Kes asked me to give the list an overview of the Plextalk PTR-1 CD recorder. Both RFB&D and IRTI sell it here in the US. Maybe sticker chock should be placed up front. It goes for $995.00.
The Plextalk is a stand alone talking Daisy book recorder and player. It was designed to be completely accessible for use without sight. Every button, every function, everything talks. Its primary function is for recording in the Daisy format. It weighs just under 2 pounds and is 7 inches, by 6 inches by 1.5 inches. It contains its own rechargeable lithium ion battery with bilt-in speaker.
If you are not familiar with Daisy, it is an international standard that is being developed to synchronize audio recording with text in a way that can be navigated very easily by various levels of headings, page number, etc. Daisy also allows for various types of bookmarks to be added. Although Daisy allows for synchronized audio and text, I don't know of it being fully implemented by anyone right now. For instance, BookShare uses the text side of Daisy and one listens using synthetic speech. RFB&D has primarily taken their books recorded on tape in real speech and added navigation. The Plextalk likewise uses the audio only side of Daisy.
The Plextalk records either through its built-in mono microphone, mono mic jack or stereo line in jack. It can record at various compression settings in the Daisy format, permitting up to 80 hours on a CD, or in CD audio. One can even copy NLS format tapes at double speed into the Plextalk and still have the copy play back at normal speed. It will record onto CD-R/RW discs. When in Daisy format, one can go back and edit audio, add navigation headings, add book marks, etc. The Plextalk also comes with a very useful Windows program called Plextalk Recording Software, PRS, which makes editting and merging of recordings very easy. Quite a few users got a Plextalk specifically for archiving all their tape material onto CD with much better retrievability.
Playback is very versatile. There are controls for variable speed playback with speech compression, cue & review, book marking with or without voice notes. It easily plays music CDs whether in CD audio or MP3 formats. The Plextalk also has a built-in talking clock and calendar with an alarm setting and a built-in voice memo recorder.
Although it is designed as a Daisy book recorder and player, some are using it for recording music with some good success although it may take a work-around or two for some applications.
Again, I should make it clear that one would want the Plextalk only if there are some real needs for its recording capabilities over and above playback needs. If someone also wants to use the Plextalk for listenning to RFB&D's protected format books, then they may wish to get it through RFB&D and the Plextalk will come already enabled to play the protected books. However, RFB&D is not offering technical support for the Plextalk's recording features.
So, if someone is particularly interested in having good technical support for the Plextalk's recording features, then IRTI would be the better place to purchase. However, a Plextalk from IRTI will not be enabled for listening to RFB&D's protected books. That will cost $20 through RFB&D to get that capability.
The Plextalk is obviously a very capable and complex tool. If you are
confused, join the rest of us when we first heard of it. A good way to
get
a sense of what it can do is to read a story called "A Day in the Life
of
a
Plextalk Owner" that is posted at:
This is the article, the link to which is posted directly above this overview.
http://www.eclipsereader.com/ptr1_products.html
Also, feel free to contact us at IRTI to learn more about the Plextalk.
Updated on ... December 04, 2006