SANS

AUDIO FILES
wav - Windows Media PCM format "Wave" audio files
mpa, mp2, mp3 - Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) 1 Layer 2 and 3 audio files
zip - Zip compressed WAV format files
ra, rm - Audio data in Real Networks® "Real Audio™" and "Real Media™" files
wma - Windows Media Audio format files

Soloist supports a number of digital audio file formats (refer to our "Digital Audio Primer" white paper for an overview of digital audio).

When no file is open, and recording is started, a blank WAV file is created, and recording is done to both the left and right tracks. When an existing WAV file is opened and recording is started, the audio on the left track is played back, and recording is done on the right track of the same file (called "comparative" or "drill" recording - refer to our "Comparative Recording" white paper). When a Zip compressed WAV file is opened, it is automatically unzipped and ready for comparative recording. When an MP3 file is opened, it can be played, but recording is not possible until converted to WAV format. (Soloist can convert an MP3 file to WAV format, permitting comparative recording, and this can be configured to be done automatically upon opening MP3 files). When a WMA file is opened, it is automatically converted to WAV format. When a Real Audio file is opened, it is treated like a video file (see below).

Soloist can save audio files in WAV, ZIP compressed WAV, MP3, or WMA formats. Note: both MP3 and WMA are compressed formats that degrade sound quality - refer to our "Audio File Compression" white paper.

WINDOWS MEDIA AUDIO METAFILE
wax - Windows Media metafile format

Soloist supports Windows wax files, which are XML files with a list of paths to audio files to be played in sequence - similar to Soloist's "Composer" files (below).

COMPACT DISC AUDIO FILES
cda - Compact Disc Audio files

Soloist can automatically "rip" CD audio files, converting them into WAV format files, permitting comparative recording. Soloist can be configured to automatically convert CD tracks into "program files" - mixing the contents of both the left and right channels of the CD track and placing them on the left track of the opened file (leaving the right track blank, ready for comparative recording). Note this requires a specific version of free and available APSI drivers.

VIDEO FILES
avi - Windows Media Audio/Video Interleave video files
mpg, mpeg - Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) 1/2/4 video files (with installed video codecs)
wmv - Window Media Video files
Divx - Digital Video Express DivX® Media Format (with proper codec)
Others

Simply put, Soloist supports all video files that can be played in Windows Media Player version 9 or higher.

When a video file is opened, Soloist creates a separate, blank WAV file the same length as the video file (the reason it is the same length is so that audio recording can begin at any point in the file). Soloist maintains synchronization of the two files at all times and displays a button on the main screen labeled "PLAY SOUND:" while a video file is open. When recording is started with a video file open, Soloist plays the video file (both its images and audio) and records audio to both tracks of the WAV file (audio from the video file is not typically recorded in the WAV file, but the recorders can be configured to do so). When the recording is saved, any non-recorded (blank) portion at the end of the audio file is truncated before saving.

If the video file has audio (not all do), playback of both the audio in the video and the recorded WAV file is possible on most PCs (older OS versions, sound cards, and/or drivers may not be capable of this). Soloist automatically detects the PC's ability to play sound from more than one file simultaneously. If so, the "PLAY SOUND:" button includes the option to play the audio from both the video file and the recorded WAV file (alternatively you can choose to play the sound from the video or the sound from the recorded WAV file, the video image will play in either case).

MIDI FILES
mid, rmi - Musical Instrument Digital Interface files (sound card must have synthesizer capability)

When a MIDI file is opened, Soloist/ creates a separate, blank WAV file the same length as the MIDI file (the reason it is the same length is so that recording can begin at any point in the file). Soloist maintains synchronization of the two files at all times. When recording is started with a MIDI file open, Soloist plays the MIDI file and records audio to both tracks of the WAV file. When the recording is saved, any non-recorded (blank) portion at the end of the file is truncated before saving. Playback of both the MIDI file and the recorded WAV file is always possible.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) Files (Soloist and the SANS ASLPlayer)
asl - American Sign Language files

The SoloistP1 "Video Comparative Recording" optional plug-in, which includes a capture card and camera, was primarily designed for American Sign Language applications. One requirement is the ability to watch and listen to a video file (or listen to audio file), record interpreted responses (video), then be able to play both back for assessment. When saving a recording (video file), Soloist can be configured to save an ".ASL" file. This is simply a file that contains paths and filenames for both the original program file and the recording.

When opening an .asl file with either Soloist or SANS' "ASLPlayer" freeware program, both files are opened into one resizable window with two video displays (for each file). The files can be played with full control in always in synchronization.

AUTOMATIC COMARATIVE RECORDING FILES
acr - Soloist Automatic Comparative Recording files

Soloist supports "Automatic Comparative Recording" exercises - a mode in which playback and comparative recording with audio, video or MIDI program files is automated. Whenever such a program file is opened, Soloist determines if there is an Automatic Comparative Recording file in the same folder with the same name but an extension of "acr". If there is, Soloist will automatically open the file and execute the exercise based on the parameters specified in the file.

Soloist includes a built-in editor for creation of and editing of ACR files.

COMPOSER FILES
cmp - Soloist Composer Clip Sequence files

Soloist can open Composer Clip Sequence files, text files that contain a list of clips of supported media files to open and play in a specified sequence. For sound a video media files, the start and end times within the file can be specified to limit playback to within only that portion of the file. Random access to all clips is possible, as is recording at any time.

