rockbox/manual/configure_rockbox/recording_settings.tex

% $Id:$ %
\screenshot{main_menu/images/ss-recording-settings}{The recording settings screen}{}

\note{To change the location where recordings are stored open the
      \setting{Context Menu} (see \reference{ref:Contextmenu}) on the directory
      where you want to store them in the \setting{File Browser} and select
      \setting{Set As Recording Directory}.}

\opt{masf}{
  \section{Quality}
    Choose the quality here (0 to 7). Default is 5, best quality is 7,
    smallest file size is 0. This setting affects how much your sound
    sample will be compressed. Higher quality settings result in larger
    MP3 files.
    
    The quality setting is just a way of selecting an average bit rate,
    or number of  bits per second, for a recording.  When  this setting
    is lowered, recordings are compressed more (meaning worse sound quality),
    and the average bitrate changes as follows.
  
  \begin{table}[h!]
      \begin{rbtabular}{0.75\textwidth}{lX}%
        {\emph{Frequency} & \emph{Bitrate} (Kbit/s) -- quality 0$\rightarrow$7}{}{}
        44100~Hz stereo   & 75, 80, 90, 100, 120, 140, 160, 170 \\
        22050~Hz stereo   & 39, 41, 45, 50,  60,  80,  110, 130 \\
        44100~Hz mono     & 65, 68, 73, 80,  90,  105, 125, 140 \\
        22050~Hz mono     & 35, 38, 40, 45,  50,  60,  75,  90 \\
      \end{rbtabular}
  \end{table}
}

\opt{swcodec}{
  \section{Format}
    Choose which format to save your recording in. The available choices are
    the two uncompressed formats \setting{PCM Wave} and \setting{AIFF}, the
    losslessly compressed \setting{WavPack} and the lossy
    \setting{MPEG Layer~3}.

  \section{Encoder Settings (MP3 only)}
    This sets the bitrate when using the \setting{MPEG Layer~3} format. 
}

  \section{Frequency}
   \nopt{ipodnano,ipodcolor,ipod4g}{
    Choose the recording frequency (sample rate).
    \opt{c200,e200}
        {24~kHz, 22.05~kHz and 16~kHz}
    \opt{iriverh100,iriverh300}
        {44.1~kHz, 22.05~kHz and 11.025~kHz}
    \opt{iaudiom3,iaudiom5,iaudiox5,vibe500}
        {88.2~kHz, 44.1~kHz, 22.05~kHz and 11.025~kHz}
    \opt{masf}
        {48~kHz, 44.1~kHz, 32~kHz, 24~kHz, 22.05~kHz and 16~kHz}
    \opt{iriverh10}
        {96~kHz, 88.2~kHz, 48~kHz, 44.1~kHz, 32~kHz and 8~kHz}
    \opt{samsungyh}
        {48~kHz, 44.1~kHz, 32~kHz, 24~kHz, 22.05~kHz, 16~kHz, %
        11.025~kHz and 8~kHz}
    \opt{gigabeats,ipodvideo}
        {48~kHz, 44.1~kHz, 32~kHz, 24~kHz, 22.05~kHz, 16~kHz, 12~kHz, %
        11.025~kHz and 8~kHz}
    \opt{sansaAMS,ipodnano2g,fuzeplus}
        {96~kHz, 88.2~kHz, 64~kHz, 48~kHz, 44.1~kHz, 32~kHz, 24~kHz, %
        22.05~kHz, 16~kHz, 12~kHz, 11.025~kHz and 8~kHz}
    are available. Higher sample rates use up more disk space, but give better
    sound quality.
    \opt{swcodec}{\note{The 11.025~kHz setting is not available when using %
      \setting{MPEG Layer~3} format.}
    }
    \opt{masf}{
      The frequency setting also determines which version of the MPEG standard
      the sound is recorded using:\\
      MPEG~1 for 48~kHz, 44.1~kHz and 32~kHz.\\
      MPEG~2 for 24~kHz, 22.05~kHz and 16~kHz.\\
    }
    \opt{recording_digital}
      {\note{You cannot change the sample rate for digital recordings.}
    }
   } % nopt ipodnano,ipodcolor,ipod4g
   \opt{sansa}{
     \nopt{sansaAMS,c200,e200,fuzeplus}
      Recordings can only be made at a 22.05~kHz frequency (sample rate)
      on this \dap. 
   } % prepared for all sansas not handled above, e.g. sansaview
   \opt{ipodnano,ipodcolor,ipod4g}{
      Recordings can only be made at a 44.1~kHz frequency (sample rate)
      on this \dap. 
   } % opt ipodnano1g
    
