
                        ********** Virtual Tape Recorder - By Art 2006 **********
                        for Sony PSP - (Playstation Portable) with 1.50 firmware.
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                           Based on Audio input/output library by lteixeira.


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Hi Guys,
This is the latest release of my digital audio recorder made possible with lteixeira's new audio input
library. The recorder/player now features voice activation, and a basic ascii waveform monitor.

You need a Socom compatible headset and PSP headphone remote control for this to recieve microphone input.

There are numerous other mods to tap a microphone input out of your remote, or find a 4 conductor
3.5mm jack, and convert your own standard PC microphone headset, or, as I have done, convert a mobile
phone headset for use with the PSP.

Details of these mods are posted on PSPU forums, and ps2dev.org forums.

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PROGRAM OPERATION:

Copy the two 'Virtual Tape Recorder' folders into your PSP/GAME directory, and be sure there is at
least 20Mb free on your Memory Stick. Although the application itself is small, a 20Mb "Reel.wav" file
will be created when the program is first launched.

Plug in your Headphone remote, and Socom compatible headset first, then when you launch the program,
and the Reel.dat file is created on your Memory Stick, you are presented with a screen that contains
some display data in green that indicates the recorder is in playback mode.

- To adjust the audio bitrate (and recording time) press sideways on the D pad.

- Use D pad up and down to toggle the live record monitor modes on and off, set voice activation,
  or demo effect loop modes.

- To toggle modes, press Triangle while playing or recording is stopped.
  Red text will indicate that the recorder is actually in record mode.

- To start or stop recording or playback (depending on the mode selected) press Cross.
  Recording or Playback is started from the current reel position given in data words,
  and also expressed in Megabytes (0 - 20 Mb).
  The virtual tape Reel will auto loop if it reaches the upper limit during record or playback.

- To Fast Foward or Rewind the reel position press the Left or Right Shoulder buttons.
  The virtual tape Reel will auto loop if it reaches the upper or lower limit unless playing.
  Fast foward and Rewind functions do not work while recording.

- To reset the index position press Square while in stop mode.

- To erase the reel in RAM, and delete the reel.wav file, press Play on the headphone remote
  while holding down the Square button on the PSP unit.

- To save the reel and exit the program, press Circle.

- Headphone remote buttons duplicate some of these features. See the included diagram.

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Notes:

The Bacground picture in the Game select screen is my own.
If you look carefully, you can see two birds in the picture.

I purchased the Socom game, so this program is now tested with the genuine PSP headset (PSP-270 x).
The genuine headset is innovative, and value for money, at least in my opinion.
They are suited to listening to music comfortably as well.


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Version History:

Virtual Tape Recorder V5 (06/10/06):
Fixed live monitor to work properly for all supported sample rates, and removed the option to turn
the live monitor off.
Added support for 5512 sample rate which allows over 30 minutes of recording time at low quality.

Virtual Tape Recorder V4d (04/10/06):
Lowered the sensitivity of voice activation for outdoor or possible use in an industrial environment.
Fixed VOX delay time for uniformity across the three supported sample rates.
Added effect demo loop feature to the D pad menu so the hold switch on the remote can be
used as normal.
Fixed effect demo waveform screen so that screen text is not shown.
Tested with genuine Socom headset.

Virtual Tape Recorder V4c (02/10/06):
Expanded waveform again because it looks smoother.
Fix to right hand side of waveform monitor screen.
Added voice activation feature.

Virtual Tape Recorder V4b (01/10/06):
Fixed reset reel index bug. Display was showing 1024 instead of 0 after reset since V4.
Inverted the waveform for graphic waveform monitor. Wave starts from the bottom and moves up.
Compressed waveform on both axis to better fit the screen.
Fixed waveform monitor for effect mode.
Implemented a quick erase reel feature.
Code optimisation.

Virtual Tape Recorder V4 (30/09/06):
Implemented live waveform monitor that provides visual indication that the program and microphone
are operating correctly. Thanks to Saotome for sample code pertaining to this.
Virtual tape reel index position is no longer reset when switching between record and playback modes.
Recording is now stopped rather than looped if a recording is allowed to reach the end of the reel.

Virtual Tape Recorder V3d (26/09/06):
Fixed repeating indicator sound problem when mode is selected with remote control.
Added the option to turn live record monitor on or off.
Added a Mikmod error handler (informs of missing indicator "blip", etc).

Virtual Tape Recorder V3c (25/09/06):
Reel position is now saved to a file upon exit, and loaded at startup, so your index position
is not lost when the program exits.

Virtual Tape Recorder V3b (24/09/06):
Added effect demo loop effect. This is the high frequency 'chipmonk' effect.
Added ASCII graphic play, record, and stop indicators.
Fixed new screen bugs introduced in V3

Virtual Tape Recorder V3 (24/09/06):
Fully supports three different bitrates (44100, 22050, and 11025), which allows for greater
possible recording time.
Displays the available recording time for each supported bitrate.
Program checks for at least 21Mb free space on the Memory Stick before creating the 20Mb Reel.wav file.
Microphone gain control is disabled. Although it is defined in the audio input library, I don't believe
that adjusting it has any effect.

Virtual Tape Recorder V2f (23/09/06):
Mikmod implementation allows indicator sounds for play, record, stop, and reset functions.
Square button resets file index position to zero.
Home button is disabled, program can only exit with Circle button to prevent exit wothout saving.
Program exit with Circle button is not allowed while playing or recording, only while stopped.
Mode swap from record to play, or vice versa, is only allowed in stop mode.

Virtual Tape Recorder V2e (23/09/06):
Screen bugs fixed.
Triangle button only works in stop mode.
Left and Right D pad changes sample rates for record only. This is an experimental feature included
in this release for the interesting sound effect.

Virtual Tape Recorder V2d (19/09/06):
Fixed Rewind to work at correct speed.
Reel is now a Microsoft compliant wav file.

Virtual Tape Recorder V2c (17/09/06):
Fixed a bug introduced with the last release to do with the way fast foward and rewind buttons work.

Virtual Tape Recorder V2b (16/09/06):
Screen errors fixed.
Fast foward and rewind can be used during playback, and are disabled during recording.
Microphone level is adjustable.

Virtual Tape Recorder V2 (16/09/06):
Headphone remote buttons implemented.

Virtual Tape Recorder V1 (16/09/06):
First release.

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