PC Professionell 2006 March/PCpro_2006_03.ISO/files/toolbox/messer/readme.txt

Text File | 2003-01-28 | 22.5 KB | 530 lines

Messer v-0.99 (November 2000)

Thank you for using Messer (Memo Session Sound Recorder)
- application for scheduled sound recording using your PC.

0. Installation
1. General usage and program overview
   - Manual recording
   - Scheduled recording
   - Advanced stop tool
   - Previewing recorded files
   - dropping wav files from Explorer on Messer's window
2. Using session manager (scheduler)
3. Scheduler context menu
4. Recording monitor and options during the recording
5. Options and configuration
6. Runtime errors
7. What's planned ?
8. Authors, copyrights, etc.
9. What's new ?

Any comment and questions should be sent to:
Darek Sieradzki <[e-mail]>; http://www.dago.pmp.com.pl/

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0. Installation.

Uninstall previously installed version (run  uninst???.exe form
Messer's directory, or use "Add/remove program"), then run
messer-v099-setup.exe.

Note: v98 sessions are incompatible with v99 ones and new Messer will
discard any old session.

Optionally[*] download lame_enc.dll and bladeenc.dll (see links at
http://www.dago.pmp.com.pl/messer/) and put them into windows/system
directory or into directory in which messer.exe is installed.

[*] you'll need at least one to use built in mp3 compression support
and on-the-fly encoding (for on-the-fly encoding lame_enc.dll is
recommended, since it is much faster).

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1. General usage.

Program combines simple sound recorder with scheduler, thus allows you
to start and end your recording at specified time. A few extensions
were added to allow process recorded file with external application
and/or shut down computer after recording (and processing) is done.

Program can run in two modes (described below in details):
- manual, when scheduler isn't running, and application works as
  normal, simple sound recording software
- automatic, with scheduler enabled, when application looks forward for
  scheduled jobs ("sessions") and automatically starts/stops recording.

An "advanced stop" tool allows to change manual session to
kind of scheduled session (this can be done even if manual session is
already running). It also has possibilities to alter output files
and stop recording according to silence detection.

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1.1.  Manual recording

When one disables scheduler (by clicking clock icon on application bar
- it becomes grayed when mouse pointer isn't over it) button "Record"
on "Recording monitor" folder (and in menu available by right-clicking
on application recording indicator) becomes enabled. Simply press this
button to record sound.

When "Default wave files location" in option is left blank you'll be
prompted for location and name, otherwise recording starts immediately
(for description how filename and sound properties are chosen when
recording manually see point 4.).

Recording can be paused (then resumed) and stopped at any moment. No
further processing is done on wave file.

Sound properties (channels, sampling rate and size and compression)
for manual sessions is set under "Configuration" folder)

Note: mp3 encoding is really cpu-eating operation, so your computer
must be fast to be able to do this and produce mp3 file on-the-fly
without gaps. Do not produce any load during the recording, try using lame_enc.dll rather than bladeenc.dll, since  Lame is much faster.
You may also try disable recording monitor during on-the-fly encoding.

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1.2.  Scheduled recording.

When scheduler is enabled it waits for nearest session start and then
recording automatically begins.  If program fails to open file in given
location it tries to open file in "default wave files location" (see
options and configuration).

Scheduled recording can be paused or stopped as manual recording, by
pressing proper buttons. Otherwise it is stopped automatically at
planned moment.

After recording is done Messer can  do the following actions (if
enabled and planned in scheduler):

- normalize recorded wave file (e.g. maximize peak level value)
- process just recorded wave/mp3 file with external application (or
  just in fact run any program user tell him to run) and then keep or
  delete wave/mp3 file. This can be used for example to automatically
  compress sound with mp3 codec or other method to save your disk
  space.
- encode recorded wave into mp3 format using freeware BladeEnc.dll or
  Lame_Enc.dll encoding library.
- Shut down the computer.

NOTES:
- normalizing, post-recording command and shutdown are NOT performed
  if you stop scheduled session manually.
- If "delete wave file after session" is checked it IS performed even
  if your post-command fails (so, be careful - you may loose your
  recording)

If no shutdown is planned application simply waits for next scheduled
session.

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1.3.  Advanced stop tool

This is an extension for manual recording sessions, which can be
reached from options menu at "recording monitor" folder.

One can choose :

- disable advanced stop, which means that recording can be stopped
  only when user presses "stop" button.

