Updated 09/28/2022
Contents
2.3 Running Deposition Recorder 4
3.2 Session Manager (Record A Session) 6
3.3 Session Manager (Review An Existing Session) 7
4.2 Session Manager Configuration 15
5.1 Starting and Stopping Recorder 16
5.2 Annotating During Record 16
6.1 Playing back Audio During Recording 21
6.2.1 Player Audio Controls 21
6.3 Player Annotations Window 24
6.3.1 Playing back annotation 25
6.3.3 Adding Annotation during Playback 26
6.3.3 Editing an Annotation 27
6.3.5 Searching Annotations 28
7. Copying and Exporting Media 30
7.1 Copying Session for playback with Veri-Core Public Player 30
7.2 Exporting Session for playback on standard media player 32
VoiceScript Reporter Studio Pro software allows users to record audio and optional video. It was designed for recording depositions, meetings or courtroom proceedings. It allows people to record the audio and video with the ability to annotate or tag notes to the media with system generated timestamps as it is being recorded or post recording in played back. It can be interfaced with a wide assortment of audio interface devices, cameras and video capture cards.
Reporter Studio Pro was designed to provide users an easy to use tool for recording and annotating proceedings that require a verbatim record. It was designed to decrease user training time and increase productivity. It is packed only with features that afford users with all the critical tools they need to record, annotate and copy their recordings.
Windows 10
● An Audio Interface Device with ASIO interface driver.
● Or a USB microphone with WASAPI drivers
● Optionally, a WDM Web Camera (Directshow or Media Foundation).
● Optionally, a USB speaker for recording from video conferencing platforms like Zoom
● Minimum of 512MiB RAM, recommend 1 GiB or more for video recording or for use with video conferencing platforms
● If using HD video we recommend at least a 2Ghz Dual-Core processor or more
1. Double click on the VoiceScriptSetup.msi file to run the installer.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions and accept all defaults.
The Reporter Studio Pro installer creates a Reporter Studio Pro Startup icon on the desktop and under the Start Menu under Programs section. Double click this to run Reporter Studio Pro.
Reporter Studio Pro incorporates an intuitive design that guides the users to the desired functionality they require. It allows new users the ability to get started faster.
The “Start Up” window allows the user to select whether you want to record or open an existing session (Review an existing session).
● Record A Session will allow you to enter the mode of recording a session. After selecting, a new window will appear which will allow you to select either “Create A New Recording” or “Add To An Existing Recording.”
● “Review An Existing Session” will allow you to open previous sessions that were recorded with Reporter Studio Pro.
Figure 3.2.1 Recorder Session Manager Window
After selecting “Record A Session,” a Record A Session window will appear: The session manager window lists all of the recordings you have recorded or stored on your system. In this window you will see a list of session descriptions associated to each recording. Each session description has listed next to it the amount of hours the session was recorded.
All session descriptions that are created are daily sessions. If a session description is selected again for another day, it will keep the same name but will create the recording with the current date.
● Create New - Selecting this option will allow you to create a new recording along with a new session name.
● Open For Recording - Selecting this option will allow you to open an existing recording.
After selecting “Review An Existing Session,” a Sessions Found In new window will appear:
The session manager window lists all of the recordings you have recorded or stored on your system. In this window, you will see a list of session descriptions associated to each recording. Each session description has listed next to it the amount of hours the session was recorded.
All session descriptions that are created are daily sessions. If a session description is selected again for another day, it will keep the same name but will create the recording with the current date.
● Export To
Selecting a session description and then selecting this option will allow you to export an audio and video AVI container file. This file can be played in standard media players like Window Media Player, Media Player Classic and others. This file contains all videochannels and a single mix-down of all the audio channels.
● Open For Review
Selecting a session description and then selecting this option will allow you to open up a previous recording. This will open a second window asking you to select the day that the recording was recorded.
After selecting “Create a New Recording” a
window will open asking you to enter a description for this session. Click the OK button when you have finished
typing the name to be assigned to the recording session.
This will open a “Record Session Settings” window. Confirm that your settings are correct and click on the Confirm Settings and Continue button.
Now the recording window will appear. The recording window allows you to control and monitor the state of the recorder. Additionally, it allows you to input live annotations using the two white input fields at the bottom of the recorder window.
