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Audio Player

User Guide

Listen to audio recordings with enhanced playback features including waveform display, snippet creation, and transcription support.


Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    ENHANCED AUDIO PLAYER                    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                             │
│  ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█▇▆▅▄▃▂▁              │
│  ════════════════════●══════════════════════════            │
│                                                             │
│  ◀◀  │  ▶ Play  │  ▶▶  │  🔊 Volume  │  1x Speed           │
│                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Supported Formats

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    AUDIO FILE FORMATS                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  WAV     - Uncompressed audio (best quality)                │
│  MP3     - Compressed audio (smaller files)                 │
│  FLAC    - Lossless compression                             │
│  OGG     - Open format                                      │
│  M4A     - Apple format                                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Basic Playback

Player Controls

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  PLAYBACK CONTROLS                                          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                             │
│  ▶ / ⏸    Play / Pause                                      │
│  ◀◀       Skip back 10 seconds                              │
│  ▶▶       Skip forward 10 seconds                           │
│  🔊       Adjust volume                                     │
│  1x       Change playback speed                             │
│                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Waveform Navigation

Click anywhere on the waveform to jump to that point:

  Click here to jump
  ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█▇▆▅▄▃▂▁▂▃▄▅▆▇█▇▆▅▄▃▂▁
  ═══════════════●════════════════════════════
           Current position


Playback Speed

Adjust speed for transcription or review:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SPEED OPTIONS                                              │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  0.5x    - Half speed (for detailed listening)              │
│  0.75x   - Slower (for transcription)                       │
│  1x      - Normal speed                                     │
│  1.25x   - Slightly faster                                  │
│  1.5x    - Fast (for review)                                │
│  2x      - Double speed (for scanning)                      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘


Creating Snippets

Save interesting sections for later reference:

Step 1: Mark Start Point

While playing, click Mark Start when you hear the beginning of the section you want.

Step 2: Mark End Point

Click Mark End when the section finishes.

Step 3: Save Snippet

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SAVE SNIPPET                                               │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                             │
│  Start Time:    00:05:32                                    │
│  End Time:      00:06:15                                    │
│  Duration:      43 seconds                                  │
│                                                             │
│  Title:         [Interview about farming methods  ]         │
│                                                             │
│  Description:   [Describes traditional plowing    ]         │
│                 [techniques used in the 1950s     ]         │
│                                                             │
│              [Cancel]    [Save Snippet]                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Viewing Saved Snippets

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SNIPPETS FOR THIS RECORDING                                │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                             │
│  1. Interview about farming methods (00:05:32 - 00:06:15)   │
│     [▶ Play]  [Edit]  [Delete]                              │
│                                                             │
│  2. Song performance (00:12:00 - 00:15:30)                  │
│     [▶ Play]  [Edit]  [Delete]                              │
│                                                             │
│  3. Story about the flood (00:22:45 - 00:28:10)             │
│     [▶ Play]  [Edit]  [Delete]                              │
│                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Keyboard Shortcuts

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  KEY              │  ACTION                                 │
├───────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Space            │  Play / Pause                           │
│  ← Arrow          │  Skip back 5 seconds                    │
│  → Arrow          │  Skip forward 5 seconds                 │
│  ↑ Arrow          │  Volume up                              │
│  ↓ Arrow          │  Volume down                            │
│  M                │  Mute / Unmute                          │
│  F                │  Fullscreen                             │
└───────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────┘

Transcription Support

If transcription is available:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  TRANSCRIPT                                                 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                             │
│  [00:00:05] Welcome to today's interview.                   │
│  [00:00:08] We're speaking with Mr. Johnson about           │
│             his memories of the town in the 1960s.          │
│  [00:00:15] Thank you for having me.                        │
│  [00:00:18] Let's start with your earliest memories...      │
│                                                             │
│  Click any timestamp to jump to that point ↑                │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘


Tips

┌────────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────┐
│  ✓ DO                          │  ✗ DON'T                   │
├────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│  Use headphones for clarity    │  Play on low-quality speakers│
│  Slow down for transcription   │  Rush through recordings   │
│  Save snippets of key moments  │  Forget to mark important parts│
│  Use keyboard shortcuts        │  Click for every action    │
│  Note timestamps in research   │  Lose track of where you were│
└────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────┘

Troubleshooting

Problem                          Solution
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Audio won't play              →  Check browser supports format
                                 Try refreshing page
                                 Check volume isn't muted

Waveform not showing          →  Wait for it to generate
                                 Large files take longer

Playback stutters             →  Check internet connection
                                 Let it buffer/load first

Snippet won't save            →  Check you have edit permission
                                 Ensure end is after start

Need Help?

Contact your system administrator if you experience issues.


Part of the AtoM AHG Framework