Authoring and ProductionTools

A Stylevision Power Stylesheet is available for DTBook 2005-1.

The SPS provides a default editable rendition of DTBook documents. It allows non-technical users to view and edit DTBook contents.

To use the SPS component:

• Install Authentic or XMLSpy
• Assign the DTBook 2005-1 doctype to the DTBook document.
• Connect to the internet.
• No setup is necessary. The software will automatically apply the SPS whenever you open a DTBook document in XMLSpy's Authentic view or in the standalone version of Authentic.
  
  

Alternately, download the SPS from www.daisy.org/z3986/2005/dtbook-2005-1.sps and assign it to the DTBook manually. Consult the XMLSpy/Authentic documentation for more information on how to do this.   joel.hakansson(at)tpb.se is the support contact.

Bruno is an application that generates ready-to-record DAISY filesets (a DAISY project) from valid source document input.

After the generation is complete, the DAISY project can be opened in a DAISY production tool and the audio can be recorded.

Bruno bypasses the "project setup wizard" features that exist in a number of DAISY production tools, and at the same time provides a number of benefits to producers:

• Project generation is fast. Less time is actually required to generate a DAISY project for recording.
• It is easy to use. Getting a valid and nicely synchronized DTB does not require mastering complex techniques or multiple process steps. For example, with Bruno, no MDF editing or customizing is required as can be the case in some project generation wizards.
• Fileset integrity and well-formedness are maintained. Both simple and complex markup are handled equally well.

Dwonload Bruno - Fileset Generator

The DAISY Regenerator is a software tool designed to enable organizations to repair and upgrade existing DAISY 2.0 and 2.02 DTBs.

The tool takes a DAISY 2.0 or 2.02 DTB as input, and performs a series of operations on it in order to output a valid DAISY 2.02 DTB.

Features include:

• Conversion of HTML and SMIL files to valid XML
• Fixes of reoccuring errors and inconsistencies that existed in the output of early versions of production tools
• Ability to rename files sequentially (so that they play in order in MP3 players)

Why use the Regenerator?

• Because the elimination of possible errors will yield a better experience for the end user reading the DAISY 2.02 DTB.
• Because a valid DAISY 2.02 DTB is future safe. Only valid DAISY 2.02 DTBs are guaranteed to be upgradeable to the DAISY 3 standard. In this respect, the Regenerator may be regarded as an organization's "Swiss Army knife" of longevity.

The Regenerator works together with the DAISY 2.02 Validator. After regeneration has been done, the DTB can be automatically validated, to ensure that no errors or inconsistencies remain.

Download DAISY 2.02 Regenerator

The optional features described in the DAISY 2.02, have not yet been implemented in all production tools or in playback systems. Several Members of the DAISY Consortium serving students have been extremely vocal about the need for this feature.

These technical individuals in collaboration with the technical DAISY staff have developed a strategy to implement these features that is completely independent of LpStudio/Pro or Sigtuna DAR.

Organizations who wish to implement these features would be required to include additional markup in their source files and to use a post processing tool - The Skippability Tweaker - on the completed project to add this functionality.

The Skippability Tweaker supports adding these features to both NCC-Only and Full Text DTBs. Supported skippable structures are pagenumbers, sidebars, producer notes and footnotes.

Skippability Tweaker

For more information, please visit the official website for DAISY Skippability Tweaker.

DAISY Members Duxbury Systems, Inc. and Design Science, Inc. have collaborated on Duxbury Braille Translator™ (DBT) version 10.7 with support for direct import of Microsoft Word documents containing mathematical equations created with MathType™. This improvement will allow users to author math with MathType in MS Word and then translate those materials to braille via DBT for Windows.

For information on obtaining MathType, see the description of MathType from Design Science.

For more information, please visit the official website for Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT).

eClipseScan is a simple scanning and reading workstation that creates DAISY talking books for personal use and includes a suite of built-in news and entertainment features. All functions operate via a simple keypad and self-voicing wizard menu system. Scan and Read Features:

• Scan and Read Books and Documents Aloud
• Uses NeoSpeech Kate and Paul Text To Speech Voices
• Navigate by Line, Word with Spell Word Feature
• Voice Speed Rate and Pitch Control
• Supports VGA and S-Video TV Monitor Output For Low Vision Features and Video Playback
• Includes Low Vision Font Size and Color Adjustment

eClipseScan Entertainment Center Version 1.1, specifically, eClipseScan Save As DAISY Feature now creates text only and full text and audio DAISY books in MP3 Format. eClipseScan DAISY MP3 Files are organized by heading or section name and can be burned to CD using the Save As DAISY feature.

