To change the options from their current settings to your last saved settings, choose Restore Saved Settings from the Options menu.

6.5 DECsound Control Panel

DECsound displays a simple control panel whose main functions are similar to those of a tape recorder. Figure 6-3 shows the DECsound control panel.

Figure 6-3 DECsound Control Panel

The control panel also contains a Save button, an Exit button, and sliders for the following:

• Zoom control
• Input and output volume controls
• Current position in a recording
• Waveform display area
• File status area

Click on the Stop button to stop a play or record operation.

6.5.2 Play Button

The Play function is similar to the Play function on a tape recorder. To play a recording, click on the Play button.

While playing the recording, the display shows Playing... in the bottom left corner. The length (in seconds) of the recording is displayed in the bottom right corner. The position slider shows the current position in the recording.

To stop playing before the end of the recording, click on the Stop button.

The Record function is similar to the Record function on a tape recorder. To start recording, click on the Record button and speak into the microphone or headset.

While recording is in progress, the display shows Recording... in the bottom left corner. The length (in seconds) of the recording is displayed in the bottom right corner. The position slider shows the current position in the recording. When you have finished recording, click on the Stop button. DECsound displays the length of the recording in the bottom right of the DECsound window.

6.5.3.1 Making Long Recordings

The Settings dialog box allows you to specify the maximum length of a DECsound recording. However, the size of a recording is also limited by the amount of free memory available on the system.

While making long recordings, you may get an insufficient-memory message before reaching the maximum recording length. If this occurs, take one of the following actions:

• Save the recording and restart DECsound.
  Save the recording by clicking on the Save button or by choosing the Save or Save As... item from the DECsound File menu.
• Decrease the maximum recording length.
  Choose the Settings... from the Options menu to display the Settings dialog box. In the dialog box, use the maximum recording length slider to decrease the maximum recording length.
• Ask your system manager to increase the memory quotas for your account.

If the DECsound window already contains a recording when you click on the Record button, DECsound adds the new recording to the end of the current recording. If you want to insert new material in a recording, follow these steps:

1. Position the pointer at the point where you want to insert the new material and click MB1.
2. Drag MB1 to the end of the recording and choose the Cut item from the Edit menu to remove the selected part of the recording.
3. Click on the Record button and record the new material.
4. Position the pointer at the end of the recording and choose the Paste item from the Edit menu to complete the new recording.

The Rewind function is similar to the Rewind function on a tape recorder. To rewind a recording, click on the Rewind button. Each time you click on the Rewind button, DECsound rewinds the recording by one second. To rewind continuously, press and hold MB1. DECsound displays the length (in seconds) of the recording in the bottom right corner of the DECsound window. The position slider shows the current position in the recording.

6.5.5 Forward Button

The Forward function is similar to the fast-forward function on a tape recorder. To advance through a recording, click on the Forward button. Each time you click on the Forward button, DECsound advances the recording by one second. To advance continuously, press and hold MB1.

DECsound displays the length of the recording in the bottom right of the DECsound window. The position slider shows the current position in the recording.

6.5.6 Position Slider

The position slider indicates the current position in the recording.

6.5.7 Zoom Slider

The zoom slider allows you to view the DECsound waveform in greater or lesser detail. Move the slider down (zoom in) to view the waveform in greater detail. Move the slider up (zoom out) to view the waveform in lesser detail.

6.5.8 Volume Slider

The volume slider allows you to control the output volume when you play DECsound recordings. Move the slider up to increase the output volume. Move it down to decrease the output volume.

6.5.9 Line-In Slider

The line-in slider indicates the input volume level as a percentage of the full volume.

6.5.10 Exit Button

Click on the Exit button to leave DECsound. DECsound saves the current recording, using the current file name. If there is no current file name, DECsound displays the Confirmation dialog box.

6.5.11 Save Button

Click on the Save button to save a revised version of a DECsound file with the current file name. If there is no current file name, DECsound displays the Save File dialog box.

6.5.12 File Status Area

The file status area displays information about the audio file currently being operated on. The displayed information contains the file name (if the file is on the disk) and the file's audio encoding (sample rate and size, number of channels, and data encoding).

6.6 Using Online Help

This application provides help that you can access by either:

• Choosing an item from the Help menu
• Clicking on the Help button in a dialog box

Help topics are displayed in a help topic window. If a topic is longer than the help window, use the scroll bars or resize the help window to display the rest of the topic.

6.6.1 On Context

Choose On Context from the Help menu to get help on objects in the application's window or dialog box. The objects that you can get help on include: menus, window objects, dialog box fields, and so forth. When you choose On Context, the pointer changes to a question mark (?). You then can point to any object in the application window or dialog box and click MB1. For example, to get help on a menu:

1. Choose On Context from the Help menu.
2. Position the ? pointer on a menu in the application window and click MB1.
   Information on that menu is displayed in the help topic window. You may also see a list of additional topics that provide more information.

Choose On Window from the Help menu for information about the tasks you can perform using the application.

6.6.3 Index

Choose Index from the Help menu to view the index of the help library that you are using.