- stop recording automatically after XX minutes, which allows to
  automatically stop recording after specified amount of time. Time to
  stop can be measured from recording start, or from the moment the
  new advanced stop settings were applied

- stop when detecting XX seconds of silence, which allows Messer
  to automatically detect that recording should be stopped when no
  usefull data is received by soundcard.

  In this option user can adjust maximal "silence" level (any sound
  below this level is treated as silence, or, in other words,
  useless noise) and minimal length of silence which makes recording to
  stop.

  This option allows also to split recording into pieces - when option
  "restat recording in new file instead of stopping it" is selected
  Messer stops recording and automatically restarts it in new file.
  This cycle can go on forever (or util user manually stops recording),
  or can be automatically stopped when Messer detects longer piece of
  silence (option "finally stop recording...").

In addition there is "shutdown computer after recording" option.

Almost all the settings are active after user presses "OK" or "Apply".
Only silence level setting is activated automatically while user
id changing it.

"OK" applies new settings and closes the window.
"Apply" applies new settings leaving "Advanced stop" window visible
"Cancel" returns to last applied settings and closes the window.

Note: all these settings can be changed and applied even if recording
session is already running.

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1.4.  Previewing recorded files

Double-click chosen session in scheduler list to start playing
wave file if available, or right click chosen session and select "play"
from context menu. Double click again (or unselect "play") to stop.
[Note: previewing works only with PCM wave files, for other files
(mp3 etc.) program tries to open them using associated application]

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1.5. dropping wav files from Explorer on Messer's window

Messer can be used as a simple file processing tool. Simply define
commands that should process file (either external programs or built
in compressors) in configuration box, then drag and drop selected wave
files on Messer.

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2.  Using session manager (scheduler)

To add session:
- Click "Session manager" folder (available when Messer is not
  recording)
- Enter session parameters (day and time session starts, day and time
  session end, filename where recorded sound should be stored)
- Check option "shutdown computer after session" if you want your
  computer to be shutdown when recording is done.
- Click "more" to set other  options (if you need to)
- if file should be normalized after recording check option "Normalize"
  and enter level of your choice (from -90 to 0 dB) [this option is
  available only if destination is a PCM wave file]
- if any program should be run _before_ recording begins enter
  "pre-command". NOTE: When command ends with " &" (ampersand) Messer
  starts command and immedietely begins the recording, otherwise Messer
  waits until pre-command is finished.

  [Note: I'm using it to run radio tuner card software. Currently I have
  some MediaForte card on-board, which uses "RadioAKTIV 1.62" program as an
  interface. Simple command line app which forces RadioAKTIV to start at
  specified radio station and can be used as pre-command for Messer is
  avialable on request (just mail me ;-))]

- If file should be processed after recording enter "post-command".
  NOTE: Every % (percent) in your command will be replaced with
  name of the recorded file, without extension.
- File can be also processed with supported free bladeenc.dll or
  lame_enc.dll mp3 encoding  library (simply click [mp3] button near
  post-command entry and choose needed bitrate) [this option is
  available only if destination is a PCM wave file]
- Check option "delete destination file after command" (if needed)
- Choose properties (number of channels, sample size and rate) of sound
- If destination is an mp3 file (has "mp3" extension) - choose
  compression
- If you want to go back to main options click "back"
- Click "Add" - your parameters will be checked and (if no errors
  occurs) added to scheduler. If any error occurs a popup window with
  description will show up and session won't be added.

To update session:
- Click session you want to update in scheduler window
- Edit session parameters (as described in "add session")
- Click "update"

To delete session:
- Click session you want to delete in scheduler window
- Click "delete" (or press delete key) and confirm deletion in popup
  window that shows up.

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3.  Scheduler context menu

(Note: most of the Messer's controls has its own context menus - so try
right-click on various places to discover them)

Right click selected session in scheduler list to pop up context menu
with following options:

- delete session
  allowing you to delete session from scheduler

- start this session now
  allowing to adjust session start time that recording immediately
  begins. This option is enabled only for nearest available session,
  and last unfinished session.

- toggle shutdown
  allowing to change (yes <-> no) shutdown option for session

- toggle delete
  as above for delete option

The following options are available only if session's destination file
exists:

- play
  plays the wave file (for other formats - opens file in external
  player configured in system)

- maximize peak
  normalizes wave file peak level to 0 dB

- mp3 encode
  encodes wave file to mp3 compressed format, using BladeEnc.dll or
  Lame_enc.dll library

- run command
  runs any command on recorded wave file (this submenu consists of all
  commands used previously in post-recording option)

- delete file
  removes file from disk (note: file IS NOT moved to Trash, but
  immediately removed)

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4.  Recording monitor and options during the recording

A few controls allows you to monitor recording level (during and before
recording), recorded file length and time left to session end.

