Digital+Audio+Futures

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Goal: automate internet audio/video sharing
One requirement of the Soundroom team and the minister is to make this process of recording and posting the sermon on the web less of a chore and more automated. This would also speed up the process of getting Sermon audio posted.

[UPDATE 2014-09-01] The Soundroom has a Pogoplug with local storage now setup to automatically store all sermon and whole service audio in the Soundroom after the recorders are switched from "Bus Powered" to "USB mode". Secure remote access is available to the Soundroom team so that the person who is working on uploading audio doesn't have to physically come to the church to transfer files. More detail will be added in this wiki; the overview diagram of the current setup appears below. The Oscilloscope and Wave Generator (AWG) are used to analyze any feedback or chirping in the system as the Xminilab or Xprotolab devices and Xscopes software can be set to real-time frequency analysis as well as traditional oscilloscope modes. Some ideas being pursued: >> (this is a part of a separate sanctuary update project in 2012)
 * Plan for broadcast of "video" which may initially be still frame with audio, later video and audio
 * upgrade lighting system for both services and special events which will also improve the quality of recorded images whether video or still images
 * Update the audio system used by hearing impaired members and guests
 * The Easy Listening system is a 1980s design, with some receivers over 15 years old. Several attempts at update are documented below.
 * 2 Replacement receivers ordered 2Q2012 and investigation of alternatives including support for Audio Loop
 * 3 Audio Loop headsets for existing receivers available as of end 3Q2012
 * [COMPLETE] Use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device as a way to save recordings automatically and to a secure web site for later audio post processing and then upload to the C3HUU.org server where sermon audio is accessible from this link.
 * The NAS used by staff was not reprogrammable to use with any web service sites explored and has been replaced by a Seagate Freeagent Dockstar with an attached USB hard disk. As noted below, the __Dockstar__ provides support for automatic copy of the Digital Audio Recorder files AND sharing those files without special local setup! Just what the church soundroom crew needed!
 * [COMPLETE] Acquire a second Digital Recorderdedicated to recording ONLY the sermon. Using two inexpensive Digital Recorders has the following advantages:
 * 1) Redundancy: should one recorder fail, or the operator fail to start one, the sermon is very likely to be recorded. We have missed sermons before because the CD recorder or Digital Audio Recorder failed to start or stopped during recording.
 * 2) Simple processing of sermon audio; in most cases the sermon audio file from a dedicated Sermon Audio Recorder could just be renamed and either linked directly from the Dockstar web site or re-posted for a streaming web player.

Digital Hearing Impaired Update
After some members approached us about enhancing the hearing impaired audio system, we looked into a few things: > **//If you have questions about using a T coil equipped hearing device contact soundroom at c3huu.org//**
 * 1) Bluetooth headset and hearing aid support: many new hearing aids, and many inexpensive headsets support Bluetooth "Personal Area Network" wireless transmission of audio. However, the tested Bluetooth transmitters and receivers added a delay which gave a noticable "echo" when used in the sanctuary. All the Bluetooth transmitters reviewed have this "feature" which makes them unsuitable for use in the sanctuary.
 * 2) Hearing Loop: Support for "t loop" or "hearing loop" wireless transmission of audio (click here for details) is common in many hearing aids, and receivers are comparable in price to the current Easy Listening receivers. However the transmitter investment would be on the order of $500-$800. C3HUU now has three "loop necklaces" that plug into the Easy Listener receivers and work with the T coil support built into every hearing aids manufactured since 2000. Several T coil equipped hearing assistance devices have been tested and all reported it worked far better than using a headset or ear buds!

Audio Recording Process
The Digital Audio Recording process has migrated from a simple use of a CD recorder to capture audio from the entire Sunday service. Before late 2008, when someone requested a Sermon Audio the file was extracted from the whole service audio recording which took about an hour from start to finish when the CD was available. After the Marantz CD Recorder became flaky in late 2008, the C3HUU Soundroom team has been recording each and every sermon digitally and whenever possible, posting that online as a linked "podcast" file. There is a separately maintained archive of the whole service audio that is made available when a member or officiant requests them.

The current updated process for the newly acquired Digital Audio Recorders is updated below. The key is to use the Seagate Freeagent Dockstar as a simple, supported device to both transfer files from the Digital Audio Recorders and make it very simple to share and link the Sermon audio to our C3HUU Sermons web page: @http://c3huu.org/sermons

There are other tasks required to update the table on the C3HUU Sermons web page which includes the sermon audio, and they take some extra time, but now they can be performed by another volunteer or two without having to come to church and physically attach the recorders to share digital audio files.