Soloist includes a built-in editor for creation of and editing Composer files.

TEXT FILES/TEXT PLAYER FILES
txt - American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) format text files
rtf - Rich Format Text files
csv - Comma Separated Values files
doc - Microsoft Word format documents (requires Microsoft Word installed on the PC)
txp - ASCII format text files with an extension of "txp" (for "text player")
rfp - Rich Format Text files with an extension of "rfp" (for "rich format text player")

Soloist can open txt, rtf, csv, and doc files in either its built-in "Text Editor" or "Text Player". The button to launch Soloist's Text Editor can be displayed on the main screen. With the Text Editor, files can be opened, created, edited and saved with the Text Editor as desired (in TXT, RTF, or DOC format).

When text files are opened from a server, they are first copied into the local temp folder so that each user has their own copy available for editing purposes.

If a "txt" or "rtf" file is opened using the "Open File" button in Soloist's main screen, it will be opened in the "Text Player" (a window that displays text either a word at a time or a sentence at a time). When these files are opened, Soloist determines the length of the file in minutes and seconds based on the number of words in the file and the pre-determined Words per Minute rate. Soloist creates a separate, blank WAV file the same length as the text file (the reason it is the same length is so that recording can begin at any point in the file). Soloist maintains synchronization of the two files at all times. When recording is started with a Text Player file open, Soloist "plays" at the specified Words per Minute rate and records audio to both tracks of the WAV file. When the recording is saved, any non-recorded (blank) portion at the end of the file is removed before saving. Playback of both the text file and the recorded WAV file is always possible.

In addition, when a sound, video, or MIDI file is opened, if there is a text file in the same folder with the same name but an extension of "txt", "rtf", or "doc", Soloist will automatically open the file in Soloist's Text Editor. If there is a text file in the same folder with the same name but an extension of "txp" or "rtp", Soloist will automatically open the file in its Text Player.

TEXT SYNCHRONIZATION FILES
txs - Soloist Text Synchronization files

When opening a sound or video file, Soloist can automatically open a TXS text synchronization file (basically a "sub-titles" file). The recorders will display selected text (either ASCII or Unicode stored as Rich Text) for a selected period of time while the sound/video file is playing.

Soloist includes a built-in editor for creation of and editing Test Synchronization files.

HTML FILES
htm, html, mht - Hyper Text Markup Language files

Soloist can open HTML files and display them in its built-in Web Browser. When such files are opened, the browser does not have a navigation toolbar or URL Address text entry box (any links in the html file can be followed).

Using Soloist's "WWW Link List Editor" simple HTML files containing links to URLs can be created and edited.

In addition, when a sound, video, or MIDI file is opened, if there is a HTML file in the same folder with the same name but an extension of "htm", "html", or "mht", Soloist will automatically open the file with its Web Browser.

PDF FILES
pdf - Adobe® Portable Document Format files

Soloist can open PDF files in its built-in PDF Viewer in a "read-only" mode. Requires Adobe Acrobat® Reader Version 8 or higher.

In addition, when a sound, video, or MIDI file is opened, if there is a PDF file in the same folder with the same name but an extension of "pdf", Soloist will automatically open the file with its PDF Viewer.

STILL IMAGE FILES
jpeg, jpg - Joint Photographic Experts Group files
bmp - Windows Bitmap files
wmf - Windows Meta Format files
gif - Graphics Interchange Format files
ico - Windows Icon Files

Soloist can open and display still image files in its built-in "Image Viewer" and "Whiteboard" collaborative image annotator.

Soloist's Whiteboard can save still images files in JPEG or Bitmap format.

In addition, when a sound, video, or MIDI file is opened, if there is a still image file in the same folder with the same name but an extension as listed above, Soloist will automatically open the file in its Image Viewer.

BOOKMARK FILES
bmk - Soloist bookmark files

Soloist can create bookmark files that store bookmark positions and names. When a sound, video, or MIDI file is opened, if there is a bookmark file in the same folder with the same name but an extension of "bmk", Soloist will automatically open the file and set the bookmarks/names.

BOOKMARK COMMENT FILES
bcx - Soloist bookmark comment files ("x" = 1-50 corresponding to the bookmark number)

Soloist can create and playback bookmark comment files - audio files containing verbal comments related to the bookmarks (such as a notice to the students). Bookmark comment files are actually monaural WAV format files, but the extension is different so that students to do not normally "see" the files when opening program material. When a bookmark is clicked, Soloist determines if there is a bookmark comment file in the same folder as the opened media file for the corresponding bookmark. If there is, the comment will automatically be played before the media file is played from the bookmark position.

QUIZ FILES
Quiz - Soloist Quiz files

Soloist can execute quizzes where any supported media/text/HTML/Image file is opened for each question and the student can responds either by recording their voice, writing a response, or selecting from a range of multiple choices. The Quiz files are "scripts" for Soloist to use to execute the quiz.

There are many user-selectable options for executing quizzes - refer to the separate "Soloist 'Quiz' Files" documentation for more information.

LOG Files
csv - Comma Separated Values format "Log" file

Soloist can create and maintain a CSV format "log" file. The log file can keep track of nearly every action performed by the user with the date, time and action written to a single line in the file. The log file can be used to verify students' work and progress and can be manipulated with database programs to "mine" detailed information.