What is the Command Works MixerTM?
The Command Works MixerTM is the program shipped with the Audio Works StationTM that allows automatic multiple mixes and simple mixes to be made from the command line (type three file names and you are done).Why Was the Command Works MixerTM Developed?
Mixing voice and music together has traditionally been a labour intensive task. Often the types of programs created are similar from mix to mix and only the content changes. Such is the case for "message on hold" and many audiotex productions. A few years ago, some of our customers who were using the Audio Works StationTM for high volume audiotex message recording asked us if there was a way that their "message on hold" tape production could be similarly automated. After learning the steps currently being used to produce messages, and where the duplicated labour was being spent, we developed the Command Works MixerTM.How does the Command Works MixerTM Operate?
The Command Works MixerTM mixing voice and music after reading a recipe which contains instructions detailing as:
the level of the background music when the voice is playingthe length of the productionthe voice files to be used?where pre-rolls and post rolls are requiredThe operation of the Command Works MixerTM is analogous to a software compiler but there are far fewer instructions and the syntax is straight forward.
Do I have to be a Programmer to Operate the Command Works MixerTM?
No. A working knowledge of DOS batch command is useful but not essential. Very elaborate mixing (using up to 99 voice segments and 99 background music segments) may be created, but the majority of productions are very simple.What if I Don't Want to Write a Recipe for Mixing Audio Because I Have More Important Things to Do?
Most routine mixes may be reduce to a few line in a DOS batch command. The batch command can take file name from the command line and actually write the mixing recipe for you.For example, the following batch command shipped with the Audio Works StationTM take two file names from the command line and mixes them into a single output file without changing the originals.
rem DOS batch file quickmix.bat
rem
rem batchmix voice.pcm backgrnd.pcm output.pcm
rem
rem write the recipe
echo seg:%1 ambient:6 mixed:6 >mixtmp
echo back:%2 ambient:6 mixed:0 prefade: postfade: >>mixtmp
echo mode:segment ramptime:10 rate:8000 >>mixtmp
echo out:%3 >>mixtmp
rem
rem mix the recipe
call batchmix mixtmp
To run this batch command, from the DOS prompt, jut type -
quickmix voicefile musicfile outputfile [Enter]
How Are the Voice and Music Files Acquired?
The voice and music files may be captured with the Audio Works StationTM as flat pieces of audio (no fades etc.) or they may be converted from existing digitized files using the utilities supplied with the Audio Works StationTM.How Are the Audio Levels Controlled?
The Command Works MixerTM determines the relative levels of the voice and background music files being mixed. The audio may be set to reference level prior to mixing with a simple command or this may be included as part of and automatic batch command.The Command Works MixerTM has the ability to independently control the level of the back ground music 1) during and after every voice segment, 2) during the initial background roll if included and the final post-roll, 3) as it fades into, and out of, every voice segment.
How Long Does It Take For The Mixing Process?
Typically the mixes will occur at least 4-5 times faster than real time on a moderate 486 and up to 20 times faster than real time on a Pentium. Far more time is actually spent reading the audio into a microphone.What Are Some of the Other Benefits of the Command Works MixerTM?
10's or 100's of mixes may be performed with a single commandthe original recordings are left in tactthe mixed file may be played to tape or compressed to telco formatslevels on many mixes may be changed quickly with a text editormixing may be performed much faster than real-timeWhat Types of Applications have Benefited From Automatic Mixing?
music preview systems"message on-hold tape product""pay per call" message systemstalent preview linescustomized greeting card production systemsmovie preview systemssystem greetings with background music