VBASE/40
Speech Prompt Editor
Stok Software designed the VAP file format for placing multiple speech prompts into a single file back in the 1980's.
We then developed Vbase/40 to create and edit the prompts in the VAP file,
which has set a standard for Indexed Play Mode in Voice Applications.
Dialogic Corporation had licensed Vbase/40 from Stok Software in the 1980's to offer a tool for the creation of speech files using the Indexed Play Mode, which is based on Stok's indexed format. Under contract with Dialogic, Stok Software added several features to Vbase/40, which became part of the final product.
Other developers had decided to use the Vbase/40 VAP file format rather than desiging an alternate file structure. This has made the VAP format a standard for prompt files with the Dialogic Indexed Play Mode.
Vbase/40 has the features necessary for easy creation and maintenance of professional speech prompts for voice mail and other phone system applications. Phrases, or individual words, can be recorded, played, edited, cut and pasted, appended, and copied from one file to another. Cut and pasting allows creating phrase segments that piece together precisely in the running application. Enhanced editing functions allow any part of a prompt to be marked and played or removed.
Confusion with VAP and VOX File Formats
Back in 1985, Stok Software designed the indexed file format to allow placing multiple VOX file speech segments into a single indexed file with the VAP file type for their VBASE/40 speech editor. Natural Microsystems (NMS) later took credit for Stok's indexed VAP File design and incorrectly renamed it to VOX, confusing the issue.
Any sound file using the Vbase/40 indexed format ending with the file type VAP can be edited with Vbase/40. NMS calls their files "NMS (vox) indexed files" in order to indicate that they are indexed with multiple prompts. Their files are actually the Vbase/40 VAP File format. You can edit these files with Vbase/40 simply by renaming it to a VAP file type.
Prior to Natural Microsystems' confusion, files with the VOX file type were meant to be files with no header information, just the speech itself. Stok's design for the VAP file format includes a header identifying the recording format, the sampling rate, and index pointers to each voice-segment and text annotation of the recording. Applications access this header information with Dialogic's Indexed Play Mode in order to correctly play the voice recordings.
Vbase/40 Features
- Menu selectable options to record, play, cut and paste, copy, append, move and delete
- Move prompts within a file or between files.
- Settings that allow for use of Ram Drive, disabling AGC, specifying use of ADPCM or PCM recording method, and specifying the sampling rate.
- Enhanced editing allows editing in the middle of a prompt with visual display
- Cut and paste in user selectable increments as small as 1/100th of a second
- Load annotation list from an ASCII file
- Annotation text editing with full cursor control, and insert and delete text functions
- Displays length of prompts
- Works with standard recorded files or indexed prompt file formats up to 8000 prompts
Control Panel Screen Image
Major editing functions necessary for fast, professional cut and pasting are laid out in a logical fashion using the numeric keypad on your keyboard. Your hand does not have to move. This key layout is displayed on screen for ease of use.
Copyright (c) 1986-2005 Stok Software, Inc. Prompt file = PROMPTS.VAP 138 used prompts 150 max Channel 3
[Esc] End without saving changes [0] Enhanced Edit Editing Prompt 24 Chop 0.1 seconds Hello. If you know the extension you want, you may enter it at any time. Or press 1 for sales or 2 for support. ______________________________________________________________________ Enter prompt # to edit (press * for next or [Esc] to quit) ==> |
Text Annotation
Vbase/40 displays the text of the prompts on the screen so that the person doing the recording can read directly from the screen. This makes it easy to record prompts in real time. The text of each prompt is displayed while recording or playing.
Audio Connections
In order to use Vbase/40 or any other Dialogic speech software, you need a Dialogic Speech Board installed in your computer and the proper speech drivers loaded.
Assuming you have the proper hardware, call from any telephone or from another extension on your PBX to establish an audio connection with Vbase/40 to record or review prompt recordings. An audio connection can also be made with a studio microphone or from a tape recorder using an optional Telephone Line Simulator such as the Skutch AS4A. The AS4A Telephone Line Simulator also has an audio input jack for connection with the earphone output of a tape recorder.
Paperback Bound Manual
The complete documentation is on-line, but if you prefer a printed manual, you can order a Paperback Bound VBASE/40 Speech Prompt Editor User's Manual direct from the publisher.
238 Sample Prompts
Vbase/40 comes with a sample Prompt File that you can use. It is actually the same set of prompts we had used in Stok's COMET Voice Mail Automated Attendant system.