● Session Description - This is the name you gave your recording session after you clicked on Create a New Recording.
● Recorder Time - Once the recorder is recording, this will display the current live time of the recorder.
● Channel Levels - Channel levels reflect the audio levels of the live audio coming from the audio device.
● Annotation Box - The two white input fields at the bottom of the recorder window will allow you to enter annotations. The first field on the bottom left is the speaker designation box. The second field on the bottom right is the event box. Once text is added to either of the two text field boxes, a timestamp is displayed to the left of the speaker designation box. This timestamp will be the timestamp entered for the annotation when it is submitted by hitting the enter key.
Bar Menu
File → Launch Player
● You can open up the Player related to this recording anytime by clicking on this option. If you close the player window you can always re-open by clicking this option.
Files → Runtime Options → Hotkeys
● This option will open a window allowing you to add, edit and list hot keys.
File → Configuration
● Allows you to configure the recorder, configuration for audio devices, video devices and other parameters.
File → Export
● Exports standard media video file in AVI format. You can play this file with standard media players (i.e., Windows Media Player and other media players).
The Player allows users to play back any combination of channels, or all digital audio channels that were recorded along with the optionalvideo stream. The user interfaceprovides a metered visual indication of the channels being played back. Easily and quickly jump to desired times using the player’s slider control, double clicking on the corresponding annotation, or using the reverse and forward controls. Player provides a visual indicator to quickly determine when audio was recorded during any session time. The Player is compatible with transcription hardware (for example, a USB foot pedal). The Player provides volume controls at the master level as well as individual channel levels. Included is a control to increase or decrease the speed with which the content is playing while maintaining audio pitch.
Upon opening the “Recorder” window, the recorder will always prompt you to verify your configuration. This window will still reappear every time the recorder is opened even after setting the configuration the first time. If no changes are necessary when you utilize the recorder in the future you can bypass the configuration window by clicking on: “Confirm Settings” and “Continue.”
The recorder software supports multi-channel ASIO audio devices and single channel WASAPI devices.
Select Driver Type
Select either ASIO if using a multi-channel audio capture device or WASAPI if using a single-channel devices such as a USB microphone.
Selected Capture Driver
Click on the “Select” button to display a list of attached devices. Click to highlight the desired device and click on the OK button
Selected Loopback Driver
If recording from a video conferencing platform such as Zoom you will want to capture the direct audio Zoom is sending out your speaker. Click on the “Select” button to display a list of attached speakers, highlight the desired speaker and click on the OK button
Audio Driver Sampling Rate
The audio device sample rate. Outside of the recorder, the hardware
ASIO driver for the device allows you to configure a sample rate. Once
you set the sample rate on the hardware ASIO driver, you can set the sample ratehere to match. Usually, this is configured to either 44100 or 48000.
Channels To Use
“Channels To Use” is the total amount of channels you want the recorder to capture. The channel count will capture every channel from channel one on up and assign them to the recorder in an ascending order.
Video Enabled
This setting enables the recorder to capture video.
Selected Video Driver
On this setting you can select the video device you want to capture from. All the devices listed in this box are queried from DirectShow devices.
Video Capture Resolution
Video resolution is related to the video capture device you are capturing from. You can select the resolution you would like to capture your video in. After selecting the video device from the “Selected Video Driver” box, you can then configure the resolution.
Video Recording Preference (MJPEG)
This setting allows you to set the compression ratio for the recorded video. Setting this setting too high will save you drive space but will lower the quality of your video. Setting this setting too low will consume more drive space but offer you higher quality video.
The session manager is used to browse, open and create recordings. The session manager only has one configuration setting that needs to be configured. Under the “Deposition Start Up” window you can configure the directory as follows.
1. Open VoiceScript Startup Manager.
2. Click Options.
3. Click Settings.
4. Under Master Data Folder, click Change.
5. A “Select Root Data” folder window will appear. Type in the name of the directory you would like to configure all recording sessions saved and browsed to. Or click browse to browse to the location. Click OK.
Now, Session Manager should store and browse all recordings in that directory.
The recorder allows you to control and monitor the recording process. This window will allow you to start and stop a recording, displays the session name, displays all live audio channels as level meters and allows you to enter live annotations.
To start the recorder click the “Push to Record” button. After it is clicked, the button will change to a red color and the text will change to “Recording”.
