[WriteLog] Setting up to play recorded messages and Record on-the-fly

[K6UFO Mark Aaker]

Three people have asked me questions about setting up Writelog to play recorded 
audio messages for Field Day, and also wanted to use "record-on-the-fly" to 
change the messages with new operators.  I pulled together this quick 
explanation and checklist.  I'm sending it to the Writelog email reflector in 
case anyone else can use it.  Sorry for any errors or ommissions...
K6UFO "Mork"

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Using recorded messages stored on the computer with Writelog there are three parts:

1. The audio connections from the microphone to the computer to the radio.
See http://writelog.com/support2/sound-board-setup
The microphone goes to the Mic input on the computer soundcard (needed for record-on-the-fly).

The Line Out or Speaker Out of the computer soundcard goes through an attenuator to the 
Mic In on the radio. (Alternate: The Line Out of the computer soundcard goes to the Line In on the radio.)

2. The radio needs to be set to select from the appropriate audio input Mic In or Line In.

3. Writelog needs to be setup. Most of these settings are automatic, but you may need to 
check them and change some. Open a contest log where voice is an allowed mode.

Writelog must think the radio is in  a voice mode. E.g., the box to the left of the entry line 
must show a voice mode like: "14340 kHz USB"

Under menu "Setup, Ports..." set the "DVK type" to "Windows sound board" and 
select the button "Wave File Locate" and set it to a directory like .../Writelog/Wavefiles
Click and open any .wav file in the directory to set the path.

Under menu "Setup, CW/RTTY/SSB messages.." click the SSB button in the bottom right 
and see that the messages are set like F2: <msg2.wav>. 

"Under menu "Tools, Sound board options..."  check the boxes for "Enable Recording Loop" 
and "Echo Microphone".

Writelog should now be able to play a recorded msg2.wav file.  If you record your files outside 
of Writelog make sure they are in format  PCM 11.025 kHz, 16 Bit, Mono.

For "record-on-the-fly" the Writelog program needs to be setup to allow Shift-Fn to be the record 
function, instead of playing the second bank of recorded messages (e.g. <msg12.wav> through 
<msg21.wav>).  To check, go to "Tools, Keyboard Shortcuts..."  Then, in the upper box, you 
can scroll down and see how "Shift+F02" is set to. 
For playing a second set of messages it should be set to --> MessageShiftPh02
For record-on-the-fly it should be set to --> MessageShift02

You can also use the Writelog Help file. Look for example for:
"Sound Board Voice Keying"
"Sound Board Interfacing"

You can search the Writelog email reflector at:
http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/WriteLog/

K9JY has many helpful articles at:
http://k9jy.com/blog/

AA5AU has many helpful articles and tutorials using Writelog for RTTY operation at:
http://www.rttycontesting.com/    click on "Tutorials Page".

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