Ambassador Introduction
From SPARK
Contents |
Unpublished
Summary
This introduction of a MegaVoice product was done in 2004.
Introduction
MegaVoice previously produced a credit card sized audio player named Messenger. Now it is back in business with a new product called the Ambassador. A MegaVoice representative recently showed our staff how it works.
The new unit is about the size of a deck of cards and very durable. Audio can be encoded in the memory chips at six different compression rates. This allows for various degrees of audio quality. The highest compression rate is suitable for voice-only audio quality. It allows up to 160 hours of audio when 256 megabytes of memory is installed. That amount of memory increases the cost of a unit to around 100 dollars. A more typical configuration is with four megabytes which is two hours of audio. This places the cost around 25 dollars a player.
Unit price is set at the time of actual order. Exact costs vary. Cost depends on the quantity of units you want to order and the fluctuating cost of memory. MegaVoice is committed to work with us to obtain the best possible price.
Power supply
The Ambassador is powered by three internal button-style nickel metal-hydride batteries. In the current model these are charged by a small solar panel on the back of the unit. The alternative is to charge it from an external source using a nine volt battery adapter. Battery life is specified to be ten hours from fully charged batteries. Although, this is probably high. If the batteries are completely depleted, charge time is 14 hours. When not playing, the unit turns itself off automatically after three minutes.
Quality of Sound
We listened to voice audio samples at each of the six different compression levels. I could only hear a decrease in sound quality in the highest two compression levels. The audio at these two levels was still understandable and seemed adequate for voice only recordings. Recordings with music will likely need one of the four better compression levels. Of course the audio quality was limited by what a one and one-quarter inch speaker can produce. Nevertheless it was very clear. With a speaker this size the player is not loud enough to be heard over noises. Especially, if a rooster crows or a motorcycle goes by. But in a reasonably quiet environment, it can be heard by more than one person. It can be compared with the amplitude of a cell phone with a speakerphone feature. External speakers can be added using the headphone jack.
One missionary has begun distributing the MegaVoice Ambassador with a two-hour vernacular program. It is too soon to evaluate its use and popularity. The Bible Society in Northern Ireland is funding the distribution of 4000 Ambassadors with an Arabic “A Life of Christ” program. See http://www.bsni.co.uk/megavoice/index.htm for more information.
Controls
There are three pairs of back and forward scroll buttons. The top set of buttons are for a broad search between the largest portions of the message. An example would be the books of the Bible. When the button is pressed, you hear a title or section heading. That way you know where you are in your search. (Audio Titles are very important here.) The middle sets of buttons are for a medium interval search. This could be for scrolling from chapter to chapter. The bottom set of buttons are for a fine search. It searches either a Scripture section heading or a timed interval, like 15 seconds.
This scrolling ability brings up a consideration for vernacular media workers. It takes additional time to prepare the indexed audio programs files. It is important to enable the scrolling buttons to jump forward and backward in the program. To do this, the audio must be split into separated sequential files. This means spending quite a few hours at the computer splitting audio files into small chunks. It also requires renaming the small files numerically. One possible shortcut is to use a program like Waveknife. It makes the lowest level navigational index points by time, like every 15 seconds. The problem with this method is playback often begins in the middle of a word. This happens when jumping ahead with cassettes too.
Set the lowest level index point at each section heading in the Scripture text. This would be the most ideal method for Scripture. It would require a marked up printed copy for the recordists to know where to split files. Then it would need to be checked by the translator. Also, vernacular audio titles may also need to be added to recordings already done. For example, recordings such as, Luke, chapter 2, verse 1, the birth of Jesus. These are necessary to help the listener know what they are listening to and where. There is no cassette label or written index for reference for the literate.
MegaVoice units are re-writable or re-recordable. The digitized audio content is downloaded into each MegaVoice at the factory in Israel, or with the purchase of additional equipment it can be done on the field. A battery-powered field programmer ($250) downloads the data into each unit. This programmer can also copy or upload the existing audio in a MegaVoice player for duplication to another player. To create the digitized data, an additional message processor unit ($800) is required that interfaces with a computer running Windows 95/98.
Two hour programs
On a single MegaVoice, thought must be given to how content is best ordered and arranged. Be careful with lengthier programs, over approximately two hours long. Multiple audio programs, such as drama, Scripture, hymns or sermons, should also be given a lot of thought. Consider using pauses or musical interludes to facilitate reflection. The MegaVoice can play the entire audio program. It can also be set to stop playing at appropriate transitions. Transitions might include time between programs or books of Scripture.
Some listeners, confused by the navigation buttons, will simply listen to whatever the unit plays. They would rather simply listen rather than search for specific content. Let's think of a means of helping listeners know the content of a particular unit. Try having the first segment be a brief audio “table of contents.” Whenever the unit is turned off then back on, this segment would play. This would allow the listener to review the order of the recorded program.
Another thing to think about is that users will need to learn how to work these devices. This is especially true when a player holds more than one or two hours of material and scrolling skills are more important. A short audio message on the first track could be recorded explaining what the different buttons do. Another feature best demonstrated is how the power button has a delay feature. You must hold the power button for one second before the unit turns on. This prevents unintended powering up for example when the unit is in a pocket. Most cell phones have this same feature.
Distribution Tips
Those distributing digital audio players should spend some time with new users. You should plan to demonstrate the use of the unit. Let users practice and experiment. Encourage them to ask questions about operation. Those who master the basic operation of the units can then help others who have not yet understood all the details of player use.
Overall I see tremendous potential for MegaVoice. A similar product called ZVOX is currently in development and expected sometime next year. Extra planning is necessary in thinking through content for a digital audio player. Planning actually helps us to determine the best mix of music, narration, drama, etc, for the intended audience. Knowing the best mix for the audience helps achieve the goals in a given project. It is best to be realistic with new technology. We should understand its improved features and limitations before making the investment. I have no doubt that some form of digital audio player will eventually replace cassettes. However, I think we will see many years of different types of products before a new standard emerges.
See http://www.megavoice.com/ the latest manufacturer news and information. You may e-mail them at: sales@mymegavoice.net
Roger Green February 2004
Internal notes:
August 17, 2006 JVD removed “Adapted from VMN #20”, “SIL translator” “VMS person” added “recordists” added headers. April 7, 2006 mkb entered from VMN #20 and put original into Internal Notes:
Megavoice, which previously produced a credit card sized audio player named Messenger, is back in business with a new product called the Ambassador. A Megavoice representative recently demonstrated the Ambassador for the VMS staff here in Waxhaw. The new unit is about the size of a deck of cards and very durable. Audio can be encoded in the memory chips at six different compression rates to allow for various degrees of audio quality. The highest compression rate which is suitable for voice only audio quality allows up to 160 hours of audio when 256 mb of memory is installed. That amount of memory increases the cost of a unit to around $100. A more typical configuration is with 4 mb (2 hrs. of audio) which places the cost around $25 a player. Unit price is set at the time of actual order. Exact costs vary with quantity of units you want to order and the fluctuating cost of memory. Megavoice is committed to work with us to obtain the best possible price.
The ambassador is powered by three internal button-style nickel metal-hydride batteries. In the current model these are charged by a small solar panel on the back on the unit or from an external 9 vdc adapter. Battery life is specified to be 10 hours from fully charged batteries although this is probably high. If the batteries are completely depleted, charge time is 14 hours. When not playing, the unit turns itself off automatically after three minutes.
We listened to voice audio samples at each of the six different compression levels and I could only hear a decrease in sound quality in the highest two compression levels. The audio at these two levels was still understandable and seemed adequate for voice only recordings. Recordings with music will likely need one of the four better compression levels. Of course the audio quality was limited by what a 1¼ inch speaker can produce, but very clear nevertheless. With a speaker this size the player is not loud enough to be heard if a rooster crows or a motorcycle goes by, but in a reasonably quiet environment it can be heard by more than one person. It can be compared with the amplitude of a cell phone with a speakerphone feature. External speakers can be added using the headphone jack.
