Audio/Video/Photos Record/Playback

Now, as of v. 4.0, you can record both audio and video, the latter two if you have an iPad2. Even with the original iPad, if you have and alternative means of video recording, such an an iPhone, you can record the video and import it and store it (and other videos) with the speech, then play it (them) back on the iPad. Photos can be taken on an iPad2 and can be imported/exported on any iPad. The above control panel is essentially the same for both audio and video, except that, for now at least, the volume control and the "Pause" button won't work on video recording. Also, if you turn off video or have an original iPad, the switches for "Preview", "Controls", and "Camera" will not show. However, original iPad users can import photos and videos via iTunes, Dropbox, or the Photos app and display them.

File Management.

For audio, video, or photos, a list of media file names, for the selected script and indicated media type, will appear in the file picker. If nothing has been recorded (audio/video), the title "Default" will show. Tapping "+" will add a new "untitled" file name, which you can edit in the text entry field. Any file name can be changed by selected and editing it. File names do not automatically have files, unless one has been recorded or imported. If a media file does exists, the name will appear in red instead of black, and (hopefully) can be played. Tapping "-" will remove a file name and any associated media file. If a file is in use, you will encounter an alert and will not be allowed to delete it.

Assuming the AV device is in the "stopped" state, the selected file is the one which will be played or recorded to when you tap Play or Record. Changing the selected file will not affect a currently playing, recording, or paused file. If the current selection is not the one in use, to play or record to the new current selection, you must first stop any media currently in use.

Audio recording and playback functions are self-contained in the popover under the "R" symbol at the top of the Prompter screen, thus providing maximum convenience and accessibility. The basic controls are the same as any standard recorder, i.e., PLAY, RECORD, PAUSE, and STOP. The easiest way to start is to simply press RECORD, which, if no file name is shown, will automatically create a "default" file and begin recording until STOP is pressed. Audio recording (but not video recording) can be paused at any time by pressing PAUSE, then resumed later by pressing the RECORD button again.

Note that anytime a file is already selected, and RECORD is pressed, any existing (selected) file will be deleted and overwritten. This action will first result in a warning if the WARNING switch is ON (the default setting), which will allow you to either cancel or continue. There will be a short delay before recording commences.

The LEVEL indicator gives you confirmation that the device is recording. Likewise, it also shows the relative sound levels when playing an audio file, but not for video playback (danged Apple, Inc.). Time (since start) is shown when recording or when playing a file.

When not recording, any (selected) file can be played-back by pressing the PLAY button. Playback can be paused/resumed at anytime by pressing the PAUSE button, or stopped by pressing STOP. While playing a file, or when paused, the scrub slider can be used to set the time-position into the file where "play" will jump to or will resume. Note that when a audio or video finishes playing, it will stop in the "pause" state, not "stop". This is so you can scrub back to a previous point to play. When at the end, the "PLAY" button will be enabled, but will not go anywhere because you are at the end. To start at the beginning, or to start playing a new video selection, tap "STOP" first, then "PLAY".

AutoRecord: This is a convenience feature which, if set, will automatically start a new recording to the selected file when BEGIN is pressed in the Prompter screen. Recording will automatically terminate when "STOP" is pressed in the Prompter screen, or the end of the prompter scroll is reached. (Again, see note above about warnings and file overwriting.)

The "Exp" button allows the selected audio or video file to be exported by a selected means, as described in the Import-Export section. With the "Im" button, audio files of type ".caf" (more types later -- we're working on that) and video files of type ".mov" can be imported by selected means, also described in the Import-Export section.

Audio Settings.

You can now select from any of the codecs available on the iPad, and set parameters (for each) as desired. You can also just select "Podcast" (the default setting) and be done with it. The default uses the superior AAC codes, which should give you the best result for quality and file size for most usage. If you like, you can experiment with different settings to see how they affect quality and file size.

Video.