VoxPro 4.1.22  (December 2007)

Users who are occasionally plagued by an "Unable to create temp file for recording" error message should find relief with this version.


VoxPro 4.1.21  (July 2007)

Long titles and descriptions in RSS channel and item fields (in the publication wizard) no longer crash the program.

The copy-to-clipboard function in the Markers window works correctly now.

A bug which could cause the last second of an exported file to be repeated has been fixed.

Multiple control panels may now be hooked up to one VoxPro workstation. (Requires RC500 control panels.)

The active file may now be deleted from the control panel by holding down the Control key and then pressing Delete.

The Administrator's AGC menu command is no longer disabled in mono mode.

Users should no longer be encountering a HASP Envelope Error that appeared with version 4.1.17.


VoxPro 4.1.17  (April 2007)

Changes to audio files in account folders are now accurately updated on remote VoxPro workstations logged into that account. A prior bug prevented file deletion and some editing operations from showing up in the file list for users sharing one account from different VoxPro workstations.

The progress bar is now accurate when exporting multiple files in MP3 format.


VoxPro 4.1.14  (December 2006)

A problem affecting the quality of MP3 exports was unwittingly introduced in version 4.1.10, but has now been fixed. The problem was especially acute in files encoded at bitrates around 128kbps and below, and could be heard in headphones as an objectionable flange-like artifact.

Several minor bugs in the RSS Publication Wizard have been fixed, and means for exerting greater control over enclosure and item URLs have been added.


VoxPro 4.1.10  (October 2006)

An especially pernicious memory leak has been plugged. All users are encouraged to update to this version because of the errors that this leak caused.

The LAME MP3 encoder has been integrated more tightly into VoxPro, resulting in slightly faster exporting to MP3 format and a more accurate progress meter.

The "maximize" and size/location settings of the VoxPro main window are now sticky across sessions.

VoxPro is now able to locate audio devices when running on Windows Vista (beta).


VoxPro 4.1.7.0  (August 2006)

Users who are distracted by the VU meters may now disable them in playback and scrub modes (they are always active when recording). This option is in the Settings menu.

Some options have been added to the Search function to improve its efficiency, for the Administrator's account as well as for regular users.

The Markers window now pops up correctly when any marker in the timeline is clicked.

The MasterView mode can now only be toggled while in Standby (neither playing nor recording).


VoxPro 4.1.4.0  (August 2006)

Scrolling with the mouse in the wave view (esp. click/drag outside the VoxPro window) once again works.


VoxPro 4.1.3.0  (July 2006)

The fade-in effect can now be applied by typing ‘<’ or ‘,’ (comma), and the fade-out effect can be applied by typing ‘>’ or ‘.’ (period).  On US-English keyboards this allows use of the adjacent ‘<’ and ‘>’ keys with or without the shift key.  These shortcuts also work on European keyboards, although they’ll be located on different keys due to layouts and key mappings that are quite different from the standard US keyboard. Fade in or out can also be implimented under the Settings menu.

The cut/paste operation now works across files, not only within one file.

Drawing functions have been rewritten and optimized to reduce flicker.


VoxPro 4.1.1.0 (June 2006)

The RSS publication wizard now allows the enclosure URL to be specified explicitly (the default location can be overridden), and the name of the generated RSS file can also be specified explicitly (rather than being based on the channel title).

The search function has been streamlined to display results as they are found, and it is now possible to play a file in the results list by double-clicking on it.

A bug which prevented a Hotkey from being played if the program was minimized has been fixed.

A Fade effect has been added, allowing a fade-in or fade-out over the selected region.


VoxPro 4.1.0.2 (May 2006)

A software incompatibility with newer control panesl has been fixed. Version 4.1 can now be used with all versions of the FTDI drivers (D2XX/FTDU8 and VCP).

A slow memory leak caused by some of the samplerate conversion routines was plugged.


VoxPro PC 4.1.0.0               Features introduced in 4.0 HERE

We have added a publication wizard that allows users to podcast recordings.  The wizard can be used to generate RSS files, compress audio to MP3 format, and upload files to a web site.

A new Search function has been added (in the main File menu), allowing file names to be searched for particular combinations.  A search run by a normal user searches through all folders to which that user has access.  A search run by the adminsitrator searches through all folders in all accounts.

Users may now record two-channel input into a mono mix, producing a "two-track mono" file (a recording with identical data on both channels).  This setting is available in the user's Settings menu.  To guarantee no clippling, the volume of each channel is decreased by 6dB before the two signals are mixed.

A headroom slider has been added above the VU meters.  This slider functions as a “vertical zoom”, allowing very low level signals to be clearly seen and edited.  Note that moving the slider changes the scale on the VU meters as well.  The top of the scale corresponds to the value on the slider knob itself (the amount of headroom), while the 0dB point on the scale corresponds to the top of the range of the waveform window.