One SIL translator has begun distributing the Megavoice ambassador with a two-hour vernacular program. It is too soon to evaluate its use and popularity. The Bible Society in Northern Ireland is funding the distribution of 4000 Ambassadors with an Arabic “A Life of Christ?? program. See http://www.bsni.co.uk/megavoice/index.htm for more info.
There are 3 pairs of back and forward scroll buttons. The top set of buttons is for a broad search between the largest portions of the message, for example books of the Bible. When the button is pressed you hear a title or section heading and know where you are in your search. (Audio Titles are very important here) The middle sets of buttons are for a medium interval search. This could be for scrolling chapter to chapter. The bottom set buttons are for a fine search, either a Scripture section heading or a timed interval like 15 seconds.
This scrolling ability brings up a consideration for VM departments is the additional time involved in preparing the indexed audio programs files. To enable the scrolling buttons (see Megavoice scrolling description below) to jump forward and backward in the program, the audio must be split into separated sequential files. This means spending quite a few hours at the computer splitting audio files into small chunks and renaming the small files numerically. One possible shortcut is to use a program like Waveknife to make the lowest level navigational index points by time, like every 15 seconds. The problem with this method is that when jumping ahead, playback often begins in the middle of a word (although cassettes do this too). What would be most ideal with Scripture is to set the lowest level index point at each section heading in the Scripture text. This would require a marked up printed copy for the VMS person to know where to split files, and then a check by the translator. Also vernacular “audio titles?? may also need to be added to recordings already done such as, “Luke, chapter 2, verse 1, the birth of Jesus.?? These are necessary to help the listener know what they are listening to and where, since there is no cassette label or written index for reference (if one was literate).
Megavoice units are re-writable or re-recordable. The digitized audio content is downloaded into each Megavoice at the factory in Israel, or with the purchase of additional equipment it can be done on the field. A battery-powered field programmer ($250) downloads the data into each unit. This programmer can also copy or upload the existing audio in a Megavoice player for duplication to another player. To create the digitized data, an additional message processor unit ($800) is required that interfaces with a computer running Windows 95/98.
When lengthier (over approximately two hours) or multiple audio programs (e.g. drama, Scripture, hymns, sermons) are loaded on a single Megavoice, thought must be given to how content is best ordered and arranged. Pauses or musical interludes to facilitate reflection should be considered. The Megavoice can play the entire audio program or be set to stop playing at appropriate transitions such as between programs or books of Scripture. Some listeners, confused by the navigation buttons will simply listen to whatever the unit plays, rather than searching for specific content. One means of helping listeners know the content of a particular unit would be to have the first segment be a brief audio “table of contents.?? Whenever the unit is turned off then back on, this segment would play, allowing the listener to review the order of the recorded program.
Another thing to think about is that users will need to learn how to work these devices. This is especially true when a player holds more than one or two hours of material and scrolling skills are more important. A short audio message on the first track could be recorded explaining what the different buttons do. Another feature best demonstrated is how the power button has a delay feature. You must hold the power button for one second before the unit turns on. This prevents unintended powering up for example when the unit is in a pocket. Most cell phones have this same feature. Those distributing digital audio players should spend some time with new users. You should plan to demonstrate the use of the unit, letting users practice and experiment, and ask questions about operation. Those who master the basic operation of the units can then help others who have not yet understood all the details of player use.
Overall I see tremendous potential for Megavoice. A similar product called ZVOX is currently in development and expected sometime next year. The extra planning necessary in thinking through content for a digital audio player actually helps us to determine the best mix of music, narration, drama, etc., for the intended audience to achieve the goals in a given project. It is best to be realistic with new technology and understand its improved features and limitations before making the investment. Over the long haul, I have no doubt that some form of digital audio player will replace the cassette, but I think we will see several more years of different types of products before a new standard emerges.
See http://www.megavoice.com/ for the latest manufacturer news and information. You may e-mail them at: sales@mymegavoice.net
For further information, please contact me at Roger_Green@sil.org. Or you could go to the community bulletin board at http://forum.ordinary.org. There are charts and detailed descriptions that might interest you.