Recording level monitor can be disabled/enabled by (un)checking
checkbox on "Recording monitor" folder.
In "Options" menu you can disable post-commands(*), computer shutdown
or  even tell application to ignore session end. If so, such events
won't  be executed even if they were planned in scheduler.

A thin indicator (over "total recorded" caption) shows current
CPU in percent (this can be useful while compressing sound on-the-fly;
if CPU is 100% most of the time, and is not consumed by other
applications then your PC is probably too slow for selected
compression)

Simple mixer can be used to adjust playing/recording level. Right-click
mixer slider and choose the mixer control you'd like to adjust (e.g.
the source you're recording from), then drag slider's handle to change
level.

(*) note that this also disables normalizing and deleting

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5.  Options and configuration

Choose "Options and configuration"  folder and follow detailed
instructions there.

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6. Runtime errors

Application tries to catch all of the errors during recording. If an
error occurs the error icon shows up on Messer's status bar  - move
mouse over it to see error description, double click to hide it.

If log file is enabled (see point 4) errors are also stored there.

Runtime errors (exceptions) are also displayed that way, but not stored
in logfile.

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7. What's planned

- support for GoGo mp3 encoder
- support for Monkey's Audio looseless audio compressor
- support for FAAC (MPEG4) encoder (as soon as authors release dll
  library and frontend)
- support for ACM Windows system codecs (e.g. wma format)
- support Vorbis *.ogg format

- tool for automatical adjusting recording level
- disk space detection allowing safely stop recording before HDD is
  filled, leaving specified amount of free space
- new scheduler allowing more advanced planning (everyday sessions,
  sessions on specified day of week etc.)
- allowing to pause recording on silence detection, then restart on
  nonsilent signal.
- "just in time recording" tool, allowing to "remember" sound that
  has happened a few minutes ago, so when you hear you've just missed
  beggining of long awaited song, you can still press "record" and
  have ALL the song recorded!
- improve built in mixer
- "index" button (to stop recording and immedietely restart it in
  another file with only one click)

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8. Authors, copyrights, etc.

Messer - application for scheduled sound recording on PC ⌐ 2000 by
Dariusz Sieradzki
The software (Messer) is provided "as is". In no event shall the
author, be liable for any consequential, special, incidental or
indirect damages of any kind arising out of the delivery, performance
or use of this software.

Program was written by Darek Sieradzki . All elements (program and
documentation) are owned by program's author.

Messer is a freeware. You can download and use it, without any fee.

If you'd like to include it in your shareware cd-rom or as add-on to
some  commercial product - contact me first at <[e-mail]>.

BladeEnc.dll is copyrighted to Tord Jansson <[e-mail]>.
For more information (and latest updates) check www page at
http://bladeenc.mp3.no/

Lame_Enc.dll is provided under LGPL licence. For source code, latest
updates and more information see http://www.sulaco.org/mp3/
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9. What's new ?

v 0.991 (April 2001)

* migrating from C++Builder 1 to C++Builder 5 with larger executable as
  a result (-), but with some memory and resource faults/leaks found
  and fixed (big +) and more stable VCL library
* Pre-recording command added to scheduled sessions (allows to run
  specified application _before_ the recording begins, so one can
  start some Internet streaming audio application or just radio card
  software etc...). Remember to add " &" to the command if you want
  your recording to start immedietely after command is invoked - otherwise
  Messer will wait for your pre-command to be _finished_.
* added "reset" button on session manager page (clears all fields)
* recording start time and date can be appended automatically to session
  output file name
* in fields where executable path should be entered (like post-command
  etc.) added possibility to choose program from disk - right click to
  popup open dialog.
* added support for MPEG 2 and MPEG 2.5 encoding from Lame_end.dll
* added more samplerates (needed for just extended Lame support)
* all configuration and sessions are now saved in messer.ini file.
  Messer uses system registry only to register itself as program which
  should be run at startup (if such option is choosen)
* now one can choose location of bladeenc.dll and lame_enc.dll
* free disk space on status bar now corresponds to default files location
  by default
* lots of interface changes (like optionally following the windows system color
  changes)...

v 0.98 (October 2000)