\section{Source}
  Choose the source of the recording. The options are:
  \opt{recording_digital}{\setting{Digital} (SPDIF), }%
  \opt{recording_mic}{\setting{Microphone}}%
  \opt{recording_hwcodec}{ and \setting{Line~In}.}%
  \opt{recording_swcodec}{%
      \nopt{radio}{\opt{recording_linein}{ and \setting{Line~In}.}}%
      \opt{radio}{%
          \opt{recording_linein}{%
              \opt{recording_mic}{, }%
              \setting{Line~In} and %
          }%
          \nopt{recording_linein}{%
              \opt{recording_mic}{ and }%
          }%
          \setting{FM~Radio}. For more information on recording from the
          radio see \reference{ref:FMradio}.%
      }
  }

\section{Channels}
  This allows you to select mono or stereo recording. Please note that
  for mono recording, only the left channel is recorded. Mono recordings
  are usually somewhat smaller than stereo.

\opt{swcodec}{
  \section{Mono Mode}
    When configured to record to mono and the source is a stereo signal, use this
    setting to configure how the mono signal is created. Options are L, R and L+R.
}

\opt{masf}{
  \section{Independent Frames}
    The independent frames option tells the \dap{} to encode with the bit
    reservoir disabled, so the frames are independent of each other. This
    makes a file easier to edit.
}
      
\section{File Split Options}
  This sub menu contains options for file splitting, which can be used to split
  up long recordings into manageable pieces. The splits are seamless (frame
  accurate), no audio is lost at the split point. The break between recordings
  is only the time required to stop and restart the recording, on the order of
  2 -- 4 seconds.
  \begin{description}
    \item[Split Measure.]
      This option controls whether to split the recording when the
      \setting{Split Filesize} is reached or when the
      \setting{Split Time} has elapsed.

    \item[What to do when Splitting.]
      This controls what will happen when the splitting condition is
      fulfilled the two available options here are
      \setting{Start a new file} or \setting{Stop recording}.

    \item[Split Time.]
      Set the time to record between each split, if time is used as
      \setting{Split Measure}.\\
      Options (hours:minutes between splits): Off, 00:05, 00:10, 00:15, 00:30,
      1:00, 1:14 (74 minute CD), 1:20 (80 minute CD), 2:00, 4:00, 8:00, 10:00,
      12:00, 18:00, 24:00.

    \item[Split Filesize.]
      Set the filesize to record between each split, if filesize is used as
      \setting{Split Measure}.

  \end{description}

\section{Prerecord Time}
    This setting buffers a small amount of audio so that when the record button
    is pressed, the recording will begin from that number of seconds earlier.
    This is useful for ensuring that a recording begins before a cue that is
    being waited for.

\section{Clear Recording Directory}
    Resets the location where the recorded files are saved to the root of your
    \daps{} drive.

\nopt{ondio}{
  \section{Clipping Light}
    Causes the backlight to flash on when clipping has been detected.\\
    Options: \setting{Off}, \setting{Main unit only},
    \setting{Main and remote unit}, \setting{Remote unit only}.
}
\section{Trigger}
  When you record a source you often are only interested in the sound and not
  the silence in between. The recording trigger provides you with a
  tool to automatically distinguish between sound and silence and record the
  sound only.  Unfortunately it is not very easy to make this distinction between
  silence and sound because you hardly ever encounter real silence. There always
  are background noises. What is considered as background noise depends on the
  situation. For example during a lecture the very low noise of rustling paper
  might be considered as background noise. During a rock concert the murmur of
  the audience might be considered background noise which is much louder compared
  to rustling paper. Also the duration of the signal matters. When you record
  speech you want to record every syllable. When you record live music you may
  not be interested in that chord the guitarist plays for two minutes before
  the show to verify his amp is turned on. The trigger features numerous
  parameters to adapt its behaviour to the desired situation.
  \begin{description}
  \item[Trigger.]
    This parameter specifies the trigger mode.  When set to \setting{Off}
    the recording must be started manually and apart from the Prerecord time no
    other parameter has any effect.  \setting{Once} will have the trigger start
    one recording only; after the recording has finished the input signal will
    not start another recording. \setting{Repeat} will have the trigger start 
    multiple recordings.
    
