at least 1 to 2 seconds long in order to be stored on the toy. Recordings can have a maximum length of 4 minutes.
Exporting very short recordings-----
For best results, recordings should be at least one second long in order to export them. Sounds shorter than half a second will not export properly.
Toy LCD Counter-----
There may be up to a 10 second mismatch between the time displayed on the toy and actual time left on the toy.
Download Button-----
If you accidentally hit the download button on your toy while in the Live Recording Screen, shrill tones will be heard. These tones are necessary for the toy to communicate with the application during the download process. Hitting the download button on the toy when the application software is displaying any screen other than the Download Screen will not result in sounds being downloaded to your computer.
Toy Sleep Mode-----
The toy will enter a sleep mode when no buttons on the toy are pushed for 20 minutes. The toy may take up to 21 minutes to enter sleep mode. To wake from sleep mode, simply press any key on the toy.
Audio CDs and CD-ROMs-----
Some users may experience problems with the application software when using their CD-ROM to play audio CDs. For instance, if you are listening to an audio CD through your CD-ROM while downloading sounds from your toy, the download may not succeed. For best results, please stop using your audio CDs with your CD-ROM or other any audio hardware when using this application.
Full-Screen Mode-----
When sound previews are playing, clicking on the "Full-Screen" button will result in a black screen until the preview ends. After the preview finishes the sound and animation will play back in Full-Screen Mode. Click anywhere on the screen to exit Full-Screen Mode.
- Other Audio Applications
We recommend that you do not run MP3 audio applications (e.g. WinAmp) when using the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station software.
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TROUBLESHOOTING:
If you are experiencing difficulties using your Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station, please first consult the PC Animation Station User Guide. This guide is installed with your software and can be accessed via the Start Menu in the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station folder. The following is additional information to help you troubleshoot the use of your Animation Station.
Help Files and Tool Tips-----
For help with the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station application software online help can be opened by clicking on the question mark in the lower left corner of the application screen.
Tooltips-----
Turn tooltips on and off by holding the Control and "t" keys on your keyboard down at the same time.
Recording new sounds-----
The record button on the toy will record sounds into the toy. If the toy is connected to the computer, use the orange "record" button on the Live Recording Screen to make new recordings. The record button on the toy will not have any effect on the software.
Recordings made into the toy (by pushing the orange Record button on the toy) while the download cable connects the toy to the computer will be significantly quieter than recordings made into the toy when it is unplugged from the computer. The wave display within the application software will appear flat or nearly flat. Animated displays will not respond to recordings made into the toy while the toy is connected to the computer. For best results, disconnect the download cable from the toy before making recordings into the toy, or use the record button within the application's Live Recording Screen.
Live Recording with Voice Changer-----
In the Live Recording Screen, the Voice Changer filters only work while you're speaking into the toy. They will NOT work on the completed recordings in the Live Recording Screen. To change these, move to the Editing Screen and use the Morph It filters.
File Naming-----
Maximum length for a filename is 35 characters.
Noise Reduction-----
If there is hiss in your recordings or downloaded messages, try applying the "Remove Noise" filter, either in the Editing Screen or in the Live Recording Screen. If this doesn't work, run the Audio Setup Wizard located in the Start Menu in the Digital Blue (TM) PC Animation Station folder and remove the check in the box next to "Microphone Boost."
The "remove noise" filter is dramatic if used on very noisy recordings. Its effect may not be as noticeable on recordings made at the computer using the Live Recording screen.
If the "remove noise" filter is applied more than once the sound will degrade.
Importing Sounds From Other Applications-----
For best results in importing other sounds into the application, use only .wav files stored in the PCM format.
Audio Setup Wizard-----
Always rerun the Audio Setup Wizard if you are experiencing issues with the audio quality. To use the wizard, hit the Start button, choose "Programs", "Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station", and then "Audio Setup Wizard".
If you experience difficulties using the Audio Setup Wizard, or experience significant problems with audio quality (such as stuttering or short bursts of static), please consider upgrading your audio drivers. Refer to your system's support information for updating your audio drivers.
If upgrading your audio drivers does not solve the issue, you can consider turning off DirectSound for the PC Animation Station. To do this, first double click on the "DirectSound-Off.reg" file located in the "Customer Support" directory on the PC Animation Station CD-ROM. Then restart your PC Animation Station application. To re-enable DirectSound for the application, double click on the "DirectSound-Default.reg" file located in the same directory.
Video Corruption-----
If video corruption or loss of video occurs while running the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station application, refer to your system's support information for updating your video drivers.
Half-Duplex Audio-----
If you have a half-duplex audio device driver, check with your sound card vendor for device driver updates that support full-duplex audio.
Minimum vs. Full Install-----
If you select the minimum install option during setup, the CD-Rom must be used whenever you play with the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station software. If you would like to switch your install option from full to minimum or from minimum to full, first uninstall then reinstall the software. To uninstall, use the Uninstall program located in the Digital Blue(TM) PC Animation Station folder in your Start menu. Or you can use the Add/Remove Programs in the Windows* Control Panel (Start Menu, Settings, Control Panel). Reinstall the software following the on-screen instructions as before.
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BATTERY SAFETY INFORMATION
╖ Non-rechargeable batteries are not to be recharged.
╖ Rechargeable batteries are to be removed from the toy before being charged.
╖ Rechargeable batteries are only to be charged under adult supervision.
╖ Do not mix alkaline, standard (carbon-zinc), or rechargeable (nickel-cadmium) batteries.
╖ Do not mix old and new batteries.
╖ Only batteries of the same or equivalent type as recommended are to be used.
╖ Batteries are to be inserted with the correct polarity.
╖ Exhausted batteries are to be removed from the toy.
╖ The supply terminals are not to be short-circuited.
╖ Dispose of battery(ies) safely.
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TECHNICAL SUPPORT INFORMATION:
Contact our technical support team if you would like to order replacement parts for your Digital Blue (tm) PC Animation Station. Order parts online at our World Wide Web site at http://www.playdigitalblue.com
If you are having trouble with your PC Animation Station or the application and could not find the answer to your problem in the troubleshooting section of the written documentation, in the online Help (F1) or this document, you can contact customer support online at the following site:
http://www.playdigitalblue.com
If you still have not found the answer to your specific problem you can call technical support at the following phone numbers:
