[WriteLog] SSB wav files?

Sat Jan 17 02:21:32 EST 2009

Andrei,

I use Audacity for my audio files too, so let's start there.  In Audacity go to Edit/Preferences and click the Quality tab.  This is where you set the sample rate and format for your audio files.  I use the following:

Default Sample Rate: 22050 Hz, Default Sample Format: 16-bit, Real-time sample rate converter: Fastsinc Interpolation, High-quality sample rate converter: High-quality Sinc Interpolation, Real-time dither: None, High-quality dither: Triangle.  The first two settings will produce good quality audio and a modest audio file size.  Once set, leave it alone and  make sure all your recordings use these settings.

When you make an audio recording with Audacity note the recording level setting by the little microphone symbol.  I usually set mine to 6.  Use the same setting for each audio file.  When you make a recording you will see the audio sine waves of you voice.  Use your mouse to click and drag a shaded box from the beginning of the sine waves to the end.  This trims off any dead space before and after the voice segment for more seamless playback in WL.  Now click on File/Export Selection As WAV...  This saves only the segment you have highlighted as an audio file.  Name the files as msg2.wav, msg3.wav, msg4.wav, 1.wav, 2.wav, etc., and save them in your ham/wave files directory.  Do not use the braces when naming audio files in Audacity.

The letters a - z and numbers 0 -10 will cover all the call sign possibilities.  All the others should be in the format msgn.wav., with a couple of exceptions.  cq.wav will not work.  Your cq message has to be saved as msgn.wav.  Some exceptions are question.wav and space.wav.  I use a file named question.wav that contains the single word - "something?"  If I'm called by W4ABC and all I get is W4A I fill in W4A? in the Call field.  I have my F5 key programmed with %C and no audio message.  When I press F5 WL sends "Whiskey Four Alpha something?"  A file named space.wav with nothing in it but a brief dead space can be used to separate messages, i.e., <msg3.wav><space.wav><msg8.wav><space.wav><msg12.wav>.  

In WL go to Setup/CW/RTTY/SSB messages... and click on the SSB radio button.  Note all the audio file names here are contained in braces such as <msg2.wav.>, <msg3.wav>, etc.  Audio files used by F keys in WL must be contained inside the braces.  You can chain various msgn.wav files together under a single F key.  For example the F6 key could be setup as %C <msg5.wav><msg9.wav><msg25.wav>.  The %C will sound out the other stations call sign if you have made a.wav, b.wav, c.wav, etc. files.  The various msgn.wav files are then played in sequence.  Note that this allows you to create and play many more audio files than just the F2 - F11 and Shifted F2 - F11 keys .

Close the Setup/CW/RTTY/SSB messages... and go to Setup/Port Setup.  Make sure the box for DVK type is set to "Windows sound board".  Next click on the Wave File Locate... button and navigate to your directory of audio files.  Select any one and click Open.  WL now knows where the audio files are located and that it should use your sound card as the DVK.

That should do it!  You may have to adjust the volume of the computer audio output to closely match the level of your mic output so as not to over or under drive the audio files in relation to your voice on the mic.  Let us know how you make out.

73,
Gary AL9A

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Andrei Stchislenok 
  To: Gary AL9A 
  Cc: writelog at contesting.com ; al9a at arrl.net 
  Sent: January 16, 2009 4:33 PM
  Subject: Re: [WriteLog] SSB wav files?

  Gary and all,

  I used Audacity program.
  Recorded several wave files, like 1.wav, 2.wav, cq.wav. In the same configuration, exactly as described.

  I also tried to save it as msg1.wav, msg2.wac etc. Does not make difference.

  Then I created ham/wavefiles/ directory in Writelog and exported all wave files there. Not being sure, if I have to export or "Save project as aup" I also saved files as aup. just in case.

  I tried to "browse" to WL Memory Setup. It does Not browse. WL shows in Memory Setup as "wav" files but wants my wave files in "wl" format, WL does not see wav.files . I do not know how to covert "wav" files into "wl" files, I am not sure if it is necessary.
  If I rename wave files into wl and backeting them <   >, as described in Help file of WL, then I cannot save those  <  >. It looks really confusing  for me at the moment, the Help file regarding SSB wave files, trying hard with zero success so far...
  I hope that this is relatively simple to load those wave files, however the way of explanation there in Help file for me is ... I do not follow so far...

  2009/1/16 Gary AL9A <al9a at mtaonline.net>

    Andrei,

    Apparently you have recorded some audio wav files and saved them somewhere. What software did you use to make the audio files?  Have you followed the required WL naming conventions?   Audio wav files must be named "msgN.wav" where N is the number of the F key.  If you click on an audio file does Windows Media Player (or your default audio player) open the file and play the audio?  One thing to be aware of is that ALL the wav files have to have the same recording properties or some of them will not work.  WL only handles one set of recording specs at a time and cannot mix and match different recording specs.

    Assuming the file names are correct and the recording prosperities are consistent try this.  Instead of sending the computer audio output to the radio input, disconnect the lead to the rig and plug in your headphones to the computer audio out and listen if WL is playing the audio files.  Are they playing as you expect?  Is the rig PTT being keyed?  If you can hear the audio and the PTT is on, WL should be transmitting the audio files when you reconnect the audio out to the radio.

    If this still doesn't work please let me know and provide more info about your audio files and rig interface.

    73,
    Gary AL9A

    ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrei Stchislenok" <asnp3d at gmail.com>
    To: <writelog at contesting.com>; <al9a at arrl.net>
    Sent: January 15, 2009 9:14 PM
    Subject: [WriteLog] SSB wav files?

      "I am new to WL and was wondering if someone could direct me with recording
      some wav files for the F keys?  What do I need?"
      Above is K8SM message, I need the same help, please.

      I am New in SSB using WL and got completely lost. Using WL for RTTY and CW
      long time, but tried SSB wav files - I am new now, nothing work.

      I have read all AL9A Re: [WriteLog] SSB wav files? but got stuck in
      paragraph 7 in the middle:
      "...Click on
      one of the wav files to set the path for WL.
      8. Put your cursor in the Call field of the Entry window and press and F key

      to see if it keys your rig and transmits the audio.  If everything up to
      here was working you should be in business."

      I am Not in business, please Help!

      Thanks,

      Now Andrei NP3D

      -- 
      73's Andrei
      EW1AR-NP3D
      ----------------------------------------------------
      DXCC RTTY via LoTW only
      Who has what? - World Wide Rating
      Please visit: www.k4fo.com/cqrtty/

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  -- 
  73's Andrei
  EW1AR-NP3D
  ----------------------------------------------------
  DXCC RTTY via LoTW only
  Who has what? - World Wide Rating
  Please visit: www.k4fo.com/cqrtty/