Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone who understands the components of a DAISY book is able to produce content, including individual end-users who have obtained DAISY authoring tools designed for their use. At this time, however, typically libraries serving people who are blind or visually impaired, other nonprofit services, and some commercial companies are the primary content producers.

See 'Book Specifications' in the Tools area.

In the case of DAISY/NISO content, it could be every- and anything, from the \who done it?\ tag in a crime novel, to a way to browse in a table in a manner that lets you understand its content in the context of the text that leads or pertains to it.

The DAISY Consortium develops the Standard so that producing agencies have maximum flexibility in terms of the final content products they make available to end-users, but it's the producing agencies' responsibility to select the features that they wish to implement.

Please see the DAISY Standard Development area which lists the specifics of new features for DAISY 4 in 2010.

The DAISY Standard is based on several recommendations of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Currently, these include the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and the Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL). Both of these are internationally recognized standards accepted in the technology industry. For more information on the current Standard, see ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2005.

A description of the different levels and benefits of membership in DAISY is described on the How to Join page of the Web site.

Using the DAISY Standard, content creators, such as a library serving people who are blind or visually impaired or a book publisher, can produce accessible and navigable books to meet a variety of reading needs. In general, organizations can:

• Produce a Digital Talking Book (DTB) that enables a person to navigate through it in a way comparable to how a print book would be used. For example, readers can examine the book by page, section, or chapter, or use a table of contents or an index. In general, this goal may be accomplished by creating a structured text file integrated with a human-narrated audio file.
• Synchronize an electronic text file with an audio file to provide readers with the choice to examine the text and/or listen to the audio version of it.
• Generate an electronic braille file from the electronic text used to create the DAISY book.
• Produce a structured digital ''text-only'' document which can be read with a DAISY software player in combination with a braille display or speech synthesizer.

Replace xxx with the name of the mailing list in this URL:

http://193.11.19.249:81/read/?forum=xxx&max=1000

You will be prompted for the email address (your email address that is used on the list) and password if one is required. This is your login to the list server, not the DAISY Web site.

A description of the different levels and benefits of membership in DAISY is described on the How to Join page of the Web site.

Consider the following brief comparison of these tools to help you make the best choice for your production environment.

PRODUCTION TOOLS for DAISY DIGITAL TALKING BOOKS:
BRIEF COMPARISON

LpStudio/Pro

• Output: Can be used to create NCC-only and full text DTBs.
• Accessibility: Scripts for Jaws for Windows and maps for Supernova are available (please check the DAISY Web site for latest versions). Requires external synthesizer.

Strong Points

Provides the most features when producing full text DTBs using external source documents. Extensive functionality in recording windows. Contains two recording screen options, Advanced and Simple.

Limitations

Ability to edit the structure/textual content after recording onset is limited. Production process/interface is sometimes experienced as complex by new users.

Typically used in larger organizations with text production departments and audio recording departments. Also usable in a singular context as a stand-alone tool, using the included Structure Editor to create NCC-only structures.

Sigtuna DAR

• Output: Can be used to create NCC-only and full text DTBs.
• Accessibility: Scripts for Jaws for Windows are available (please check the DAISY Web site for latest version). Requires external synthesizer.

Strong points

Ability to create/edit/remove NCC headings and pages during the recording process (when in "ToC-only mode"). Ability to add full text segments to an NCC-only DTB using ATAU mode.

Limitations

Functionality in recording windows not as extensive as in LpStudio/Pro. In "synchronized" mode, the editing limitations are similar to LpStudio/Pro.

Typically used in larger organizations as well as in stand-alone settings.

My Studio PC

• Output: can be used to create NCC-only DTBs.
• Accessibility: fully selfvoicing. Does not require external synthesizer.

Strong points

Very easy to learn and operate. Additional features include generating synthesized speech from text.

Limitations

Does not produce full text DTBs.

Typically used in any organization where structure documents (NCCs) are not created before recording onset. Also typically used by volunteers working at home or in a studio.

It is fine to use style sheets, but inline fonts should not be used.

During original production in the Advanced Recording window in lpStudio/Pro you have the option to use the "Next Audio" button which will generate a new audio clip (audio event) when this button is selected during recording. As the narrator completes a paragraph the technician (or the narrator, if he or she is working without the aid of a technician) selects the Next Audio button. A new audio event will be generated, corresponding to the paragraph break in the book.

A book produced in this way will provide navigation at the paragraph level in a book that is not a full text production.

In the case of DAISY/NISO content, it could be every- and anything, from the \who done it?\ tag in a crime novel, to a way to browse in a table in a manner that lets you understand its content in the context of the text that leads or pertains to it.

The DAISY Consortium develops the Standard so that producing agencies have maximum flexibility in terms of the final content products they make available to end-users, but it's the producing agencies' responsibility to select the features that they wish to implement.

Please see the DAISY Standard Development area which lists the specifics of new features for DAISY 4 in 2010.

Generally speaking, organizations will want their books to fit onto 1 CD whenever possible, facilitating storage, handling and ease of use by the reader, and, keeping costs down.

An organization may wish to set a firm standard for the bit rate used for compressing its distribution masters. In this way the bit rate would be consistent.

Alternatively, an organization may elect to use only as much compression as is required to get the Distribution master (and and therefore the distribution copies) onto 1 CD.

Smaller books can be compressed at a bit rate as high as 160, and the audio quality is very good. The bigger the book the greater the compression (lower the bit rate) required to get it onto 1 CD.

Note that compression rates lower than 160 (numbers greater than 160 in the compression rate drop down menu) may not be supported by all playback software or hardware devices and should therefore not be used.

No, your email address is kept hidden. The only information that is visible to other users is your username. You may allow other users to contact you by e-mail via your personal contact form. Note that while your e-mail address is not made public to other members of the community, privileged users such as site administrators are able to contact you even if you choose not to enable this feature.

Note: If your address information is filled out, some of your demographic information such as country and region is available to other logged in users.

To edit any of your personal details such as your default email address or password, please click on 'My Account', followed by the 'Edit' tab. You can amend your details as necessary and the records in our database will be updated immediately. Any new details will also be emailed to you for your records.

We will email you your password as soon as you have registered.

If you would like to change your password to one you will remember more easily, please click on 'My Account' and then the 'Edit' tab. Enter your new password in both the 'Password' and 'Confirm Password' fields and click on the submit button to save your changes.

If you can't log in to the site and have forgotten your password, please use the 'Request new password' link and follow the instructions there. A new password will be emailed to the email address associated with your account.

Replace xxx with the name of the mailing list in this URL:

http://193.11.19.249:81/read/?forum=xxx&max=1000

You will be prompted for the email address (your email address that is used on the list) and password if one is required. This is your login to the list server, not the DAISY Web site.