Iguidance and Centrafuse Lowering volume?

fenderbender · 01-25-2005, 02:56 PM

So ive searched the forum to find the c++ solution to lowering the volume as the directions are spoken. Is there any other way to do this? It would be great to use centrafuse together with iguidance.

d_sellers1 · 06-04-2005, 09:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by fenderbender

So ive searched the forum to find the c++ solution to lowering the volume as the directions are spoken. Is there any other way to do this? It would be great to use centrafuse together with iguidance.

I have a solution for this. In fact, I just got done figuring out what needed to be done but I decided it would be wise to search to see if anyone else talked about this.

BEFORE READING, note that I need a way to modify the volume on a batch of .wav files. The method I describe will work but will be time consuming without it.

EDIT: I have modified all the files. See post #12 in this thread.

]First things first. Make a backup of the sound files in case you screw something up.
Step 1: Browse to the iGuidance installation folder (ie., C:\Program Files\iNav\iGuidance\)
Step 2: Click File > New Folder and name it Snd_Backup
Step 3: Double click Snd folder
Step 4: Click Edit > Select All
Step 5: Click Edit > Copy
Step 6: Go back to the installation folder (see step 1)
Step 7: Right-click on the Snd_Backup folder and select Paste

Determine Volume Preference
This part takes a little bit to play with because everyone's hardware and set up is difference. It's not hard though so just bare with me.

Step 1: Start some music playing in CF (or any front-end) (Use your front-end because different programs will play at different volume levels.)
Step 2: Launch iGuidance
Step 3: Select Menu > Volume
Step 4: Press the Test button (Voice should be about equal to the music playing)
Step 5: Lower the iGuidance volume slide to about one-quarter (1/4 or 25%)
Step 6: Press the Test button (The overall sound should have gotten lower. Adjust the volume slide to get the lowering volume set to your preferred level)
Step 7: Now open the Dest.wav file in the Snd folder with Sound Recorder (C:\Windows\System32\sndrec32.exe)
Step 8: Click Effects > Increase Volume (by 25%) Do this two or three times but be sure to keep track of how many times you do this
Step 9: Click File > Save (leave the file open; do not close yet)
Step 10: Go back into iGuidance and click the Test button. (The voice should be slightly louder than the music.)
Step 11: Repeat steps 8-10 until the level is where you want it. (Don't forget to keep track of how many times you increased the volume.) It took about 8 increases to reach my preferance.

Now here's the bad part. There are 85 more files that still need the volume raised. At this point I only know how to manually do each one as described in steps 7-11. Granted, it's not hard work but would be time consuming. Right now I need a program that can take a batch of .wav files and increase the volume. I'll start doing some searching but maybe someone already knows of one. (Command-line based would be preferred.)

Derek

justintime · 06-04-2005, 09:52 PM

Dsellers: clever solution. I had concluded that this was the best way to do it too... kind of a workaround, but I guess it works. My only concern was whether the quality of the guidance sound files would suffer/distort after being increased like this.

I believe there are plenty sound utilities out there that would increase volume of wav files in a batch process. (I just switched from Mac to PC, so can't really tell you what's available on the PC end... there where at least 2 apps in Mac that would do this).

Anyone else know of a util for PC for this job?

WebDog · 06-04-2005, 10:37 PM

im just using the settings built inot IG and its working great in CF...

mbkowns · 06-16-2005, 11:47 PM

The program "cool edit" will do this as well as many other features in a batch mode.

mbkowns · 06-16-2005, 11:50 PM

I thought about this already but I don't like this approach we need to be able to pause as the directions are played. I wonder if there is a way to detected that on READ of a file that you can excute a command. A program would have to made for each wav but this would work.

So that on read of a turn left wav it will mute.

I guess you could make so on read of any of the following then mute winamp.

I am going to try and figure this out muting winamp is the easy part.

let me know if you have other ideas

d_sellers1 · 06-17-2005, 01:05 AM

I'll check out Cool Edit. Took forever to find a download site because Adobe has bought out the company. For those interested, here's the link that I downloaded from http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...load-2076.html

What's cool about my method is the music still keeps plays but at a lower volume than the guidance being given. Also, the .wav files are only about 2megs total so I may edit them and see about getting them hosted.

Derek

justintime · 06-18-2005, 02:21 AM

Hey d_sellers...

I just went ahead and batch converted the wav files using dbPowerAmp (best freeware audio tool out there hands down, IMHO) (http://www.dbpoweramp.com/)

Anyhow, there is an issue. As I suspected, increasing the audio files even by just 10% causes the files to distorts/squeal horribly at the peaks of the wavelenghts. This is audibule even if I set my computer volume to 20% while listening to these converted files. Unacceptable!

lostreception · 06-18-2005, 03:16 AM

give cool edit a go its a great program might not have AS adverse an effect with raising the volume

justintime · 06-18-2005, 10:40 AM

I tried CoolEdit first, but it seemed very complex. More like a music/track editing software. I played with it for 10 mins and could not figure out how to raise volume of all files in batch at once. (or even one for that matter!)

Quote: Originally Posted by lostreception

give cool edit a go its a great program might not have AS adverse an effect with raising the volume

d_sellers1 · 06-18-2005, 02:35 PM

I figured out how to use Cool Edit to amplify the volume by 3dB, 6dB, and 10dB and have not issues as far as the sound being distorted. Although, I have not taken the time to go through all the files, just the dest.wav seems to be fine. I'll play with it tonight and see what I can figure out.

The program that you commented on raises the volume of a sound by way of a percentage instead of a set level. Maybe that's whats causing the squealing. (edit: Then again so does sound recorder.)

I did notice in CoolEdit, that when amplified, the frequencies appear to get pushed beyond their max levels (I think).

Derek

d_sellers1 · 06-19-2005, 08:45 PM

Well, I've raised the volume on all 86 wav files by 10dB. For testing purposes, it appears to work. The voice is not distorted. And, per my instructions above, music playing "appears" to go down to 25% while the voice stays at 100% and then the music starts playing again at 100% (depending on your Master & Wave volumes).

Now here's the hard part. I don't know if this is going to work properly and I need a test subject. Due to my current situation, (I'm in Iraq) I can't jump in my car and drive around to see if this actually works. The only voices that I can test are "Destination" and "Proceed to the nearest road". Does anyone want to test the sound files at +10dB? I've zipped them up and the filesize is 2.1Mb.

I can send them later today by way of GMail but cannot do it right now because I'm at work. I've already been yelled at once for using too much bandwidth... I'll use the commerical network when I get off work instead of the military network.

Any takers?

EDIT: WIth the use of a NMEA simulator and Geocode.com, I've been able to make iGuidance think I was driving to my house. "Turn Right and then immediately, destination on the left." That's like 4 more wav files tested.

Derek

justintime · 06-19-2005, 09:07 PM

I don't have the carputer installed to test this, but please do send me the files as I want to do some rough testing of the concept.

Sending you PM with email address. Thanks!

lostreception · 06-19-2005, 09:31 PM

dsellers also dont forget about if your using v2.0 the 6th item under file is start demo which will drive to your destination as long as you set it

d_sellers1 · 06-22-2005, 09:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by lostreception

dsellers also dont forget about if your using v2.0 the 6th item under file is start demo which will drive to your destination as long as you set it

Email sent to lostreception and E30vert.

I did several tests by using the iG demo mode, iGSkinner, and CF. Works just as described. The only thing that I noticed was the WEST.WAV seems to be a bit louder than the rest. I'll probably reduce that file by -1dB and see if that helps.

Let me know how it works for you guys. I'd like to get some more people to test it, espically ones who have installed systems.

Derek