                **************************************
                ***   Real Time Sound Comparator   ***
                **************************************
                       V2.2 from November 10 1998


                        The brief description
                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Hardware requirements:
      PENTIUM-133
      SOUND BLASTER 16 (DSP version 4.00 and higher)

 Software requirements:
      DOS-3.2 and higher           (Real mode)
      DOS session WINDOWS 95/98/NT (Virtual86 mode)


   The program IS DESIGNED for real time scale concurrence detection
 of a sound signal fragments with previously recorded patterns.

   One of the most attractive of the programs' applications is the sound
 signal monitoring (the advertising announcements passing reliability,
 songs ratings etc.).

   The program IS NOT DESIGNED for the announcer verification or the
 speech identification purposes. The program does not allocate any slow
 parameters (the main tone frequency, formants etc.) from signals,
 typical for the voice identification programs. Therefore the program
 does not impose any typical restrictions on sound fragments (speech,
 music and other sounds).

   The program is designed for the following parameters:

                Sampling rate - 6144 Hz          (V2.2).
            Patterns Duration - 3 seconds (each) (V2.2).

   The MONO signal is always recorded and compared. This signal is
 organized in the sound card from STEREO signal automatically.

   One of the following devices can be chosen as the signal source:
       -  Audio Compact Disk (CD).
       -  Microphone.
       -  Linear input of a sound card.
   To the last any source of sound signals can be connected:
 the radio receiver, TV-set etc.

   Up to three patterns can simultaneously be compared to the signal,
 that is determined by productivity of the used computer.
 The computing capacity with PENTIUM-133 processor is enough for
 continuous comparison only with one pattern. For comparison with two
 or three patterns simultaneously it requires the processor with MMX
 support.

   It is necessary to be convinced, that the sound card was configured
 by the program as SBCONFIG.EXE or similar, which is usually located
 in AUTOEXEC.BAT. This program is usually delivered together with the
 card (When DOS-session Windows 95 is used it is not necessary).
 It is very important especially for Plug & Play sound cards in DOS
 (Real mode).
   Before start the program, it is recommended to close all active
 applications (except, probably, "CD-Player" when the CD-source is
 chosen).


   The signal source choice is made in the option SIGNAL SOURCE of the
 main menu by <Enter> key. The amplitude of the signal on the graphic
 screen has to be at least one third of the screen. Some signal
 limitations (over screen amplitudes) are acceptable. The input signal
 value is adjustable by <Arrow-Up> and <Arrow-Down> keys.

   When the signal fragment for the pattern is chosen it is necessary
 to take into consideration the sampling rate limitation - 6144 Hz:
 so, the maximum signal frequency (recorded and compared) cannot exceed
 3072 Hz. All signal components higher than this level will be evaluated
 like noise and will reduce the correct comparison probability.
   A certain filtration is used in the program to minimize the noise
 component. The filtration can be switched off by <F> key in the SIGNAL
 SOURCE option. However it will not influence the comparison parameters
 because the filtration is always realized.
   To evaluate HF signal components a red interrupted line is displayed.
 The red fragments correspond to negative signal's derivative.
 The <Pause> key can be used for detailed input signal oscillogram
 investigation.

   During patterns recording procedure from the main menu (RECORD
 option) pattern1.wav, pattern2.wav and pattern3.wav files are
 organized. Old files (If existing) are deleted.
   The PLAY option allows hearing recorded patterns.
   The REMARK option allows adding a pattern sentence - identifier
 (for example, song's name or the channel number during sound signal
 monitoring). The identifier is also included into the listing.lst
 report file.

   The TEST PERFORMANCE option serves for computer's productivity
 estimation during signal comparison with several patterns. The test
 shows real computer's performance in % of needed. Minimally acceptable
 performance is considered as 100%.
   From the comparative chart it is clear that at least PENTIUM-133 is
 requested for one pattern comparison, PENTIUM-200 MMX - for two
 patterns comparison and AMD-K6-266 MMX - for three patterns.
 When the performance value is < 100%  comparison result will be false.
 The productivity can considerably be reduced by any active application,
 therefore it is so important to close applications and disable screen
 savers before the comparison start.

