problem downloading a audio file

scopingjen

I'm hoping someone knows what this problem is. I have a few reporters

that send me the audio through dss files. I've never had a problem

until now. I had 5 files sent to me through sendthisfile and

swapdrive. They appear as DSS files...I download them and save them

to "my documents" as normal. But when I go to load them in to Express

Scribe they have a zero duration. Nothing appears to be there. I do

notice when I go to save them they are not called a .wma file like the

others. It says they are a "Express Scribe Dictation file". So I'm

sure that's it because that is the only difference between these two

and the other ones. <_<

Any suggestions on what to do? I'm guessing it has to be on the

reporter's end because it doesn't allow me to change the extension of

the file. Now she did say that she had to record them on SQ instead of

HQ which is a lower quality. Could that be it?

Please help if you can.

Thanks,

Jen

krnotley

scopingjen wrote:

I'm hoping someone knows what this problem is. I have a few reporters

that send me the audio through dss files. I've never had a problem

until now. I had 5 files sent to me through sendthisfile and

swapdrive. They appear as DSS files...I download them and save them

to "my documents" as normal. But when I go to load them in to Express

Scribe they have a zero duration. Nothing appears to be there. I do

notice when I go to save them they are not called a .wma file like the

others. It says they are a "Express Scribe Dictation file". So I'm

sure that's it because that is the only difference between these two

and the other ones.

Any suggestions on what to do? I'm guessing it has to be on the

reporter's end because it doesn't allow me to change the extension of

the file. Now she did say that she had to record them on SQ instead of

HQ which is a lower quality. Could that be it?

Please help if you can.

Thanks,

Jen

Hi Jen,

Here's from the ExpressScribe Troubleshooting page:

P. DSS files do not load properly

DSS is a proprietary format, not an open standard, and unfortunately some of the newer recorders don't implement DSS in a way that is compatible with our software. The only work-around that we can suggest is to make sure that the person sending you the files is using SP mode on the recorder.

If the recorder supports other open formats (like mp3) it is always better to use them.

If your program crashes when you attempt to load or convert a dss file it is possible that the file is corrupt. Ask the user to redock and resend the file to you.

If you get a strange endless repeating of the file, or a truncation, and you first installed prior to 6 January 2005, please install the more recent dss32.exe from <A href="http://www.nch.com.au/components/index.html">www.nch.com.au/components. ****

I really strongly recommend that ExpressScribe users, especially with the other components, like ExpressDictate, etc., read through the Manual and the Sound Formats page on NCH's website, and familiarize yourself with them as best you can. YOu don't have to be an Olympic class techie--heaven knows I'm not and I've been using ES since the invention of cuneiform. But it's a pretty sophisticated program, and they really do provide a lot of resources for you to help yourself out of a jam, as long as you don't panic. THEN, if you can't figure it out from things like their Troubleshooting page, you can go to the forum.

Have fun--Kathy