To hear eClipseScan’s online audio presentation, please visit IRTI’s website.

For more information, please visit the official website for eClipseScan.

LpStudio/Pro is available to Members of the DAISY Consortium. The software is typically used in larger organizations with text production departments and audio recording departments. It is also usable in a singular context as a stand-alone tool, using the included Structure Editor to create NCC-only structures.

The software provides extensive features when producing full text Digital Talking Books using external source documents. The user has extensive functionality and flexibility when working in recording windows. Two recording screen options are available -- Advanced and Simple.

• Output: Can be used to create NCC-only and full text DTBs.
• Scripts for Jaws for Windows and maps for Supernova are available.
• Requires an external synthesizer.

For more information, please use the Contact Us form, selecting the General category.

Dolphin MAP for LpStudio/Pro

Jaws Scripts for LpStudio/Pro

LpStudio/Pro Official Release Candidate

Structure Editor Launcher

Obi is a free software application - DAISY/NISO production tool. It enables individual DAISY end users with a minimal amount of training to produce rich, yet accessible DAISY content. It is an audio recording tool for producing DAISY audio books. Obi brings the benefits of DAISY technology to a broader range of consumers. In situations where time and cost constraints limit the use of sophisticated synchronized multimedia production tools (e.g. classroom environment, people and organizations in developing countries), Obi can unlock the potential of producers and consumers (e.g. teachers and students).

Plextor's PTR2 replaces the PTR1 and is designed to be a high quality recorder with the ability to create DAISY 2.02 books with audio, headings and pages, as well as music CDs. It can also play DAISY books, music CDs, Audio File CDs and CF cards. It can be used as a CD-RW or memory card drive when connected to a computer. For quicker and easier editing of DAISY content, the PTR2 is supplied with the Plextalk Recording Software (PRS). This package provides all the necessary tools to record, edit and finalize audio DAISY 2.02 books. This portable unit has a built-in microphone and an optional external microphone, providing recording versatility.

The PTR2 can be operated in 2 main modes: "Normal" mode and "Book Creator" mode. It is possible to switch between these 2 modes at any time. Normal mode has a simplified interface and makes the process of recording very straightforward. This mode is ideal for a beginner or for someone who wants to make a recording quickly and easily. Book Creator mode provides all of the necessary tools to create a fully structured DAISY 2.02 book including insert, punch in and overwrite recording, phrase editing and the ability to set heading levels.

For more information, please visit the official website for Plextalk Portable Recorder (Model: PTR2).

Microsoft's Word Add-in translates Microsoft Word XP, 2003, and 2007 documents into DAISY.

The \Save as DAISY - Microsoft\ project area provides current information and related communications about the Microsoft Word add-in, as well as links for downloading the latest version.

For more information, please visit the official website for Save as DAISY add-in for Microsoft Word.

The STD editor (Structured Text Document editor) enables a user with little or no skills in mark up languages to produce XML and HTML documents valid to the standard for Digital Talking Books (both DAISY 2.02 and ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2002).

The STD editor facilitates the generation of master-files in XML for any production of structured documents: e-books in HTML, source-files for Digital Talking Books, well-structured files for the Internet etc.

For more information, see the Website or contact Marketing coordinator Jakob B. Rasmussen

For more information, please visit the official website for Structured Text Document Editor (STD Editor).

Generate Digital Talking Books using synthetic speech with the STEB Generator (Synthetic Talking E-Book Generator). The production process is very fast. It takes approximately 1 hour to generate 8 hours of recording with synthetic speech. Audiobooks with synthetic e reference books, newspapers, indexes, manuals, etc. The STEB Generator needs very little human interaction which means a very short production time at a very low cost.

The STEB Generator uses an XML file as a source. In addition to the STEB Generator, a speech synthesizer will be required.

For more information, please visit the official website for Synthetic Talking E-Book Generator (STEB Generator).