It is now possible to add ID3 tags to files that are being exported in MP3 format.

A noise reduction effect has been added which is effective for removing hum and hiss from recordings.

Revised Features

The waveform display has changed in a subtle but significant manner.  It now displays PEAK values rather than AVERAGE values.  Because of this, the administrator's Headroom setting has been removed and the vertical scale of the display is now always full-scale (i.e. there is no extra room above the top border of the display for each channel).  Thus, the waveform display now matches the levels shown in the VU meter (actually a Peak Program Meter), is consistent with the display in Zoomed mode, and conforms with standard practice in other popular audio editing applications. 

The interface to the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) has been revised, and the AGC algorithm itself has been significantly improved.  A peak level setting has also been added.

The Markers window no longer opens automatically whenever a file containing markers is opened.   The Markers window opens when the user adds a marker, clicks on a marker in the timeline, or explicitly opens it from the main Marker menu.

To conform with common Windows practice, users now have the option of overwriting duplicate files during import, export and copy operations.

The VU meters are now always live, and display signal input when in standby mode.

For technical and legal reasons, the CD-Ripping function has been removed from the VoxPro.

Bug Fixes

A bug that caused the program to crash or behave erratically when files with very long names were imported has been fixed.

A bug affecting how user's folders are displayed in the Folders menu has been fixed.  The bug affected only users with access to a large number of other accounts.

A bug affecting unintentional cancellation of files being copied to a remote computer has been fixed.

A bug that would cause some dialog boxes (including critical error message) to get hidden behind other windows has been fixed.


Version 4.0.0.21 (November 2005)

Hotkeys can now be deleted without corrupting the Hotkeys.inf configuration file. Users who have had problems with hotkeys should manually delete the Hotkeys.inf file (found in their VoxPro account folder) before running this version. All hotkeys will then have to be re-assigned.

Copy/Paste from one file to another now works correctly in all instances. This version does not fix a file that has been corrupted in this manner. Users who have noticed problems after a copy/paste operation will have to UNDO their edits back to a point prior to the copy/paste, then re-perform the edit operation.


Version 4.0.0.19 (October 2005)

VoxPro can now be run from a restricted Windows account without popping up error messages.

The warning dialog about an error sending a broadcast message now contains a helpful tip about why it appears and what to do about it.

VoxPro Version Converter (4.324.04) no longer warns users about empty Edits.

VoxPro Version Converter (4.324.04) no longer attempts to open an audio input device.


Version 4.0.0.18 (October 2005)

Fixed a problem that caused the Auto-Import function to lock up VoxPro under certain circumstances, and also increased the frequency that Auto-Import checks the target folder to once every 10 seconds.


Version 4.0.0.17 (October 2005)

Added functions to automate the Version Conversion process and to better guide the user through the process of converting version 3.X files into the 4.X format.


Version 4.0 (September 2005)

There are so many differences between Version 3 and Version 4 that we cannot list them all. Major highlights:

  • The VoxPro file format has completely changed. It is now a standard RIFF WAVE file with a proprietary chunk used to describe changes (edits) to the original audio. There are no longer separate edits and masters. Everything required to describe a file is in the file itself.
  • Networking is now automatic, a built-in feature of every VoxPro workstation generally requiring no administrative intervention. There is no longer a Network Coordinator such as that used in Version 3, no longer a central repository of VoxPro configuration information. System reconfiguration tasks such as moving users, adding or deleting hard drives, or replacing computers, are quick and simple, and are automatically propagated through the VoxPro network.
  • The protocols used to maintain the connection with the optional control panel have been completely rewritten. The "missing control panel" problem that was problematic occasionally in Version 3 is a thing of the past.
  • Automatic Gain Control (AGC) automatically boosts the gain on timid callers, while limiting loud jocks.
  • Auto-Import allows VoxPro to import content produced by other automated studio systems without user intervention.
  • EZ-Export allows users to export a file to a pre-determined location in a pre-determined format with just one click.
  • Markers with labels can now be added to any file on-the-fly during playback and recording, and give users the ability to immediately return to any marked position.
  • Zoom gives users one-hundred times the detail of the normal wave view.
  • We've added peak program meters (what the jocks will call VU meters) to the front end.
  • CD-Ripping has been added, with support for the freedb online CD-Audio database.
  • A new Normalization effect, in case you forget to turn AGC on.
  • A new Reverse effect, an alternative to bleeping, useful for disguising off-color music lyrics.
  • An all new, HTML-based User Guide.


Version 3.3.20 (May 2005)

Fixes a bug which corrupted an entire Edit when SoundStretch or DMO effects (Advanced Effects) were applied multiple times with an Undo operation in-between.