The outline of the whole process, now greatly simplified:

THE FIRST TWO STEPS ARE DONE BY SOUNDROOM VOLUNTEERS ON DAY OF SERVICES: >> >> The steps below are done by one of a few volunteers who have been updating the Dockstar website (Pogoplug.com) editing audio if necessary. > THIS NEXT STEP ONLY REQUIRES PERMISSION TO UPDATE THE GOOGLE DOCS SPREADSHEET: > > NEW for 2012: > The new table on the Sermons page uses a built-in audio player from Wikispaces.com to create a "Podcast" button that plays the audio on most PC or Mac web browsers and on many (but not all) smartphone web browsing apps.
 * 1) Record sermon audio on one Digital Audio Recorder, the smaller Tascam DR-03, the entire service audio on the 2nd Recorder, the larger Tascam DR-07mkII)
 * the Zoom H1 USB cable must be briefly disconnected, then the Zoom H1 turned on to use as the recorder for the whole service, then plug the USB cable back in. Sorry, this is a "feature" of the Zoom H1 recorder. The Zoom H1 broke in Fall 2011 and has been replaced by a Tascam DR-07 recorder.
 * the Tascam DR-03 presents a menu when it is turned on and attached to a USB port. Push the key just below the screen and to the left of center activate the unit so that is powered by the connected PC before recording the sermon. Now you will see a logo and then the familiar screen showing time to record and a VU meter
 * the Tascam DR-07 shows a menu when it comes on, use the up/down arrow key to turn it to "Recorder" to record mode.
 * 1) After the service, reset both Digital Audio Recorders so that they are now connected via the always attached USB cables to the Freeagent Dockstar
 * turn the Tascam DR-03 off (slide switch on the left) and back on, this time press the key just below the screen and to the right of center. The DR-03 will now turn on and show "USB mode" on the screen
 * turn the Tascam DR-07 off, then back on, and use the up/down arrow keys to select "Storage" mode
 * Within at most 3 minutes all files are copied from the recorders and shared to a Dockstar web site. The Tascam DR-03 and the Zoom H1 give no visible indication that the copy operation has completed, so allow another two minutes for the Tascam DR-03 and Tascam DR-07 recorders to complete the file update on the Freeagent Dockstar.
 * 1) Log into the Dockstar web site, locate and click on the audio file to be shared. A URL will pop up in a window.
 * 2) Create a new row in the Google Doc Sermon spreadsheet at the InputSermonData tab by INSERTING a row above the prior entry (row 3), then enter the new sermon date in the first column, the type of file in column F (at this time either "WMA File" or "MP3 File" and copy the URL from step 3 to column G in this new row 3 data. The Sermon Audio spreadsheet has links to the online audio and related information about services and sermons.
 * 1) Update the information about the Celebrant, Sermon, Audio file, and any related text on the Sermon Audio spreadsheet.
 * 1) Take the better sermon audio file if there are two and only if there is an MP3 version, and upload it to c3h.wikispaces.com, then update the table here with the same information on Celebrant, Sermon title, and link in the uploaded audio file to the table on this wiki page: @http://c3huu.org/sermons

The Spreadsheet is always linked to the web page listed above, @http://c3huu.org/sermons, so whenever information is updated the web page is updated automatically. Note that steps 1 and 2 can be performed by one person, step 3 and 4 by another person and step 5 above can be done separately by staff or yet another volunteer. Way back when recordable CDs stored the service audio, the process outlined above was spread across 3 volunteers. Many entries in this spreadsheet where have either no audio, no linked bulletin, or no sermon text available. Over time, several of us did our best to take advantage of what information we had and the relatively recent practice of posting all the Sunday service bulletins.

The following sections are in //**reverse**// chronological order to keep a historical record and so that the most recent (and most pertinent) information is at the top.

