Frequently Asked Questions (Part 7: Audio recording and quality)

1. How do I record my audio message?
2. What audio format should I use?
3. Is there any way to improve the audio quality?
4. How do I convert an audio file to the telephony format file?
5. How do I use a telephone to record?
6. Some people think the volume is a little low. How do I increase the volume of the outgoing message?
7. How do I use a computer microphone to record?
8. How do I use a professional recording studio to record?
9. How do I use the Voicent Natural Text-to-Speech to generate audio file?

1. How do I record my audio message?

There are several methods to record your audio message.

1. Use a telephone to record
2. Use a computer microphone to record
3. Use a professional recording studio
4. Use the Voicent Natural Text-to-Speech to generate audio file

In terms of sound quality, a professional recording studio is the best. They have the best recording equipment and highly trained voice talents.

The telephone recording also produces good quality. If you do not want to use a professional recording studio, we recommend you use the telephone recording.

Microphone recording tends to pickup background noises.

The Voicent Natural Text-to-Speech generated computer voice is another way to have a good quality audio message. There will be no background noise since it is a computer generated voice. Please click the following to hear the samples:

Male (TTS Paul) voice
Female (TTS Kate) voice

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that you do not have any silence in the beginning of your recording. The silence is likely to cause people to hang up.

2. What audio format should I use?

The standard audio format for telephone is: PCM 8 KHz, 16 bit, mono. No other format, such as stereo sound, can be played over the telephone network. This format is determined by the telephone communication standard. Neither Voicent nor any other software vendors can change that. 

3. Is there any way to improve the audio quality?

Since the telephony audio format is fixed, as explained in the previous question, there is no way to improve the audio quality by using a better audio format.

The best you can do is to use a professional recording studio. Choose a voice talent whose voice is clear over the telephone line. Also make sure to ask them to give you the recording in the format of PCM 8 KHz, 16 bit, mono. If you try to convert it yourself, you will introduce hisses and noises.

Telephone recording produces good quality also. Please make sure you have a good quality voice modem and a clear telephone line.

4. How do I convert an audio file to the telephony format?

You can use the Windows Sound Recorder or other wave file editor software. To invoke Sound Recorder, click on Window’s Start à All Programs à Accessories à Entertainment à Sound Recorder. Open your audio file, then click file à save as, when Save As window pops up, enter a file name you want to use. DO NOT click on save yet. Click on Change button next to the Format. You must select PCM 8 KHz, 16 bits, mono format. Click OK

5. How do I use a telephone to record?

You can use Voicent Gateway to record your message using any telephone. From the Voicent Gateway window, select Operation à Recording… to invoke the recording dialog. Click the Save As button to select the recording file name. Then Click OK.

Warning: In order to use telephone to record your message, your computer must have a voice modem installed and properly connected to a working telephone line.

Once you click the Record Now button, Voicent Gateway is set for accepting in-bound phone calls for telephone recording. You will need two phones to do the recording. One phone line is the used by your voice modem, and the other for calling into the modem line.

Call the phone number of the voice modem line. After Voicent Gateway picks up the call, simply follow the voice prompt to record your message. The recording message will be saved in the file you specified in the previous step.

6. How do I increase the volume of my outgoing message?

The message volume depends on a few factors:

1. The recording volume when your record your audio message
2. The modem playing volume
3. The handset volume of person received the call

The biggest issue is #3 since there is a wide range of the settings depend on personal choices. The volume of your message should set for the majority of your target audience.

The modem playing volume #2 is fixed and cannot be changed.

So the best thing to do to increase the outgoing message volume is to increase the volume when recording your message.

You can also use a wave file editor (such as GoldWave) to increase the volume. But if your recording has background noise, the noise will be amplified also. Of cause, you can use the same editor to remove noises.
 

7. How do I use computer microphone to record?