Version 3.3.19 (May 2005)

A small change was made to the code which handles errors on the USB port, with the result that USB control panels should now remain more reliably connected to the host computer.

A bug was fixed that caused audio dropouts in files which were copied to another user on a remote VoxPro workstation.


Version 3.3.17 (December 2004)

We discovered that prior versions of 3.3 contained a networking problem: If user A was copying files to user B on another machine while user B was actively recording or editing, the record/edit operation would fail. Likewise, if user B was importing a file while user A attempted to copy files to user B, that copy operation would also fail. These bugs have been fixed.

Some warning/error dialog boxes were not being displayed in the foreground as they should have been, but were instead hidden behind other dialog boxes or even behind the VoxPro main window. This problem was especially acute on XP machines. Dialog boxes (including the floating progress bar) are now positioned correctly in the Windows Z-order.


Version 3.3.16 (December 2004)

Ooops! We inadvertently left a couple lines of diagnostic code in the 3.3.15 release, with the result that the jog wheel (a.k.a. scrub wheel) response was noticably slower than in past versions. This version repairs that problem.


Version 3.3.15 (November 2004)

The DirectSound interface used by earlier versions of VoxPro (3.0 through 3.2) has been restored as the default interface to the audio hardware. The legacy WaveAudio interface introduced with version 3.3.10 is still present as an option for soundcards which still do not fully support the DirectSound interface. Users who have had problems making clean recordings in versions 3.3.10 and 3.3.12 will welcome this change.

Many new effects have been added. It is now possible to stretch or compress an audio segment in time without altering its pitch, or conversely, to alter the pitch of a segment without affecting its timing (length). In addition, all Microsoft DMOs (Direct Music Objects) found on the computer are now available for use in the Effects menu. For example, DirectX 9 includes echo, reverb, chorus, flanging, compression and distortion effects. DMOs purchased from third parties also appear in the Effects menu.

VoxPro's samplerate conversion library has been upgraded. The Administrator is now able to choose from three different samplerate conversion quality options in the Settings menu. (VoxPro automatically converts imported files to the default samplerate set in VoxPro. For example, if VoxPro's audio format is set to 48kHz and an MP3 file created from a 44.1KHz file is imported, it is first converted to a 44.1KHz WAV file, then samplerate converted to 48KHz. The upgraded library vastly improves the audio quality of the converted file.)

Due to popular demand, a feature change introduced in 3.3.12 has been rescinded. The Mark Left/Right commands once again stop playback.

A bug which prevented "batch" exports of multiple selected files has been fixed.

A bug which caused the progress bar to disappear when importing and exporting under certain conditions has been fixed.


Version 3.3.12 (October 2004)

A resource/memory leak introduced in 3.3.10 was fixed.

Users may now select audio (Mark Left/Right) while playing, without stopping playback.

VoxPro now responds to the control panel even if VoxPro is minimized or is not the foreground app. However, this feature does not apply to the keyboard or the Classic Mac controller.

The numpad <home/7> and <end/1> keys no longer cancel a new recording. These keys may now be used in the dialog box to name a new recording.


Version 3.3.10 (August 2004)

The biggest change from version 3.2 is a complete revision of the internal database format that VoxPro uses to provide fast access to users' Edits and Masters. As a byproduct of this revision, the Masters list now displays all the master recordings in the current user's account, regardless of which folder their associated Edits reside in. Even Masters referenced by "deleted" Edits continue to be displayed in the Masters list (until the Deleted Files folder is emptied, at which time the deleted Edits really get deleted). However, users who have huge collections of files (several thousand) will notice significant improvements in the time required to perform normal tasks such as logging in, changing folders, moving and deleting files.

Other changes that will be noticed by users:

Gain control! There is a new plug-in in the Effects menu called "Adjust Volume". It allows gain adjustment in 1dB increments up to a maximum of +/- 24dB, on either or both channels.

Resizable screen! VoxPro PC is no longer bound to a resolution of 800x600. The VoxPro window now has the ability to be stretched, shrunk or maximized to fit any monitor.

By popular demand, we have brought back a feature that was included in earlier versions of VoxPro PC: cancelled recordings are now placed in the Deleted Files folder, rather than being deleted permanently. Thus, mistaken cancellations are no longer a cause for grief.

VoxPro PC can now import and export MP3 files using the popular LAME encoder/decoder. Four different quality settings are provided to users by default, and customizable settings are available for advanced applications.

The standard Windows mouse click and drag action now works to select audio in the waveform view for editing. A right-click in the waveform view can be used to adjust the selected region. The mouse can also be dragged off the left or right margin of the waveform view for extended selections.

