Acoustic Magic Voice Tracker

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INSTRUCTIONS

General Setup

Connect the power and audio cables to their appropriate

jacks on the back of the Voice Tracker

Array (see

Figure 1). Plug the power adapter into a standard 110

volt wall outlet and connect the other end of the audio

cable to the “Line In” input on your computer’s sound

card. The adapter supplies 6V DC power to the

microphone.

Figure 1 – Audio and Power Cable Connections

The Voice Tracker

Array may be used as the audio

input device for a variety of speech and multi-media

applications. Many of the software packages which

utilize a speech input have setup tools which allow you

to specify that you are using the “Line In” connection on

your soundcard and to adjust the sound level (volume)

automatically. Please refer to your specific application

software for details. To adjust the volume or input

selection manually on a Windows PC, see the Adjusting

Your Soundcard section at the end of these

instructions.

Positioning

Aim the array in the direction of the desired talker(s).

When properly positioned, the talker will be able to see

all 5 green position indicators (see Figure 2).

Figure 2 – Voice Tracker

Array Front View

The Voice Tracker

can be tilted up or down to facilitate

mounting on the desktop (tilted up) or on the monitor

(tilted down). For speech recognition applications, the

desktop position will exhibit slightly better performance.

If you mount it on top of the monitor, makes sure it is

secured so it doesn’t fall off.

Mode Switches

The Voice Tracker

has 4 operational modes, selected

by two switches: the Field switch and the Location

Dependent Squelch

(LDS

) switch (see Figure 3).

Figure 3 – Field and LDS

Switches

The Field switch determines the scanning range of the

array. In the wide-angle mode, the Voice Tracker

will

scan +/- 90 degrees. This is useful if the user desires to

listen to an entire room. In the narrow-angle mode, the

array

will scan +/- 45 degrees. The narrower scanning

range helps to reduce the impact of undesired talkers

and noise sources outside the region of interest.

When the LDS

switch is set to On, the Voice Tracker

will turn off during periods of silence and when the sound

source is located outside the array’s reception region as

determined by the Field switch. The array turns on

again very quickly when the user resumes talking.

When used together with the narrow field of view, the

LDS

can be employed to ignore unwanted sounds.

Once the talker pauses and the Voice Tracker

turns

off, the array will only turn on again when sounds come

from within the +/- 45 degree listening area (see Figure

4).

Figure 4 – Listening Area

For speech recognition applications, when the limited

scan range and LDS

are on, the generation of

spurious words or commands from sources outside the

listening area will be reduced. The user should decide

whether this feature improves performance in their

particular noise environment.

Using a narrow field of view and LDS

can also be

useful when teleconferencing. If the incoming talker’s

speech is played through loudspeakers positioned

outside the +/- 45 degree listening area, the array will

turn off when only the far-end talker is active, thereby

minimizing echo in the channel.

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Summary

General Setup and Connections

Audio and Power Cable Connection

Connect power adapter and audio cable to the Voice Tracker array and computer's sound card.

Software and Soundcard Configuration

Specify Line In connection and adjust sound level in application setup or Windows soundcard settings.

Array Positioning and Mode Settings

Positioning the Array

Aim the array towards the talker(s) to align the listening beam and observe position indicators.

Field and LDS Switches

Configure scanning range (Field) and silence/noise suppression (LDSTM) for optimal audio capture.

Operational Feedback and Application Use

Position Lights Explained

Understand green lights indicating listening beam direction and sound source location.

Speech Recognition System Training

Retrain your speech recognition system after connecting the array for improved performance.

Soundcard Adjustment and Compliance

Adjusting Line In Input

Configure Line In recording levels and selection on Windows PCs for optimal input.

Adjusting Microphone In Input

Switch to Microphone In if Line In gain is insufficient and adjust its volume.

FCC Compliance Information

Statement confirming the equipment complies with FCC Class A digital device regulations.

The Voice Tracker™ Array is an audio input device designed for speech and multimedia applications, functioning as a microphone with advanced features for sound capture and processing. It is powered by a 6V DC adapter, which plugs into a standard 110-volt wall outlet, and connects to a computer's sound card via an audio cable plugged into the "Line In" input.