* bug fixed: on screens with font resolution different than default
  96 dpi Messer's main window is not cropped anymore
* bug fixed: after changing drive in disk info and closing it, free
  storage indicator on main window's status bar was reverting back to
  default C: drive instead of keep watching user set drive. This
  wasn't my intention and is now corrected.
* bug fixed: Windows older than Windows 95 OSR2 were complaining about
  missing function in KERNEL32.DLL (GetDiskFreeSpaceExA) and failing to
  run Messer. V 0.98 detects OS version and uses this function
  only if it is avialable. Note: pre-OSR2 users cannot correctly
  display capacity of disks larger than 2 GB, but at least now they can
  run Messer ;-)
* configuration box now expands to full height of Messer window which
  makes it easier to use, I hope...
* user can choose wether sessions should be saved in registry or in
  messer.ini file
* Messer's window can be enlarged - try small "dot" on lower right
  side, or Alt+E (for all those who can't read those small letters -
  sometimes I  can't read them myself ;-)). Warning: because of
  roundoff-errors components of messer window can be a bit misplaced
  and misshaped after repeated shrinking/enlarging.
* user can specify output directory for dropped files processed with
  built in encoders
* sound level meter rewritten from scratch (old one was a real mess...)
* Messer again has a simple volume control built in
* "faster" built-in mp3 encoding (Messer was wasting lots of time on
  displaying operation progress - shame....)
* bug fixed (default sample size wasn't correctly restored at startup,
  but always set to 16 bit)
* new tool: "Advanced stop" (under Recording Monitor->Options menu),
  allowing (even for already started manual recording) to stop manual
  session after specified time or when silence is detected. Also allows
  to automatically split recording to multiple files, basing on
  silence detection.

v 0.97 (August 2000) :

* support for recording with two more sample rates: 48000 Hz ("natural"
  sample rate for popular SBLive family soundcards) and 32000 Hz
* all available samplerates can be compressed using Lame_Enc.dll
* all available samplerates but the lowest (22050 Hz) can be compressed
  using BladeEnc.dll
* some sample rate - bit rate combinations don't work with Lame_Enc.dll
  (although are supposed to do so, like 22050Hz with 320kBit/s) -
  Messer's code is now fixed not to hang in such cases. But I'm sure
  LameEnc team will fix that soon :-)
* DiskInfo tool totally redesigned (there's too many variants to
  display them all in one list...)
* DiskInfo tool bug fixed - free/total space larger than about 2GB were
  truncated to maximal integer value. Now disk space has 64 bits
  representation so it should be enough for a long time...
* decided to remove internal mixer support (it wasn't very useful, and
  caused some errors while level-meter was running)
* Gradient-filled peak level meters (slowly turns red at about
  -4 : -2 dB); gradient can be turned off (see level-meters context
  menu)
* Messer can start minimized in systray
* most of frequently refreshing labels are non-flickering now
* bug fixed: when updating session with mp3 destination, compression
  properties were reset to default instead of keeping previously set
* interface and internal improvements as usual :-)

v 0.96 (June/July 2000) :

* serious bug fixed: sometimes messages just after stopping the
  recording were not processed properly causing next session not
  to start if sessions was planned immediately one after another.
  The same thing was a reason for level monitor not "waking up"
  after stopping the recording - all those are fixed now.
* bug removed: sometimes registry wasn't updated after session
  deletion
* from now on every version uses its own registry key, allowing
  to run any other version without configuration conflicts
* popup menu allowing to change level meter range
* popup menu allowing to easily jump from one option to another in
  configuration
* little changes in interface (status bar added, more functionality in
  shaded state)

v 0.95 (June 2000) :

* full LameEnc options support (including VBR encoding)
  (memset(&beConfig,0,sizeof(BE_CONFIG)) before setting parameters
  seems to fix the problem :-))
* sound level meter working more "smoothly"
* fixed bug in on-the-fly mp3 compression using BladeEnc
* total time estimation added to progress popup
* id3 tag added for built in mp3 compression
* external files dropped from explorer on Messer's window can be
  processed using supported mp3 compression libraries, or by any
  other "post-command" style command
* tiny interface fixes/improovements as usual

v 0.94 (May 2000):

* support for Lame_Enc.dll mp3 compression (limited for now, because of
  some software problems)
* on-the-fly mp3 compression, allowing user to store recorded sound
  directly into mp3 file (without any temporary wav files)
* CPU load meter (allows to watch cpu usage while recording,
  useful especially during cpu-consuming on-the-fly mp3 encoding.
* switching Messer from normal to high priority when recording
* nasty bug in scheduler fixed (were causing some memory faults which
  may cause running session never stop)
* other tiny changes/improovements

v 0.93 (April/May 2000): first version available on-line.

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