ElderWiz wrote:
First time user of this software and this forum - hope I'm in the correct place
Can anyone tell me how easy or difficult it is to use "switch" as a blind (i.e. usighted) user? I have a number of files to convert
to mp3 - some music, some text to speech conversion (.wav), some .au files etc.
Is this software friendly enough or perhaps command line option to do my conversions?
Please advise and thanks for any/all responses.
_ed_
Hi!
Switch is quite Command Line friendly, I managed to work it out myself the other day after about half an hour. And I tend to stay far away from command line. Below is an excerpt from the help file on the commands, it's fairly lengthy:
The Switch command-line tool allows you to use Switch to convert files from the Windows command line. This can be used to let other software convert files with Switch or to automate batch conversion.
Important Note: Due to a limitation in the way Windows handles running graphical programs from the command line, Switch cannot give any feedback when an issued command has been completed, nor can it block the command line while a conversion is taking place. We are currently investigating possible ways to circumvent the Windows problem, but please note it down for now and take it into account when issuing command-line orders to Switch.
The Switch executable is usually located as "C:\Program Files\NCH Swift Sound\Switch\switch.exe"
Usage: switch.exe [options] [files to add]
"Options" is where you can issue a series of commands to Switch. The options are:
-convert - convert all files loaded into Switch.
-clear - remove all files loaded into Switch.
-addfolder [FOLDER_NAME] - add a folder of files into Switch.
-format [FORMAT_NAME] - specify the output file format for which to convert the loaded files. The format names are the file extensions for each format (e.g. .wav, .mp3).
-outfolder [FOLDER_NAME] - specify the output folder to store the converted files. Do NOT end the folder path with a backslash '\' character.
-settempfolder [FOLDER_NAME] - specify the temporary folder that Switch will store files in when playing or converting files. If the specified folder is not valid then no action will take place.
-overwrite [OVERWRITE_FLAG] - specifies what to do when the converted file already exists. The flags are "PROMPT" (Prompt for What to Do), "ALWAYS" (Overwrite the File), "NEVER" (Don't Convert the Original File), "CANCEL" (Abort All Conversions), "APPENDNUMBER [format]" (Append number to filename - [format] is optional, if blank it will use the format already specified in the program).
-settings [FORMAT_NAME] [sETTINGS_OPTIONS] - specifies the settings configuration to use for the specified format. For more detail on what parameters to use, see further down the page.
-insettings [FORMAT_NAME] [sETTINGS_OPTIONS] - specifies the settings configuration to use for formats requiring decoding prior to conversion (e.g. .vox, .raw) For more detail on what parameters to use, see further down the page.
-hide - hide the Switch window.
-show - show the Switch window.
-exit - exit Switch.
"Files to Add" is where you type in the files you want to load into Switch. All typed filenames must use the full filepath of the name, and circumfixed with inverted commas.
Examples:
switch.exe -format MP3
switch.exe -outfolder "C:\My Music";
switch.exe -hide
switch.exe "C:\My Documents\sound.mp3"
switch.exe -convert "C:\My Music\music.mp3" -format .wav -overwrite ALWAYS
switch.exe -convert "C:\My Music\music.ogg" -format .mp3 -overwrite APPENDNUMBER "%filename%-%number%"
Unless you are in the Switch folder you will need to replace "switch.exe" from above with the full path "C:\Program Files\NCH Swift Sound\Switch\switch.exe" like this:
"C:\Program Files\NCH Swift Sound\Switch\switch.exe" -convert "C:\My Music\music.mp3" -format WAV
Settings Options:
The following details what parameters to enter when using the "-settings" and "-insettings" options. Note the order in which the parameters are written is the order in which they must be typed. Additionally, all parameters must be entered otherwise the command will not take effect.
WAV [codeC] [sAMPLE_RATE] [CHANNELS]
* CODEC - either "PCM8", "PCM16", "ALAW" or "MULAW" (note ADPCM is not supported at this time)
* SAMPLE_RATE - entered in Hz e.g. 8000
* CHANNELS - either 1 or 2
Note the possible combination of values that can be entered depend largely on the codec, so you would have to open Switch and determine beforehand what values you can use for the codec in question.
Example: -settings .wav PCM16 44100 2
MP3 ENCODER_TYPE CBR[bITRATE] [HIGH_QUALITY] VBR[MIN_BITRATE] [MAX_BITRATE] [QUALITY] [CHANNEL_MODE] [ERROR_PROTECT]
ENCODER_TYPE - either "CBR" or "VBR"
CBR OPTIONS:
* BITRATE - entered in kbps e.g. 128
* HIGH_QUALITY - either "TRUE" or "FALSE"
VBR OPTIONS:
* MIN_BITRATE - entered in kbps e.g. 128
* MAX_BITRATE - entered in kbps e.g. 192
* QUALITY - a value from 0 to 9
* CHANNEL_MODE - either "STEREO", "JOINT", "FORCE" or "MONO"
* ERROR_PROTECT - either "TRUE" or "FALSE"
Examples:
* -settings .mp3 CBR 128 TRUE STEREO TRUE
* -settings .mp3 VBR 128 192 4 MONO FALSE
OGG ENCODER_TYPE Quality[QUALITY] VBR[MIN_BITRATE] [MAX_BITRATE] [CHANNELS] [sTRIP_COMMENTS]
ENCODER_TYPE - either "Quality" or "VBR"
Quality OPTIONS:
* QUALITY - a value between 0 and 10
VBR OPTIONS:
* MIN_BITRATE - entered in kbps e.g. 128
* MAX_BITRATE - entered in kbps e.g. 192
* CHANNELS - either 1 or 2
* STRIP_COMMENTS - either "TRUE" or "FALSE"
Examples:
* -settings .ogg Quality 5 2 TRUE
* -settings .ogg VBR 96 192 1 FALSE
WMA [codeC_INDEX] [sAMPLE_RATE] [bITRATE] [CHANNELS]
CODEC_INDEX - this value should be an integer of 0 or greater. The maximum value will depend on which wma codecs you have installed on your computer. The value you specify corresponds directly to the index of the WMA codec pulldown list in the WMA settings dialog. For example, if you prefer to use the first value listed in the pulldown list, specify 0 here. If you prefer to use the second specify 1.
