Record Audio File Window

Record Audio File Window

The Record Audio File window allows you to record audio files directly into intelliScore. If your music is on an audio CD, you should use the Record Audio File feature only if intelliScore's direct CD transfer feature does not work with your CD drive. This window appears when you click the Microphone button next to the Audio File Name text box in the Project Editor.

First you need to decide whether or not to use the metronome. You should use the metronome whenever you will be playing your musical instrument or singing directly into the program. Use of the metronome ensures that the generated MIDI file will be synchronized with the beats of the music and eliminates the necessity of tapping in the tempo using the Tempo Tracker. However, if the music is prerecorded but not as an audio file, such as on a cassette tape or vinyl record, you cannot use the metronome and will need to tap the tempo in later if you want to convert the MIDI file to notation.

If you are using the metronome, display its settings by clicking the Metronome button. Indicate the Tempo (in beats per minute) and number of beats per measure to match the music you will be playing. You can adjust the metronome volume by adjusting the slider. To try out your settings by listening to the metronome, click the Test button. You can copy the metronome settings to the Project Editor by clicking the Keep Settings button.

Hook up your cassette player, record player, mixer, or electronic musical instrument, as appropriate, to your sound card following the sound card manufacturer's instructions. If you have more than one sound card hooked up to your computer, intelliScore uses the one set at Start | Settings | Control Panel | Multimedia | Audio | Recording | Preferred device and make sure the Use Only Preferred Device box is checked. If you are recording from a CD, place the audio CD in your computer's CD drive then click the CD Player button to start your CD player program, and then locate the track and position on the CD of the music you are interested in recognizing.

Next set the recording level. The vertical bar on the left of the Record Audio File window is a recording level meter. The optimum level is where the volume is just high enough to be green most of the time while you are playing your instrument. If necessary, click the Adjust Recording Level button to display the mixer which you can use to adjust the recording levels. If you are having trouble setting a proper recording level, see Recording Levels for a list of possible solutions. Once the level is set, stop playing your instrument, then click the Set Threshold button. This sets the Audio Threshold setting in the Project Editor based on the current level.

When you are ready to begin recording, click the circle Record button. If you are using the metronome, you will hear a one-measure lead-in before recording actually begins and you will see the current measure/beat displayed. The metronome sound may be recorded along with your instrument, but it will not interfere with the recognition process. If you are not using the metronome, recording will begin immediately and you will see the elapsed time displayed. Click the square Stop button when you have finished recording. If your recording level was not optimum, you will see a warning message; in this case, you may want to adjust the levels and record it again. You can press the triangular Play button to play back the recording you just made. (The recording level meter will not be visible during recording or playback.)

When you are satisfied with the wave file you recorded, save it by pressing the Save button. You will be prompted to enter a name for the wave file. The name of the latest wave file you saved is displayed as the Current Audio File. You may record any number of wave files in this manner. When you are finished, click the Close button. The Record Audio File window will close, and the name of current wave file is displayed in the Wave File Name text box in the Project Editor.