   When COMPARISON option is activated, pattern's quality is tested.
 If the 'Sorry, but Your Pattern-X is not acceptable... ' announcement
 is displayed it is necessary to return to the main menu and to record
 the pattern again. Such message can be a result of a low signal level
 or partial signal absence during recording procedure.
  The input signal level control and comparison threshold value are
 realized in COMPARISON option. However the default comparison threshold
 value is optimal.

   During the signal comparison procedure listing.lst file is organized. 
 This file includes time and date of start, time and date of identifica-
 tion (If discovered) with remarks and also stop time and date.

  The possibility of automatic recording on the disk of the input signal
 "concurrent" fragments in WAV-files is envisaged by the program for the
 following hearing checking. The name of such file consists from the
 date and time of coincidence, for example:
      file          11081423.wav     was created in November 8, 14:23
              month-~~    ~~-minute
              day-----~~~~---hour
  The program itself creates subdirectories \CHECK1, \CHECK2 and \CHECK3
 in which these check files are located. Accordingly, the fragments of
 signal which had got the concurrency with the first pattern
 (pattern1.wav) are recorded in subdirectory \CHECK1, concurrency with
 the second pattern (pattern2.wav) are recorded in \CHECK2 and the third
 pattern (pattern3.wav) - in \CHECK3.
  The automatic check files record mode is activated by the key "C" in
 COMPARISON option. By default this mode is switched off.


   To check the program's efficiency the following procedure is
 recommended (For Windows 95/98/NT):
      
 a) - To install an audio-CD in CD-ROM drive.
 b) - To start "Universal player" (more preferable than "CD-Player").
 c) - To select: devices - sound compact disk.
 d) - To start the Player.
 e) - To start the program "Real Time Sound Comparator"
 f) - To enter into the Main menu. 
 g) - To choose the option TEST PERFORMANCE.
 h) - To be convinced that the Performance > 100%
       at least for one pattern mode.
 i) - To choose the option SIGNAL SOURCE.
 j) - To be convinced that the signal's value is acceptable.
 k) - To return to the Main menu.
 l) - To record a pattern: RECORD Pattern-1.
 m) - To play back the recorded pattern: PLAY Pattern-1
 n) - To enter the option COMPARISON.
 o) - To switch "Universal player" application by <Alt>+<Tab> keys.
 p) - To return the Toggler to the beginning of the sound fragment.
 q) - To return back to the "Real Time Sound Comparator" program by
      <Alt> + <Tab> keys.
 r) - By waiting recorded pattern reproduction to be convinced
      of it's fixing by program.
 s) - To quit the program and to be convinced that the concurrence was
      notified in the listing.lst file.


 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IMPORTANT NOTE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 !!! Sound cards characteristics depend from the temperature inside the !!!
 !!! computer. So it is nesesary to realize the patterns recording and  !!!
 !!! comparison after at least 30..40 minutes from the computer's stat. !!!
 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 !!!    ALL REGISTERED CUSTOMERS WILL BE PROVIDED     !!!
 !!!  BY LATEST VERSIONS FREE OFF CHARGE  BY E-MAIL   !!!
 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 ------------ Limitations of v2.2 Trial version: -------------
  There is a maximum of Three Hours of Continuous Comparison.


 ---------------------------------------------------------------
  Great thanks to Lev Lerner for help with the program's design.


 -------------------------------------------------------------
 On registration, and receipt of new versions of this program
 visit to:                   WWW: http://www.aha.ru/~takomat
                          E-Mail: takomat@aha.ru


 History:
 ~~~~~~~
 V2.0 from July 4 1998       (http://www.aha.ru/~takomat/compdemo.zip)
      - first commercial version
      - sampling rate 5632 Hz

 V2.1 from September 2 1998  (http://www.aha.ru/~takomat/compd2_1.zip)
      - "wave" format of patterns files
      - new comparison scale
      - increase comparison quality
      - volume & comparison threshold control
      - some small enhancements

 V2.2 from November 10 1998  (http://www.aha.ru/~takomat/compd2_2.zip)
      - sampling rate is increased up to 6144 Hz
      - change the SIGNAL SOURCE option
      - the possibility of record of check files is entered
      - some small enhancements
      - the possibility in trial version to work with the several
        patterns
      - fixed some bags




                                Russia, Moscow, November 10, 1998
                                                    Eugene Efimov