The annotation entry fields at the bottom of the recording window will allow you to enter live annotations. These annotations are based on the current time. Once you type input into either the speaker designation field or the event field, the timestamp to the left of the speaker box will populate with the current time. After you have completed typing your input, you can press enter and this will submit your annotation to the annotation list.
The hotkeys window allows you to define keys or combinations of key presses (i.e., Ctrl-F1, Ctrl-F2) that can be associated to text inputs that you define.
Once you define a list of hotkeys, you can utilize them by clicking on the Recorder window and pressing the key that you defined.
The hotkey window can be opened by clicking on File/Runtime Options/Hotkeys.
The hotkey window will allow you to add, edit or delete hotkeys. Inside this window all of the defined hotkeys will be shown in the list view. You can edit or delete any hot key by clicking on it and clicking edit or delete.
You can keep this window up during a recording session while you annotate to serve as a reference window for your hotkeys.
Hotkey Attributes Window: Add
and Edit Hotkeys
The “Hotkey Attributes” window is used for both adding and editing hotkeys. In this window you can define your hotkey. The first two check boxes allow you to optionally add a combination of keys: Ctrl and/or Shift. The drop down selection is a required field which will allow you to define the unique hotkey you desire.
Speaker and Event Fields:
Both Speaker and Event text can be defined if desired. You can leave one blank if you desire.
Speaker field Auto-Tab To Event Field checkbox:
Under the speaker field, the check box “Auto-Tab” to event only works if “Auto-Submit” to database is not selected. Enabling auto-tab will program your hotkey to enter text into the speaker box and then will tab over to the speaker box allowing you to enter additional text.
Auto-Submit To Database Checkbox:
The last checkbox on the window, the “Auto Submit To Database” checkbox will submit the defined hotkey speaker and event text directly to the annotation list. This option overrides the default behavior of the hot key to auto-fill the text in the annotator entry box on the recorder. This enables the hotkey to become a direct entry into the annotation list without further input from the user.
Adding Hotkey
1. Click Add
2. In “Hotkeys Attribute” window, define your hotkey.
3. Click OK
Deleting Hot Key
1. Select hotkey in the list view inside the hotkey editor window.
2. Click Delete
Editing Hotkey:
1. Select hotkey in the list view inside the hotkey editor window.
2. Click Edit.
3. In Hotkeys Attribute window, edit your hotkey.
4. Click OK.
You can create a hotkey template to restore saved hotkeys on any recording. You need to type a template name into the text box under "Templates" and select "Open." Any templates you create in the new template window that comes up with be saved in the template. To load those hotkeys, select the Load option in the main hotkey window.
The Player allows users to play back any combination of channels, or all digital audio channels that were recorded along with the optional video stream. The user interface provides a metered visual indication of the channels being played back. Easily and quickly jump to desired times using the Player’s slider control, double clicking on the corresponding annotation, or using the reverse and forward controls. Player provides a visual indicator to quickly determine when audio was recorded during any session time. The Player is compatible with transcription hardware ( for example, a foot pedal). The Player provides volume controls at the master level as well as individual channel levels. Included is a control to increase or decrease the speed with which the content is playing while maintaining pitch.
Anytime you are recording a session, you have the ability to playback content as the session is being recorded. All the controls defined in “Play Controls” and annotations are operational during recording. You have full control to browse the entire recording.
Master Volume Control - Using the mouse, click and drag this control up and down to increase or decrease the overall master volume. This can also be accomplished by using CTRL-ALT- to increase the volume and CTRL-ALT- to decrease the volume.
Channel Volume - Using the mouse, click and drag this control up and down to increase or decrease the volume to the corresponding channel.
Master Mute – Using the mouse, click on the master mute control to mute the audio from all of the audio channels. Click on the control again to un-mute the audio from all of the audio channels.
Individual Channel Mute - Using the mouse, click on the mute control to mute the audio the channel or use CTRL-(channel number) from the keyboard (example: CTRL-1). Click on the control again to un-mute the audio for that channelor use the CTRL-(channel number). Additionally, using CTRL-0 will un-mute all channels muted channels.