SAMPLE_RATE - Specify the target sample rate of the conversion in Hz. eg. 44100.
BITRATE - Specify the target bitrate of the conversion in bps. eg. 128000.
CHANNELS - Specify 1 for Mono or 2 for Stereo.
Examples:
* -settings .wma 1 44100 192000 2
SPX [MODE] [VALUE] ([AGC] [DENOISE])
MODE - Defines what mode of encoding to perform. Must be one of the following values:
* Preset
* CBR (Constant Bitrate defined in bps)
* VBR (Variable Bitrate defined in bps)
* ABR (Average Bitrate defined in bps)
VALUE - This parameter depends on the MODE you specified in the first parameter:
* Preset - a value between 0 (lowest quality and highest compression) and 10 (highest quality and lowest compression).
* CBR - the bitrate at which the audio will be encoded at.
* VBR - the maximum bitrate at which to encode the audio.
* ABR - the average bitrate at which to encode the audio.
AGC - this is an optional parameter which will turn the Speex encoder's Adaptive Gain Control on.
Denoise - this is an optional parameter which instructs the Speex encoder to denoise the input before encoding.
Examples:
* -settings .spx Preset 1 Denoise
* -settings .spx VBR 192000 AGC Denoise
* -settings .spx CBR 128000
MPC [QUALITY_PRESET]
* QUALITY_PRESET - one of the following: Thumb, Radio, Standard, Extreme, Insane
Example: -settings .mpc Standard
APE [QUALITY_PRESET]
* QUALITY_PRESET - one of the following: Fast, Normal, High, Extra High, Insane
Example: -settings .ape Normal
AIFF [sAMPLE_RATE] [CHANNELS]
* SAMPLE_RATE - one of the following: 6000, 8000, 11025, 16000, 22050, 32000, 44100, 48000, 64000, 88200, 96000, 196000
* CHANNELS - either 1(Mono) or 2(Stereo)
Example: -settings .aiff 44100 1
AAC/M4A ENCODER_TYPE ABR[bITRATE] VBR[QUALITY] [FORCE_MPEG2] [TNS]
ENCODER_TYPE - either "ABR" or "VBR"
ABR OPTIONS:
* BITRATE - entered in kbps e.g. 128
VBR OPTIONS:
* QUALITY - a value between 0 and 10
* FORCE_MPEG2 - either "TRUE" or "FALSE"
* TNS - either "TRUE" or "FALSE"
Examples:
* -settings .aac ABR 128 FALSE FALSE
* -settings .m4a VBR 100 TRUE TRUE
FLAC [COMPRESSION_LEVEL] [sAMPLE_RATE] [CHANNELS]
* COMPRESSION_LEVEL - a value between 0 and 8
* SAMPLE_RATE - entered in Hz e.g. 8000
* CHANNELS - either 1 or 2
Example: -settings .flac 6 44100 2
VOX/RAW [codeC] [sAMPLE_RATE] [CHANNELS]
(Note: applies to both "-settings" and "-insettings" commands)
* CODEC - a number between 0 and 8, representing the codec type. The codecs on offer are (in order):
o Dialogic ADPCM
o G.711 uLaw
o G.711 aLaw
o 16 bit PCM (Intel Endian)
o 8 bit unsigned
o 8 bit signed
o 16 bit PCM (Big Endian)
o 32 bit float (Intel Endian)
o 32 bit float (Big Endian)
* SAMPLE_RATE - entered in Hz e.g. 8000
* CHANNELS - either 1 or 2
Examples:
* -settings .vox 0 44100 2
* -settings .raw 3 32000 1
* -insettings .vox 2 22050 2
* -insettings .raw 4 8000 1
AMR [bITRATE]
* BITRATE - the bitrate at which you want to encode the AMR file (in kbps). The choices are 4.75, 5.15, 5.9, 6.7, 7.4, 7.95, 10.2 and 12.2.
Examples:
* -settings .amr 4.75
* -settings .amr 10.2
M3U/PLS/WPL/RSS
<a href="" rel=""> </a>
<a href="" rel=""> * URL - the URL of the site where you will host the playlist file. URLs should start with the http:// or ftp:// protocol string as appropriate.</a>
<a href="" rel=""> </a>
<a href="" rel="">To configure the settings for the generated MP3 file, use the standard MP3 settings syntax to configure it (i.e. -settings .mp3 etc. etc.)</a>
<a href="" rel=""> </a>
<a href="" rel="">Examples:</a>
<a href="" rel=""> </a>
<a href="" rel=""> * -settings .rss "</a><a href="" rel="">http://www.music.com/"</a>
<a href="" rel=""> * -settings .m3u "</a><a href="" rel="">http://livebands.com/rock/"</a>
<a href="" rel=""> * -settings .pls "</a>[](ftp://latinmusic.net/samba/%22)<a href="" rel="">ftp://latinmusic.net/samba/"</a>