Clan/mp3 timecoding update

[Linguist]

Hi Joe and everybody:

This is not actually to do with transcribing from MP3s , my query is
about recording with them.  I have heard in the past that they are no
good for recording language material for linguistic research.

Is this the case??

Any comments appreciated.

Rachel

Rachel Cross
Linguist
South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council
7 Harvey St, Victoria Park WA 6979
P. 9486 2400
Email Linguist at noongar.org.au


IMPORTANT: This transmission is intended for the use of the addressee
and may contain confidential and/or legally privileged information.  If
you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have
received this transmission in error please notify the South West
Aboriginal Land & Sea Council on (08) 9358 7400 or the sender at the
address above and delete all copies of this information together with
any attachments.



-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Blythe [mailto:joe.blythe at arts.usyd.edu.au] 
Sent: Friday, 26 May 2006 9:21 AM
To: rnld list
Subject: Clan/mp3 timecoding update


Dear RNLDers
a few weeks ago (02/05/2006) I warned against transcribing from mp3s 
because of timecoding issues. I mentioned I had this huge problem 
because I had used Clan to transcribe a number of transcripts from 
linearly encoded mp3s and that the timecoding didn't match the 
corresponding .wav file. I'm glad to say that at least this sorry tale 
has a happy ending.
The good people at Carnegie Melon have written into Clan a tool called 
fixmp3s. I was able to use this tool to realign the timecoding to the 
.wav files. I can now click near a bullet point and select the correct 
bit of audio regardless of whether I use the wav or the mp3, providing 
the two sound files are named the same and only one exists in the same 
folder as the transcription (.cha file).
However my warning remains as it was.
You should still use the wav files for transcription and archiving but 
you can now use an mp3 for playback only. This of course will save 
space on your hard-drive. Any further modifications to the transcript 
should be done from the wav file.
(raucous) Cheers
Joe

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Joe Blythe

Department of Linguistics
Transient Building
University of Sydney
NSW 2006