Sony Soloist™ Digital PC Comparative Recorder and Media Player is a Windows® based software application designed specifically for language learning in or out of the classroom. With Soloist software, students can listen to digital audio and video programs while simultaneously recording their own voices, which increases oral and aural proficiency and reinforces listening and speaking objectives.
Lesson files can be easily accessed from a variety of sources including CD-ROMs, a PC Hard Disk, a media server, or the Internet, providing students and teachers with greater flexibility in delivering lessons and working on assignments outside the lab.
Soloist software provides full comparative recording capability - allowing students to listen to a practice lesson on an audio file and record their own voices at the same time. Both the student's recording and the lesson can be played back simultaneously for comparison, and speaking practice is reinforced by the student's ability to re-record phrases.
Providing the ultimate flexibility, Soloist software supports multiple audio and video file formats including digital audio for listening and speaking exercises; MIDI music files; text files which may be used for reading, writing, translation, or pronunciation practice; HTML documents for Internet materials; and still images and digital video.
In the Instructional Classroom
The Sony Soloist Software is an integral component of the Virtuoso/Soloist Digital Language Learning Software Suite. In the instructional classroom, Soloist is installed on individual student PCs while Virtuoso™ is installed on the teacher's PC.
This software suite enables the instructor to communicate and interact with students; control classroom activities; or work independently with students.
For Independent Study
Soloist software enables students to perform solo, outside the classroom. For students who need independent study, the software can be installed on any PC that is connected to a LAN (in a library, dormitory, or shared PC lab).
Students can access files from a shared PC network, record their oral responses, and copy their files back to a designated folder on the network, or they can e-mail their files to the instructor for assessment.
Soloist software provides many features geared to listening and speaking practice, such as flexibility with the "listen and repeat" and "record and compare" functions when students are working independently. The ability to access any point within an audio file or lesson enables students to return to a particular section within the lesson without having to listen to the entire file, resulting in more quality learning time with less downtime.
Comparative Recording
The comparative recording features of Soloist software are beyond compare. When students open an audio file, they can listen to the practice lesson and record their voices in the same file at the same time. Then whenever they choose, students can listen simultaneously to both their own recorded voices and the audio contained in the file for comparison.
Random Access Within a File
Students working with Soloist software can easily and quickly access any point within a file. If students need to re-listen, review, or practice a particular phrase or sentence, for example, they can go directly to that point in the audio file.
Setting Bookmarks
Bookmarks may be set at various points within a file, allowing students to go back to a set point in a file to review particular passages or segments. Verbal comments can also accompany any bookmark that is set. This enables the instructor to pre-record comments, instructions, translations, or other information for the students that relate to the "bookmarked" section of the media file.
Controlling Basic Functions
Students will enjoy Soloist software's simple, user-friendly operation. All the basic controls are identical to those on a traditional audio tape recorder. Instead of pressing buttons on a recorder, students can simply click on Play, Record, Stop, Fast Forward, and Rewind to operate basic functions.
Help and Tool Tips
Soloist software provides a convenient on-screen help file as a “ready reference” guide. An added feature called “ToolTips” also provides quick reference to button functions. To determine what function is provided by a particular button, just hold the mouse pointer over it for a few seconds, and a brief description appears.
“CALL” for Help
By simply clicking “CALL” the student is able to notify the teacher that assistance is needed. The teacher can then help the student individually without interrupting the rest of the class.