Function Description

The primary function of the Voice Tracker™ Array is to capture audio, particularly speech, from a room. It employs an array of microphones to create a "listening beam" that can track the location of a talker. This beam can scan a wide-angle range of +/- 90 degrees or a narrow-angle range of +/- 45 degrees, depending on the user's preference. The device is designed to reduce the impact of undesired talkers and noise sources outside the region of interest, making it suitable for speech recognition, teleconferencing, and other applications where clear audio input is crucial.

Important Technical Specifications

The device operates with a 6V DC power supply. While specific frequency response or signal-to-noise ratio are not detailed, the manual emphasizes its ability to provide improved sound quality for speech recognition. The scanning range is adjustable between +/- 90 degrees (wide-angle) and +/- 45 degrees (narrow-angle).

Usage Features

Connectivity:

Power: Connects to a standard 110-volt wall outlet via a 6V DC power adapter.
Audio: Connects to a computer's sound card via an audio cable to the "Line In" input. If the sound card lacks sufficient gain for the "Line In," the manual suggests using the "Microphone In" input instead.

Positioning:

The array should be aimed in the direction of the desired talker(s).
When properly positioned, all five green position indicators on the front of the device should be visible to the talker.
The device can be tilted up or down for mounting on a desktop (tilted up) or on a monitor (tilted down). Desktop positioning is recommended for slightly better speech recognition performance. When mounted on a monitor, it must be secured to prevent falling.

Operational Modes (Selected by Field and LDS™ Switches):

Field Switch:
- Wide-angle mode (+/- 90 degrees): Useful for listening to an entire room.
- Narrow-angle mode (+/- 45 degrees): Reduces the impact of undesired talkers and noise outside the region of interest.
Location Dependent Squelch™ (LDS™) Switch:
- LDS™ On: The Voice Tracker™ turns off during periods of silence and when the sound source is outside the array's reception region (as determined by the Field switch). It quickly reactivates when talking resumes. When combined with the narrow field of view, LDS™ can ignore unwanted sounds, turning on only when sounds originate from within the +/- 45 degree listening area. This feature helps reduce spurious words or commands from external sources in speech recognition applications and minimizes echo in teleconferencing when far-end talker speech is played through loudspeakers outside the listening area.
- LDS™ Off: The array remains continuously active, even during silence.

Position Lights:

Five green position lights on the front of the array provide visual feedback on its operation, indicating the direction of the listening beam.
When a relevant sound is recognized, one of the lights illuminates, corresponding to the sound source's location (e.g., middle light for directly in front, side lights for talkers to the side).
The lights track the talker's motion across the field of view.
In narrow-angle mode, only three lights are active.
If no active talker is present, the lights may flicker as the device searches for a talker.
When LDS™ is on, the indicator light illuminates only during sound activity within the designated listening area.
When LDS™ is off, a light remains on continuously.
If no lights are on and LDS™ mode is off, it may indicate that the array is unplugged or malfunctioning.

Speech Recognition Integration:

Due to its unique operation, users should retrain their speech recognition system after connecting the Voice Tracker™ and adjusting the sound card gain level. This optimizes performance and allows for the transfer of personalized vocabulary.

Sound Card Adjustment (Windows PC):

To adjust volume/input selection:
1. Navigate to Start > Programs > Accessories > Multimedia (or Entertainment) > Volume Control.
2. Ensure the "Line In" mute is checked.
3. Go to Options > Properties, select "Recording," and check the circle next to it.
4. In the "Show Volume Controls" region, check the box next to "Line In" and click OK.
5. Check the "Select" box under "Line In" and set its volume to an appropriate level, being careful not to set it too high to avoid clipping.
6. Exit recording control.
If using "Microphone In" instead of "Line In":
1. Follow the same steps as above, but in step 2, ensure the "Microphone" mute is checked.
2. In step 4, check the box next to "Microphone" instead of "Line In."
3. In step 5, check the "Select" box under "Microphone" and set its volume.

Maintenance Features

The manual does not explicitly detail maintenance features. However, it does provide troubleshooting guidance for sound card settings and general operational issues (e.g., no lights on). For further questions or support, users are directed to contact Acoustic Magic via email or phone.

FCC Compliance

The equipment is tested and found to comply with Class A digital device limits under part 15 of FCC rules, designed to provide reasonable protection against interference in a commercial environment. It generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy. Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by Acoustic Magic could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. It also complies with Class A limits for radio noise emissions as set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.