Seagate Dockstar installed
On Sunday 2011-01-23 a Seagate Freeagent Dockstar plus a Seagate Freeagent Go 320GB disk drive replaced the TS-109 NAS as the repository for C3H sermon audio. The reasons and results:
 * With trivial setup, the Freeagent Dockstarshared files and succesfully copied files directly accessible from the web after the service! The audio file from the 01-23 and 01-30 sermons was shared directly with no editing!
 * The copied sound files preserve time stamps when the copy is done from a USB connected device to the Freeagent Dockstar. Copies from the web site to other sites do NOT preserve the time and date.
 * Several Soundroom staff have successfully used the new process outlined above and a training session will be scheduled in Feb 2011 on the entire process of capturing and sharing sermon audio.
 * Custom programming developed for the QNAP TS-109 required church staff to contact a network vendor to change firewall settings. That task was never completed. With the __Dockstar__ no extra staff or vendor support is required.
 * The TS-109 NAS was not keeping the date and time stamp of files copied from the Digital Audio Recorders.
 * Separate issue: need to make sure when batteries are changed that the Digital Audio Recorder date and time stamp is correct! Fixed on the Zoom H1 by using a compatible external USB power supply.
 * The C3H Network support never responded and opened a port in the firewall, thus there was never a way to have files shared from the QNAP NAS device to the web site. The Seagate Freeagent Dockstar has a custom external web site (dockstar.pogoplug.com) which works with the Dockstar device to share files WITHOUT requiring special local firewall changes.

Storage with Seagate Dockstar
The Seagate Freeagent Dockstar requires local storage. Here are the alternatives tested. We started with a USB attached single SATA drive with automated copy of the files to a separate backup location on the web. That process is very simple and reliable, BUT when I went to restore a file from the backup, the file came back just fine, but the LINK to the file from the Dockstar web site no longer worked! If there is a failure of the local hard disk, every link on the Freeagent Dockstar web site would have to be redone, one by one. Not a recovery scenario we find acceptable, so the move to a mirrored InfoSHARE server as documented below.

To mitigate against this all too common failure, a second alternative is under test: a Dockstar and an [|InfoSafe small, two disk drive RAID-1 storage device just about twice as thick as the current USB attached drive]. The InfoSafe is being tested prior to installation at C3HUU and includes an external power supply, which will be attached to the UPS (battery backup) in the Soundroom. With this two disk drive in a single box solution, if either disk drive fails, then the other disk drive continues to work just the same, same links, same everything. After the red LED shows that a single disk drive has failed, then a new drive can be put in the enclosure and after a few minutes both drives will be ready to back each other up.

One other possible failure mode was noticed on the Freeagent Dockstar, so two partitions with identical data have been created using the Active Copy function of the Freeagent Dockstar. This data is protected two different ways on the Freeagent Dockstar and attached USB drives and across the network. In addition, an InfoSHARE mirrored USB attach device with two 2.5" disk drives has been installed and all files are being migrated to this storage device attached to the Freeagent Dockstar.