Reverse - Using the mouse, click on this control to reverse the current play time of the content. Each click of the mouse will reverse the playtime by the configured time. See “Advanced Configuration” to adjust this setting. Alternately, using the CTRL-ALT-¬ will reverse the current play time. Click and hold the mouse on this control to continuously reverse the current play time.
Play/Pause - Using the mouse, click this control to begin playing the content in the Player.
Click this control again to pause the playback of the content on the keyboard. This can also be accomplished by simply using the CTRL-BREAK keys.
Fast Forward - Using the mouse, click on the control to advance the current playtime of the content. Each click of the mouse will advance the playtime by the configured time. See
“Advanced Configuration” to adjust this setting. Alternately using the CTRL-ALT-® will advance the current play time. Click and hold the mouse on this control to continuously advance the current play time.
Using this control you can adjust the rate at which the content is played. The content can be played at an increased speed speeding up the content, or a decreased speed slowing down the content. Using the mouse, click on the control. Use the mouse to click and drag the slide control to increase or decrease the rate of playback. The number displayed in the control will show the rate of playback speed selected. To return to normal speed, click on the 1X option. You can also increase the speed with which the content plays by using CTRL-ALT- and reduce the speed using CTRL-ALT-.
Begin Session Time – This represents the beginning time of the content you have loaded in the Player. If the session is from an original recording or an archive of an original recording, then this will represent the first time the recording was started on the date displayed in the message area. If this is a copy of a recorded session, then this time will represent the beginning time of the copy.
Current Play Time – This time represents the currently cued up time of the recording session. This could be the time of the content that is currently playing or cued up in a paused state.
Recorded Audio Indicator – This timeline represents the entire audio available in the loaded session for playback. The grey shading indicates times when audio was recorded. The white areas indicates time when no audio was recorded.
End Session Time – This represents the end time of the total content you have loaded in the Public Player. If the session is from an original recording or an archive of an original recording, then this will represent the last time the recording was started on the date displayed in the message area. If this is a copy of a recorded session, then this time will represent the end time of the copy.
Player Time Select Control – This control is manipulated with the mouse. Using the mouse you can click on the triangle shaped image to drag the control up and down the Player timeline. As the control is dragged along the Player timeline the associated time is displayed. Releasing the image from the mouse will begin the playback of the time associated with the position of the image. This will now also be represented in the current play time.
Session Recorder Name – This is the name of the recorder that originally recorded the session. This name is assigned to all of the content (audio, video and annotations) at the time of the recording. This name will always remain with the recorded content.
Session Date – This is the date of the original recorded session. This date is assigned to all of the content (audio, video and annotations) at the time of the recording. This date will always remain with the recorded content.
Total Recorded Content Time – This time represents the total run time of the actual recorded session. This total time is calculated by calculating the time contained between all of the start and stop recordings. This time does not include any lapse of time when no content was recorded.
Annotations are generated two ways at the time of the recording; system generated and user generated. System generated annotations are created from the recorder when certain events occur such as starting and stopping the recording. User generated annotations are created when a user types annotations. All annotations are assigned a timestamp at the time of creation that link the text to the recorded audio and video.
The annotations included with the recorded content have a direct connection to the audio and video. Each annotation has a timestamp associated with the annotation linking it to the content. Double clicking on an annotation from the annotation table will initiate the playback of the audio/video content.
This will allow the user to edit existing annotation as well as add additional annotations. You must first enable annotation editing by right clicking on the annotation table and clicking “Allow Annotation Edits.”
To toggle from the “Read Only” mode to an edit mode in annotations, right click anywhere within the annotation table. This will generate a menu.
Select the “Allow Annotation Edits” menu option. The edit blocks in the annotation table will turn from grey to white when in the edit mode.
Use the edit blocks to add new annotations in the speaker field, the “Event” field or both. Cue up the content by clicking on the “Play” button. Type the desired annotations.
The timestamp will be generated against the current play time of the content upon the first keystroke.
To edit an existing annotation, select to highlight the desired annotation to edit and right click. This will generate a menu.
The “Allow Annotation Edits” should already be selected in this view to allow the edit. Select the “ Edit Annotation” option. This will open an edit window.
Using the mouse, select he text that you wish to edit. Click on the “OK” button when finished. Your newly edited annotation will appear in the annotation table.
