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KathyB
Contributor III
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 92
Location: Rhode Island
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 Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:18 pm Post subject: Phone System Recording Options |
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Hi All
Hope someone can point me in the right direction to find the info I need.
I'm trying to figure out what the best option is for recording a greeting on a client's phone system. The way I see it there are three options;
1. Record at his office directly into his phone. (The easiest way to be sure, but with gas prices today, not particularly appealing.)
2. Record from my phone to his system...but he's not sure how to do that and neither am I. Although I am willing to research and learn.
3. Record in my studio and load it into his system. Again, "how to get it into his system" is the big question. I suspect this will be the best quality result.
His phone system is a Mitel, Lenox. So....I am wondering what else do I need to know about his system. Also any advice about good ways to research this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Kathy |
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Jowillie
Lucky 700
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Posts: 714
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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By any chance can you find out the model number of the Mitel system you are working with. For example, the Mitel 3100, Mitel 5340, Mitel SX-2000 PBX communications system, Mitel 200 ICP, Mitel 5201 IP Phone, Mitel 3300, Mitel 3300 IP Communications Platform, Mitel SX-200 ICP, and Mitel 3600 Hosted Key System.
Some may have an external input that will enable you to upload an analog or digital audio file....and you're in business.
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ConnieTerwilliger
Triple G
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Posts: 3381
Location: San Diego - serving the world
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | 1. Record at his office directly into his phone. (The easiest way to be sure, but with gas prices today, not particularly appealing.) |
There are some systems that still MUST be recorded directly into the phone system. Just did one of those a couple of weeks ago. Charge enough to make the trip worth your while.
| Quote: | | 2. Record from my phone to his system...but he's not sure how to do that and neither am I. Although I am willing to research and learn. |
This type of system works like voicemail. You call in - use a password - follow the prompts...
| Quote: | | 3. Record in my studio and load it into his system. Again, "how to get it into his system" is the big question. I suspect this will be the best quality result. |
He is responsible for getting it into his system once you send him the files in the correct format. And the quality is going to be pretty much the same no matter what option. If you are using a good handset and recording directly to their system, either at their office or over the phone from your location, it will sound pretty much the same as the low sample and bit rate file that you will be sending them to "load" into the system.
Bottom line here - someone sold him the system - they either have tech support who can answer these questions, or there is a manual somewhere.
Sometimes it takes a few calls to find the right person with the right answer. If you are providing the files from your studio, you need to find out what sample rate and encoding they need. The most common for my clients is mu-Law .wav files (which end up as 8K/8Bit files). But capture in 44.1-16 Bit, then downsample to 8K-16 Bit and save as the mu-Law file - which does the magic processing to 8 Bit. If you downsample to 8K-8 Bit, you will be very unhappy with the results.
One of my other clients files go out as 4 Bit .vox files...very unsatisfactory if you listen to the file, but over the phone it works fine.
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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What Connie said.
In terms of the file format, you just need to make sure that you give him the right one. If you don't it'll sound like crap when played on their system.
Sometimes they'll tell you "a wave file" or "a vox file"...unfortunately there are several TYPES of those file formats.
Make sure you ask:
Bit rate (for example: 16bit or 8bit or 4bit)
Sample rate (for example: 44.1KHz or 8KHz)
Format: (for example: .wav or .vox)
Format type: (for example: PCM, or ADPCM or mu-Law)
Telephony is a different world, but Connie's right, there should be a manual or a tech that should be able to provide the exact format the system requires....and it IS up to client o tell you that.
L.
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KathyB
Contributor III
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 92
Location: Rhode Island
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:27 am Post subject: Thank you |
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Willie, Connie, Liz
Thank you, thank you, thank you! All your advice is much appreciated and right on target. In fact I'm printing it and keeping it on file for easy reference in the future.
Sincerely
Kathy |
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glittlefield
M&M
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 2039
Location: Round Rock, TX
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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Gonna revive this thread since I haven't seen what I'm looking for mentioned yet. Got a client that needs a G.729 WAV file for their vm system. Has anyone worked with these before?
Many thanks!
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Greg Littlefield
VO-BB Member #59 |
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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Greg,
Are you sure it's G. 729 and not G.726?
L.
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
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TigerMitch
Guest
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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I've always been aware that we as VO's are also in the "solutions" business. Having said that (and due to past experience...a.k.a. "endless frustration"), the one exception to that, for me anyway, is TELEPHONY.
I still do it (IVR/On-Hold) but no longer actively market that as one of my services mostly due to your current predicament, Kathy. First, I will not send out anything that isn't high-quality (i.e.-recording directly to a phone system). I am VERY clear with my telephony clients that I will produce the file(s) but, they are responsible for the technical end of loading in to their system.
Again, with any other service I am "solutions" focused, just not with telephony...it just involves too many makes, models, formats, etc. and has, in most cases, meant a "compromise" of quality to get things loaded. And, it isn't a big revenue-generator for me even with "updates."
Just my 2 cents. |
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glittlefield
M&M
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 2039
Location: Round Rock, TX
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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Liz,
Thanks so much for the phone call!  I've dug up some info and codecs, but my client is also working on it on his end (He runs a tech company, so this is a sport for him as well...)
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Greg Littlefield
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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Telephony IS a different world than the .mp3/.wav/.aiff commercial narration world, but, just like anything else, if you have the right tools (right conversion program) it's really not that much of a pain.
Just like anything else, once you learn the terminology and the right questions to ask, you're golden! 
The resaon I asked Greg whether he was sure of the format was because I had a client who asked me for a format that I KNEW was incorrect. I asked him whether it wasn't another format & once he checked, he confirmed that I was right....I gave him the files in the format he needed & everyone was happy!
So...Mitch....send all your IVR/MOH clients my way! 
Liz
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todd ellis
A Zillion
Joined: 02 Jan 2007
Posts: 10529
Location: little egypt
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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just thought i'd revive this classic too. many, many pdf manuals from phone systems to firearms.
it has helped me with telephony clients time after time.
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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NICE!
L.
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com |
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TigerMitch
Guest
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Liz:
If they want anything other than the VO/Production done...you got it! |
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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L.
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com |
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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BTW:
After some research, there IS in fact a G.729...and a G.722!
(besides the known G.711 & G.726)
Ya learn something new everyday....
So, if anyone knows how to convert to these, please share with the class!
(Vox Studio apparently doesn't) 
hmmmm....maybe I'll write to them & see if they do in the newest version!
L.
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com |
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