Tascam Audio Recorder added
On Sunday 2010-11-28, a second Digital Audio Recorder was hooked up to the Soundboard and tested. Here is a summary of the results: > @http://sn.im/C3HSermon2-20110206.wma refers to the C3HUU 2nd (1115am) Sermon given on 2011-02-06 (6Feb2011).
 * A second Digital Audio Recorder didn't work when connected with a Y connector to the same audio output from the Soundboard and split off to a WS-400s and the Olympus VN5200PC digital recorders. We had to remove the second recorder to get adequate volume and no distortion on the VN5200PC (drawing to be added).
 * Recording just the sermon on a second recorder does make post processing easier, BUT then there are uploads from two digital recorders.
 * The QNAP TS-109 NAS device single button copy does work to copy all audio from the VN5200PC and WS-400s digital recorders, when done one recorder at a time, but the programming gets tricky when both recorders are connected at the same time. The QNAP TS-109 NAS does allow for some reprogramming of the single button on the top of the unit, but reprogramming the button led to hundreds of e-mail warning messages from the NAS to the staff ITServe e-mail address. A change was made in the alert e-mail address and more sophisticated reprogramming was started, BUT after we realized the C3H Network ssh port was not going to be opened, we abandoned this way of semi-automating audio processing.
 * When post-processing using the One Touch Button on the QNAP NAS, the filenames are in the arcane Olympus or Zoom formats, and the copy function eliminates the date and time stamps that the digital recorder puts on the files! This has to be fixed, so using the Linux hotplug function, rsync/rdiff, or cron utility are preferable to maintain time/date stamps on the files, but still requires some post-processing programming effort, sigh. Thus the Freeagent Dockstar serves as a more appropriate pl[[image:dr03_right.jpg width="160" height="308" align="right" caption="Tascam DR3 Recorder"]]atform since it preserves time/date stamps on audio files. Using the sn.im web site, we now assign recognizable filenames to the arcane names the recorders create. Thus,
 * Replace the Olympus audio recorder which cannot run off external power and creates only WMA files that are not directly editable:
 * A second Zoom H1 looked ideal, BUT the files from each of two different recorders would have identical names which would make the job of locating and sharing files much more difficult.
 * Several alternatives were located, and the highest rated sub-$100 recorder was ordered which has all features from the Zoom H1 including: external USB power, has auto-volume control, creates MP3 files directly, and can be switched between computer connected mode and digital recorder mode without uncabling the unit: the Tascam DR-03 and other Tascam DR series recorders.
 * This Tascam DR-03 has an additional feature well suited as a Sermon recorder: Depressing the RECORD button for a few seconds puts the recorder in a "pre-recording mode" where it is always recording and when the RECORD button is pressed again, the previous 2 seconds of audio are included on the recorded MP3 file. The Tascam DR-03 can also be setup to stay on for up to 30 minutes in STANDBY mode. This is great for recording the sermon during the service as one often quickly realizes a need to hit the RECORD buttion just as the Sermon is starting which is often approximately 30 minutes into the service!
 * After initial testing in 2011, 64kb mono MP3 recording was chosen for the DR-03 for sermon audio which create 8-12MB sermon audio files. Some digitizing noise was noticed when the recording signal is low. Testing in 2012 showed that there is almost no noise when the DR-03 is set to 160kb mono MP3, and reduced noise when set to 96kb mono MP3 mode. The latter was chosen since C3H has a 20MB limit on files uploaded to c3huu.org in order to use the built-in streaming audio player. 160kb mono MP3 files would often be approx 25-20MB. Note the DR-07 set to the same settings has no perceived digitizing noise. Update 2012-05-16: setting the Voice Boost equalization and 96kb mono MP3 seems to eliminate digitizing noise similar to setting 160kb mono MP3 setting. But this setting should keep sermon audio within the 20MB limit.
 * An InfoSHARE dual-drive USB attach hard disk is attached to the Freeagent Dockstar. This mirrored drive housing will continue to work even if one of the two hard disks in the InfoSHARE device fail.
 * The Pogoplug service which hosts the Dockstar software has added 5GB of Pogoplug Cloud Storage at no extra charge. By setting the Sermon Audio files to backup when created to this Cloud storage, the files are available and access to the sermon audio does not depend on the Dockstar server in the Soundroom. Sermons created since March 2012 use the Pogoplug Cloud Storage.
 * The Olympus VN-5200PC continued to be used as the second recorder until Fall 2011, then it was replaced by a Tascam DR-07mkII acquired on sale for $20 more than the DR-03. This Tascam operates very similarly to a Zoom H4 and allows the cable to stay connected and switch to USB mode to upload audio. The DR-07 recorder is used for whole sermon audio recording.

Several Soundroom volunteers have asked that the two recorders be more usable, and if possible identical. The Sanctuary upgrade planning committee is considering upgrade of audio recording process and equipment as part of its planning exercise in 2Q2012.

See more notes on the development directory on the QNAP TS-109 NAS at 7tnas-ts109a:/share/HDA_DATA/Public/C3HUU/Soundroom

Zoom Audio Recorder
The Zoom series of recorders receives excellent reviews, and records directly to the editable WAV or MP3 formats. A Zoom H1 Recorder was located locally for under $100. Our C3H Technology guy has acquired one for testing in the C3H Soundroom. Features include:
 * One button record operation, there is //ONLY ONE// button on top to operate the recorder after it is switched on
 * Stereo operation, including built-in stereo microphones, but this requires a mono to stereo 1/8" adapter for the Soundboard (which is currently mono only)
 * About 20% taller than the Olympus, but otherwise similar size and weight to the Olympus recorder
 * Takes a single AA rechargeable battery thought it only runs about 6 hours per charge, the recorder can run off USB port power if needed
 * Low (8-50 ohm) or medium (100-1k ohm) impedance audio input, so no need to devise an impedance matching circuit when connecting to the soundboard
 * Backlit display which is on during the start of a recording session
 * Built in Volume Unit (VU) meter is always on display screen when recording or replaying, regardless of other recorder settings
 * DIrectly records MP3 or BWF (a form of WAV format that allows markers to be placed similar to the Olympus recorder)[[image:ZoomH1.jpg width="187" height="234" align="right" caption="Zoom H1 Recorder"]]

This recorder is far more capable as a music recorder than the VN5200PC used for the past year to record audio. The performance as a digital recorder rivals the professional dual-microphone digital recorder our Music Director owns. Some ideas for how to effectively use this device and the Olympus VN5200PC to record services and get the sermon audio online more quickly with less manual effort:

Quick Guide: Recording of Services
To record both a service and sermon, here is a suggested set of steps:
 * Record entire service on this Zoom unit, while reserving the Olympus VN5200PC as the //sermon only// recorder. Proposed process:
 * Preparation for recording:
 * Make sure that the Zoom H1 (black) and Olympus VN5200PC (dark red) recorders on the black stand with wires running in the block, the top controls for both units are now readily accessible.
 * Each has a labeled audio wire from the Soundboard connected. Make sure the wires are connected to the MIC input, not the EARPHONE output, on the recorders.
 * Each recorder has a labeled audio input connector and the Zoom H1 has a power connector. Insure the audio input connector is plugged into the MIC or LINE input not the EARPHONE output.
 * There are extra AAA batteries for the Olympus recorder (it takes two) and AA batteries for the Zoom H1 recorder (it takes 1) in the top drawer with the audio recorder accessories. The Zoom H1 is plugged into a USB power adapter all the time, so it should not need the batteries to be changed or tested. If the battery indicator drops below "1/2" in the battery display window of either recorder, then change to freshly charged batteries before recording.
 * Turn both the recorders on before a Service, push them back into the holder
 * for the Zoom H1, slide the power switch on the right side of the unit down toward the bottom of the unit and hold it in this position for about 1s, the recoder will respond with "Hi" on the screen and start
 * for the Olympus VN5200PC, slide the switch on the upper left of the unit down from the "Hold" position and let it stay there, the recorder will display information on the last recorded audio file
 * Recording the Service and Sermon:
 * Just before the prelude music starts, hit the front RECORD button on the Zoom H1 recorder, the recording red LED will turn on just above the display screen
 * Just before the Sermon starts, hit the RECORD button on the Olympus VN5200PC recorder, the recording LED will turn on and the display will now show VU bars at the bottom of the screen
 * just after the Sermon ends, hit the STOP button on the Olympus VN5200PC recorder, the Olympus recorder red LED will turn off and the display will stop showing the VU bars at the bottom of the display screen
 * just after singing "shalom..." ends the service, hit the RECORD button again on top of the Zoom H1 recorder, the recording LED will turn off and the display will now show total time remaining on the recorder memory card
 * Disconnect the cables and remove both recorders from the black recording stand by pushing the button on the plastic posts that hold the recorders in place and releasing the slight pressure holding the recorders in place
 * Connect both recorders to the cables connected to the Seagate Freeagent Dockstar device that is to the left of the Soundboard. Once connected, the audio files will automatically be transferred to the Seagate Dockstar hard drive and transferred to a secure web site for later processing. The directions for sharing the data files on the Sermon web page are still a work in progress.
 * After the audio files are transferred to the Dockstar, which takes no more than 3 minutes, PLEASE turn both recorders OFF and put them back in the black recording stand behind the Soundboard.

The directions above assume that no one has changed the settings on the digital recorders and connections from the Soundboard to the digital recorders has been made using the labeled cables.

For C3H use, here are some ideas for using this professional quality digital recorder:
 * 1) For Services, including the Sermon as described above, as Backup unit for Sermon since extracting the Sermon audio from the whole Service audio will still require audio editing
 * 2) For recording audio from ANY event, since the device can easily be put on the small tripod which is in the same drawer with the recorder and setup on the lectern or on a table

We hope this device will prove useful and allow for rapid posting of the audio from the Service, as well as provide a backup device should there be any problem with the VN5200PC as a Sermon only recorder.

Requirements of C3H Staff and Soundroom Team

 * Staff:
 * Make audio available to select best Sermon if there were two
 * More quickly post audio after service
 * Remove dependence upon one or just a couple of trained people to create audio on web
 * Soundroom Team
 * Simplify process to upload sermon audio
 * Have a backup for one method failing (the original reason for moving to digital recorders is that the CD recorder began failing frequently)

Related Web Pages

 * Hearing Assistance work at C3HUU
 * Soundroom organization at C3HUU
 * Sermon Audio Recording
 * @Content from the Sanctuary
 * C3H Announcement of Digital Audio
 * Audio file calculator
 * Digital Audio Recorders & Accessories:
 * Olympus VN-5200PC product page
 * Zoom H1 Product Page
 * Tascam DR3 Product Page
 * Zoom H1 Accessory pack
 * Muff head mic windscreen for Zoom H1
 * Zoom H1 cheap alternative case