6.6.4 Tutorial

Choose Tutorial from the Help menu to access an online tutorial that teaches you the basic DECsound tasks.

6.6.5 On Help

Choose On Help from the Help menu to learn how to use help.

6.6.6 On Version

Choose On Version from the Help menu to view version, date, and additional trademark and product information for the application.

6.7 Starting DECsound Sessions

You can start a DECsound session using either the Session Manager or FileView, or by typing a command.

• Using the Session Manager or FileView
  To start DECsound from the Session Manager or FileView, choose the DECsound item from the Applications menu. If the Applications menu does not contain a DECsound menu item, contact your system manager.
• Typing a command
  To start DECsound at the command line, type run SYS$SYSTEM:MMOV$DECSOUND .

The Audio Control program lets you control the volume and port selection for input and output audio devices. It also provides information on the supported formats for these devices.

Compaq recommends that both volume control and audio port selection be left to an application such as Audio Control, which controls the input and output volume and port selection for the entire workstation rather than incorporating control into each application.

7.1 Syntax for Audio Control

To invoke the Audio Control utility program, enter the following command:

$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:MMOV$AUDIOCONTROL.EXE

7.2 The Audio Control Display Panel

When invoked, Audio Control displays a control panel. The control panel is divided into input and output control sections. These sections contain balance sliders, volume sliders, and port selection buttons. The top sliders control balance for stereo devices and have no effect for mono devices. The bottom sliders control volume. The output section has a Mute button. Clicking on the Mute button will immediately set the output volume to zero. Clicking on the Mute button again restores the volume to its previous level. Mute is also released if either the output volume or balance sliders are moved. Figure 7-1 contains the Audio Control Control Panel.

Figure 7-1 Audio Control Control Panel

Other applications are not notified of the new volume settings. The volume settings displayed by other applications such as DECsound do not match the settings in use. Conversely, if these other applications are used to change the volume, the settings displayed by Audio Control will not be accurate.

The lower portion of the control panel may display several output device port option boxes. These options are dependent upon the device you are using and are displayed only if these options are supported by the device. You must click on an option box to enable that option.

Options may include activating stereo (if supported) and line out for both input and output or activating the microphone and headset (if used) for input and output.

7.3 Audio Control File Menu Items

The Audio Control control panel File menu item is described as follows:

• Exit
  Close Audio Control by clicking on Exit.

The Audio Control control panel Options menu items are described as follows:

• Settings
  This menu item displays a dialog box containing Device and Format option menus. Click on the Device option menu to display a list of audio devices installed on your system. Click on the device you want to modify.
  Device changes will refresh the control panel, the Show Formats box, and the VU meter display.
  Click on the Format option menu to display a list of audio formats supported by the selected input device. Click on the format you want the VU meter to use when opening the input device. Figure 7-2 shows an Audio Control Audio Device Settings dialog box.

  Figure 7-2 Audio Control Audio Device Settings Dialog Box

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• Show Formats
  This menu item displays a box containing information on the supported audio formats for the output port of the selected audio device. You can use the input/output box in the upper right corner to switch between input and output formats. Figure 7-3 shows the Audio Control Formats dialog box.

  Figure 7-3 Audio Control Formats Dialog Box

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• Show VU Meter
  Click on this item to display a VU meter, which can be used to monitor the input decibel (dB) level of your selected audio device. The meter will display either stereo or mono, depending on the selected device. The meter should show green most of the time and rarely show yellow. If the meter constantly displays yellow or red, you should lower your input volume controls. Figure 7-4 shows the Audio Control VU meter.

  Figure 7-4 Audio Control VU Meter

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  Audio Control has a resource file that specifies default settings for the VU meter. The default file is SYS$LIBRARY:AUDIOCONTROL.DAT. To modify the settings, copy this file to your home directory and edit the values.
  The vu_update_interval value controls how often the VU meter is updated in milliseconds. Setting this to a lower value will make the VU meter more responsive, but will also increase the load on the mmeserver. The default value is 60 ms.
  The vu_peak_persistence value controls how long the VU meter latches the peak values. Setting this to zero will disable peak latching. The default value is 1000 ms.

  Note Compaq recommends that you limit the time you display the VU meter. The VU meter requires a large amount of system resources and should be displayed only when needed.

The Video Odyssey screen saver plays video clips on your screen to protect your monitor from "burn-in." "Burn-in" occurs when the screen has been left on for an extended period of time. The screen phosphor is destroyed, leaving a permanent ghost image on the screen. The Video Odyssey program runs in the background and monitors mouse position and keyboard. When a preset time has elapsed with no mouse or keyboard activity, Video Odyssey takes over the screen and continuously plays a compressed video file until you either move the mouse or press a key.

Video Odyssey comes with a sample video file. However, you can play any JPEG-compressed AVI file by clicking on the Video File button on the control panel.

8.1 Getting Started with Video Odyssey

To invoke Video Odyssey create a foreign command. The following example defines the symbol videoodyssey as a foreign command.

$ videoodyssey :== $SYS$SYSTEM:MMOV$VIDEOODYSSEY.EXE

The control panel will be displayed and give you the option to change settings such as sleep time and saver effect. Figure 8-1 shows the Video Odyssey Control Panel.