  \item[Trigtype.]
    \fixme{Add description of Trigtype}
    Options: \setting{Stop}, \setting{Pause}, \setting{New File}.
    
  \item[Prerecord Time.]
    This specifies the time that is included into the recording before the
    trigger event occurs. This is very useful if you record a signal that
    fades in. Usually you want to set the prerecord time greater than or
    equal to the start duration. That ensures that you record the entire
    sound. Strictly speaking the prerecord time is not a special parameter
    of the trigger. It is available during normal recordings too.
    
  \item[Start Above.]
    The start threshold defines the minimal volume a sound must have to start the
    recording. It is displayed numerically in the line ``Start Above''. Note that
    the unit of the threshold depends on the settings of the peak meter. (i.e.
    When the peak meter displays dB you can adjust the level in dB and when the
    peak meter is set to linear the threshold is displayed as percentage.) In the
    peak meter at the bottom of the screen the start threshold is displayed
    graphically by a little triangle pointing to the right. There are two special
    values. The value \setting{Off} turns the start condition off.  With this
    setting you have to start the recording manually and the trigger only stops
    the recording according to the stop condition. The setting \setting{-inf}
    sets the trigger to the absolute minimum. This setting only makes sense when
    you record via a digital input as even the noise of the device itself would
    exceed this threshold immediately.
    
  \item[for at least.]
    The start duration defines the minimal duration that a signal must exceed the
    start threshold to start the recording. Depending on your situation you may
    want to set this setting to 0 (e.g. when copying a song from a commercial
    medium) or to quite big values. Because sound is not continuous by nature
    (think of percussion) negligible dropouts are tolerated during this start
    duration.
    
  \item[Stop Below.]
    When the sound level drops below the stop threshold the recording is stopped.
    It is displayed numerically in the line ``Stop Below''. Just like the start
    threshold the unit of the stop threshold depends on the settings of the peak
    meter. There's also a small triangular marker in the peak meter at the bottom
    of the screen. In contrast to the start threshold marker it points to the
    left. The value \setting{Off} turns the stop condition off. With this setting you
    have to stop the recording manually.
    
  \item[for at least.]
    This time specifies the duration the signal must drop below the stop
    threshold to stop the recording. By selecting high values you can ensure
    that, for example, trailing fade-outs are recorded entirely.
    
  \item[Presplit Gap.]
    When the signal drops below the stop threshold for the time specified by the
    presplit gap a new recording may be started when the signal raises above the
    start threshold. Thus the value of the presplit gap should be smaller than
    the stop hold time. Otherwise the recording would stop anyway and the
    presplit gap has no effect. For most uses I recommend to set this parameter
    equal to the stop hold time. Sometimes you may encounter a sound source (e.g.
    a CD) where the songs have fade outs and hardly any gaps between the tracks.
    Here you can set the stop hold time to long values to ensure that all fade
    outs are recorded completely. By specifying a short presplit gap you still
    can split the recording into separate tracks whenever the trigger start
    condition is met.
    
  \end{description}
  
More information can be found at \wikilink{VolumeTriggeredRecording}.
  
\opt{agc}{%
  \section{Automatic Gain Control}
    The \setting{Automatic Gain Control} has five different presets for
    automatically controlling the gain while recording.
    \begin{description}
      \item[Safety (clip).]
        This preset will lower the gain when the levels get too high (-1~dB)
        and will never increase gain.
        
      \item[Live (slow).]
        This preset is designed to be used for recording of live shows and has
        quite large headroom for loud parts. It heads for a nominal target peak
        level of -9~dB and will slowly increase or decrease gain to reach it.
        
      \item[DJ-Set (slow).]
        This preset heads for a nominal target peak level of -5~dB and will
        slowly increase or decrease gain to reach it.
        
      \item[Medium.]
        This preset heads for a nominal target peak level of -6~dB and will
        increase or decrease gain to reach it.

      \item[Voice (fast).]
        This preset is designed to be used for voice recording and heads for a
        nominal target peak level of -7~dB and will quickly increase or
        decrease gain to reach it.
    \end{description}

  \section{AGC clip time}
    This setting controls how long the level is too loud or soft before the
    \setting{Automatic Gain Control} kicks in.
}%