Operator`s manual

Model VR240 Audio Logging Recorder
January 2000
3-29
Input: Active Low/Closed:
Records on the channel only when a control signal is either
brought to a logic low level, or a contact to ground is closed. Audio board input options are
described in paragraph 2-8.4.
Input: Active High/Open:
Records on the channel only when a control signal is either brought
to a logic high level, or no signal is connected at all.
On Trigger:
Records on a channel only when the channel set as a “trigger channel” is
recording. (Refer to the Installation section for information on the input signal requirements.)
Instructions for setting a “trigger channel” are located in paragraph 3-22.
Disabled
, prevents recording on the channel under any circumstances.
By proper selection of
Mode
, you can easily control when a channel records its input. The
Automatic
mode is most effective when you are recording the output of a scanner or other
piece of equipment that provides no indication (other than the audio signal itself) that there is a
signal to record. This is ideal for non-critical applications in which, for instance, you are only
interested in the content of a message and not interested in the timing, since the recording will
shut off automatically during long pauses or interruptions. The two input modes are most
appropriate when a signal such as a telephone off-hook or receiver squelch output is available.
Using the control inputs assures that the recorder will continue operating even during periods of
almost-silence, such as when a party to a call may be speaking very softly. Note that you
cannot change the individual channel Modes while the VR240 is recording since the
Setup
functions are only available when the unit is in a
Ready
mode. For this reason, when
configuring the unit, rather than disabling the unused channels you may want to consider
leaving them on
VOX
or, even better, provide hardware during installation for the capability of
switching the channels on and off.
3-28. VOX (Voice Activated).
3-28.1 Setting the VOX Hold Time.
Vox Hold Time
allows selection of the time that a channel set to
Automatic
or
Vox
continues
recording after the input signal drops below the level needed to activate the input (or the
squelch goes to the inactive state). This capability is useful in recording signals with long,
almost-silent intervals, such as telephone calls, in which one party may pause for a long time.
In such cases, a long time setting (8 to 10 seconds is recommended) will allow the VR240 to
continue recording the “conversation.” Cases where there is a definite end to a message, such
as when a radio is squelched, will benefit from shorter delays. Settings from 1 second to 255
seconds are available in 1-second increments. The factory default setting is 1 second for all
channels.