Figure 8-1 Video Odyssey Control Panel

You can also start Video Odyssey from the Session Manager. Video Odyssey can be added to the list of applications that can be started from the Session Manager by using the Options menu. Once it is added, Video Odyssey may be started by default at login time.

Video Odyssey saves new settings in a file in your home directory whenever you change them. It uses this configuration file to initialize the program settings when the program starts.

When you are satisfied with the settings, click on the minimize button in the upper right corner of the window border to minimize the control panel. (Some window managers require you to perform other tasks to minimize a window. Do whatever your window manager requires to minimize a window.)

To use the following command line options, define the application as a foreign command. The following lists the various command line options, depending on how you intend to use Video Odyssey:

• To start the program in minimized mode, use the following command line option:

  -iconic

  
  The screen saver is active whenever the control panel On button is lit. Also, the screen saver control panel does not have to be on screen for the screen saver to be active.

• If you have a JPEG-compressed AVI video file you would like Video Odyssey to use, specify the file on the following command line option:

  -f MyVideo.avi

• You can alter foreground and background colors with the following command line option:

  -fg yellow -bg 'light steel blue'

• You can also set the initial position of the control panel on screen with the following command line option:

  -geometry +100+200

  
  This option will position the upper left corner of the control panel's window at X = 100, Y = 200 relative to the upper left corner of your screen.
  

Whenever a new video file is provided, there will be a startup delay during which Video Odyssey configures itself and builds an in-memory table of contents for the specified video file.

8.2 How to Disable the Video Odyssey Screen Saver

You can disable the Video Odyssey Screen Saver by pulling down the Control menu and choosing Close. Some window managers let you double click on the upper left control button to close a window.

8.3 Supported Video Files

Video Odyssey accepts industry standard JPEG-compressed AVI files and files created by AlphaVCR. These files are typically given the extension .avi. Other file extensions used with JPEG compression are .mjpg and .jpg.

Some AVI files do not use JPEG compression. Indeo and Microsoft Video 1 are two alternate compression schemes in use today. Video Odyssey is compatible only with JPEG compression because the screen saver uses a Motion-JPEG software decompressor. If Video Odyssey returns the error "Not a JPEG file." it means that one of these alternate compression schemes has been used.

You can use the AlphaVCR utility to make your own video files for playback with Video Odyssey, or play the sample AVI files provided with Multimedia Services.

8.4 How to Save Video Odyssey Settings

Every time you change a setting in the control panel, Video Odyssey saves a copy of the program's settings (sleep time, on/off state, brightness, contrast, and so forth). The settings are stored in a file in your home directory with the name videoodyssey.cnf . If this file is removed, or if the program cannot create the file, it will use its own default values for the settings and any changes you make will not be saved.

8.5 Video Odyssey Control Panel

When Video Odyssey is invoked, a control panel is displayed on your screen. This control panel lets you change the way the program operates. Each time a control is changed, the new settings are saved in the videoodyssey.cnf file in your home directory. See Figure 8-1.

The control panel settings and their functions are as follows:

• On Button
  enables the screen saver. When this control is turned off, the screen saver is not active.
• Sleep Time
  controls the sleep time for the screen saver. Sleep time is the length of time the mouse and keyboard have been inactive. Once this time has been reached, the screen saver is activated. Move the arrow buttons up to increase the sleep time and down to decrease the sleep time.
• Screen Saver Selection
  lets you select from a list of screen saver effects. These effects are:
  • Combo
    cycles through all the Video Odyssey effects.
  • Floaters
    lets you choose from one to four floating windows and their floating speeds. These windows constantly move and bounce off the sides of the screen.
  • Snap Shot
    causes one floating window to appear and randomly places a frame on the screen as the window continues to float. Eventually, the entire screen is filled with different frames from the video clip.
  • Striper
    places tiles on the screen in a left-to-right and top-to-bottom sequence, filling up the screen in the process.
  • Pileup
    plays a video clip from a window centered on the screen while randomly placing frames on the screen underneath this centered window. Eventually, the entire screen is filled in the process.
• Video File Button
  lets you select the video file you want to use. When you click on the Video File button, a standard Open File dialog box appears. Select an AVI file from this box.
• Large Window Button
  lets you double the size of the video windows. Click on the button to increase the windows to twice the normal size. Regardless of the size, you retain one floater.
• Slider Controls
  let you adjust the video settings. These controls are:
  • Floaters
    sets the number of floating windows in the Floaters screen saver selection.
  • Float Speed
    sets the speed of the floating windows.
  • Video Rate
    sets the playback rate of the video. A value of 1 is the slowest rate.
  • Brightness
    adjusts video brightness.
  • Contrast
    adjusts the video contrast.
  • Saturation
    adjusts video color saturation.
• Start Button
  starts the screen saver without waiting for the sleep time to elapse.
• Preview Button
  lets you adjust the settings while viewing the video. When done, click on the Stop button.
• ? Button
  displays the help window.
• Logo Button
  displays the version and copyright information.