The “Follow Play” controls enables the Player to auto-scroll the annotations as the media is played. “Follow Play” will utilize the Player’s current time and scroll to that timestamp position within the annotations. This will allow you to keep following along in the annotation view and keep tab of where you are at inside the annotations.
Bookmarks are timestamps that are created against the recorded audio every time you add a new annotation. Bookmarks are used to rapidly search for key points in an audio recording.
You can search for keywords from within a current set of open annotations or across all annotations.
To search for a keyword from within a currently opened set of Annotations, click on “Current Session” from the “Search” menu.
This will open the Search For a Keyword dialog box.
Type the keyword that you want to search for. Click “OK” to close the dialog box and commence the search. When the keyword is found the annotation will appear highlighted. Double Click on the Annotation to begin playing the audio.
You can save your annotations into an HTML or as a text file.
● Saving Annotations as HTML
Right click anywhere on the grey area of player and then click “Save Annotations
● Select the option you want to save your annotations in:
HTML – TXT – TXT without TS
To save a copy of the Session currently open in Public Player, click on “Copy” from the file menu or use “ALT-C” from the keyboard.
To open the “Copy” dialog window from the menu, you must right click anywhere on the grey area of the Player and select “Copy.”
This will open the “Copy” dialog window.
Type the destination path, or click on the “Browse” button to select the location you wish to save a copy of the session to. This location could be somewhere on your local computer, any type of removable media recognized by your computer or a network location.
Start Time/End time – By designating a start and end time, you can select to copy only a segment of the session. The default value shown will be the start and end of the loaded session. This time can be adjusted by selecting the hour, minutes or seconds; and by using the up or down arrow controls. This time can also be adjusted by selecting the hour, minutes or seconds; and by typing in the time from the keyboard. Use the left and right arrow keys on the keyboard to move from hours, minutes and seconds.
Add Segment – Click on this button to add the content associated with the start and end time values in the display window. This will add the times to the cue of segments to copy. This function can be performed as many times as needed to obtain all of the segments for the copy. Remember, the default time displayed in the start and end time display is the beginning and the end of the loaded session. If you need to copy the entire session, click the “Add Segment” button without changing the start and end time.
Remove a Segment – Click on a segment of time that was added to the “Segments To Copy” cue Click on the “Remove Segment” button to remove this segment from the “Segments to Copy” cue.
Segments to Copy – This area displays the selected times to include in the copy. This could be one segment representing the entire session, a segment of a session to copy, or this could be multiple segments of time to include in a single copy.
Options – This area allows you to configure additional options; auto-load, audio only copy and a mix-down copy.
Auto-load copied session after copy is complete – selecting this option will automatically load the copied content into the Public Player after the copy has completed. This is a good option to use to check the end result of your copy.
Exclude User Annotations – Select this option if you want to exclude all of the user added annotations. This will leave only the system generated annotations to include in your copy.
Only Copy Audio – Select this option if your session includes audio and video and you wish to only copy the audio portion.
Mix All Channels to One File – Select this option if your original session contains multiple audio channels and the desire is to create a copy that mixes all of the audio channels to one MP3 file. Please note, this option only applies to an audio only copy. You must first select the Only Copy Audio option to unlock the Mix All Channels to One File option.
When you have completed making all of your copy selections, click on the Copy button.
The Enter Copy Name dialog window will open.
You must type a unique name to assign to the copy. Click the “OK ” button when finished.
The “Progress” window will open. This progress window will display a log of the copy process. When completed, the log will display “Done” and the “OK” buttonwill unlock. Click the “OK” button to close out of this window.
The standard media files allow you to play the audio and video in players such as; Windows Media Player, Media Player Classic, and others. In order for the file to be played in a standard media player, the player will have to support the format and codecs of the exported file. The format that is exported from the export utility is an AVI format. The file will contain MJPEG encoded video and MP3 encoded audio.
● AVI Export File
○ Video: MJPEG Codec
○ Audio: MP3 Codec
Export Audio and video as an AVI file
1. Open “Deposition Recorder.”
2. Select “Review An Existing Session.”
3. Select the session you would like to export and click “Export To.”
4. On the “Select Date for Playback” window, select the date you want to export.
5. Click “OK.”
6. Another dialog will pop-up, prompting whether you want to export the session. Answer “Yes.”
7. On the folder dialog, select the location you want to save the AVI to.
8. Click “OK.”