A status indicator in the lower right-hand corner of VoxPro's waveform view now reminds users when a monophonic playback format has been chosen rather than the default two-channel playback format.

There have been very slight changes in the keyboard shortcuts used to control VoxPro in the absence of a control panel. A new resizable graphical keyboard map is provided, complete with pop-ups describing the function of each command key.

The volume of the Bleep effect has been lowered.

Changes of interest to administrators:

DirectSound (DirectX) has been dropped as a prerequisite. VoxPro now talks to sound resources using the legacy WaveAudio API rather than the DirectSound API. This means that soundcards that don't have up-to-date WDM drivers will now work.

Restricted or limited Windows accounts may now be used to run VoxPro.

A policy which prevented a user from logging on to more than one VoxPro workstation simultaneously has been dropped. Users (including the Administrator) may now log in to multiple VoxPro workstations on the same network simultaneously.

Converting a standalone VoxPro workstation to a networked workstation is now much easier. Local accounts are automatically converted to network accounts, and VoxPro's folders are automatically shared over the network. When creating a new user or team account, VoxPro now displays the path to its own installation folder (rather than the first shared folder found on the machine) as the default account location.

The Check-Disk-Usage tool has been significantly improved and simplified. It now reports account sizes instantly, no matter how large. The location of each account on the file system is also displayed for easy reference.

Access through the Settings menu to the Windows Mixer application (sndvol32.exe) has now been supplanted with two submenus providing separate access to the playback and record mixers. Be aware that not all soundcard vendors supply a standard Windows mixer interface to their hardware.

A Windows device-initialization problem that affected VoxPro when it was placed into the system Startup folder has been fixed. VoxPro now automatically waits for the HASP dongle (hardware key) to become available, and no longer exits if audio resources are unavailable at program startup.

VoxPro now records to a temp file in the user's account (if it is on the local machine) rather than in VoxPro's installation folder. This means that, for example, VoxPro can be installed on the C: drive and record to user accounts on the D: drive without having to copy each file every time.


Version 3.2.08 (June 2003)

Incremental changes over 3.2 include these features:

Files with long names (over 31 characters) are now correctly imported.

VoxPro can now run in the background (i.e. as a non-top-level window) while recording.

Cancelled recordings are now deleted rather than moved into the Deleted Files folder.

The Deleted Files folder now holds only the most recent 25 files. Older files are automatically deleted as newer ones are moved into this folder.

The MPEG DLL has been altered to handle over-modulated signals without adding undue distortion.

Regular users no longer have the ability to disable the control panel.

Files are now imported correctly into team folders.


Version 3.2 (April 2003)

Most popular audio file formats may now be imported (mp3, Windows Media, Windows PCM Wave, aiff).  Moreover, files of different sample rates, sample widths, or channels are now converted automatically to the format set in VoxPro PC.

Files may be exported in several different monophonic formats, as well as the standard 2-channel format.

Files may be played back in any of several monophonic formats, even if the original recordings and edits are 2-channel.

A hardware security key (“dongle”) is now required to run VoxPro PC.  This allows the program to be installed and run on any computer simply by moving the dongle to the new machine.

An Edits database has been added, to speed up loading of Edits.  This will be noticeable for users who have hundreds of files recorded.

Support for 48KHz sampling rate added.

The installer now installs all auxiliary files and DLLs needed for VoxPro, including DirectX and Windows Media.

A new version of the Control Panel driver from FTDI is now used, which avoids the configuration problems caused by the older driver.  (Upgrades to existing installations will continue to use the older driver.)

The registration process has been simplified, and is now available on-line.


Version 3.1.7 (October 2002)

VoxPro PC now actively polls the operating system for WDM audio devices, rather than using the system’s “preferred device.”

User passwords are no longer required, unless the user explicitly sets a password for his or her account.

It is now possible to convert a stand-alone VoxPro PC workstation to network mode without re-registering.


Version 3.1.1 (August 2002)

Added “minimal scrub motion,” to guarantee transport movement even with the shortest of stokes on the controller or keyboard scrub keys.

Enabled “hot effects” on the classic controller.  The first five hotkey buttons now apply effects (Mute Left, Mute Right, Bleep, VoiceSlip R-L, VoiceSlip L-R, respectively) to the highlighted portion of an Edit.


Version 3.1 (May 2002)

Added password-protected user accounts, an administrative account, and a guest account.  In addition, shared team accounts may be created, with user membership controlled by the administrator.

Added the ability to create custom folders in user and team accounts.

Added “header bars” in the Edits and Masters windows, to allow files to be sorted alphabetically, by size, or by last-modified date.

Added network capabilities so that users may access their files from any VoxPro PC workstation on the LAN.  Additionally, team members may access files in shared folders across the LAN.