Victor Reader Stream 3 FAQ

Audible.com Books and Audible Sync application

Bass, Treble, Tone, Pitch, Speed, and Volume Controls

Microsoft Word Save as DAISY Add-in

Transferring ZIP Books to the Stream

1. TUNEIN

Do I need a TuneIn account to use this feature?

You do not need to have a TuneIn account to start using TuneIn. However, registering with an account will enable saving favorites (called LIBRARY in TuneIn). A free account will have the same access an using it anonymously, while a premium account removes some ads and will unlock some exclusive content such as sporting events, commercial-free radios, etc.

How do I configure my account for TuneIn?

Here are step-by-step instructions to configure TuneIn on your Stream.

Create an account on TuneIn’s website at tunein.com. You can use a Google, Apple or Facebook account, or sign up using your email.
Once you have an account, or if you already had one, make sure you are logged in on the TuneIn website. You will need it in a later step.
On your Stream, use the 1 key to navigate to the TuneIn bookshelf. If you are on the offline bookshelf, press the Online key first to switch to online
Once on the TuneIn bookshelf, press 7 to go to settings. You will hear “Add Account”. Press the Confirm (#) key.
The Stream will tell you to go to tunein.com/pair . On your computer or phone (whichever device you used to create your account), go to tunein.com/pair (make sure not to enter www. before)
Press 6 on your Stream. It will read your device code, composed of 6 letters and numbers. If you need to hear it again, press 4 then 6 to read it back.
Enter the code on your computer or phone, then click PAIR. Within 30 seconds, your Stream will confirm that the connection was successful. If you were not signed in on the computer or phone, you will be prompted to create an account or sign in, do so.

2. Audible.com Books and Audible Sync application

Can the Stream play recorded books from Audible.com?

Use the AudibleSync application to ACTIVATE your Victor Reader Stream 3 and transfer books to your device.

3. Bass, Treble, Tone, Pitch, Speed, and Volume Controls

What is the difference between Bass, Treble, and Tone Controls?

The Tone control is a single setting to raise or lower the tone of recorded audio. If you set the Tone control to the middle or 0 setting it will not alter the original recording. If you move the tone to lower settings below zero it will lower the tone of the recorded audio and settings above 0 will increase the tone. This works well for the limited range of voice frequencies. However, for the wider range of frequencies of music it is useful to be able to control the lower (bass) frequencies and higher (treble) frequencies independently. Therefore, separate Bass/Treble controls are used in place of a single Tone control on the music bookshelf.

What is the purpose of the Menu setting to adjust audio mode?

You may use the Menu to cause the Stream to adjust pitch rather than tone. Depending on your hearing preferences or the type of recorded audio you may benefit more by adjusting pitch rather than tone. It is a personal choice. The Stream offers both choices to give you the most flexibility to adjust the sound for optimal listening.

Are the Bass, Treble, Tone, and Pitch settings independent of each other?

Yes.

Why does my Volume setting change if I insert or remove my headphones?

For your convenience, Stream remembers separate volume settings for the built-in speaker and the headphones. This means you can set one volume level that is comfortable for the headphones and a different volume level that you prefer for the built-in speaker. When you remove the headphones Stream will reset to the last volume level you set for the speaker and when you plug the headphones back in Stream will reset to the level you last set for the headphones.

Why does my stereo music play in mono?

Be sure the variable speed control is set to normal speed (setting number 0). If you speed up or slow down the speed for music files they will play in mono instead of stereo.
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4. Battery

How long will Stream play on a full battery charge?

Approximately 15 hours for continuous play of recorded talking books on SD cards using headphones.

How long does it take to recharge the Stream battery?

Up to 4 hours using the supplied USB charger.

Can I use any USB charger?

Yes. You may safely use any USB charger such as those supplied with mobile phones. HumanWare recommends a 1.5 amp charger. Other chargers are safe to use but may take more time to recharge.

Why does the green power light (LED) sometimes blink when I plug the Stream to AC power?

When the player is turned off and plugged to AC power the LED will blink to indicate the battery is recharging. When the battery is fully charged, the LED will stop blinking. If the player is in use and connected to the AC power the battery will still recharge but in this case the LED will not blink.

How do I tell if the player is charging?

You can press INFO (key 0) to hear the battery and recharge status, or press and hold the Confirm key.

Can I quickly get battery status without listening to all the Information items?

Yes. Press the Info (key 0) followed by 2 or 3 presses of key 4, or press and hold the Confirm key.

Can I recharge the Stream while it is in use?

Yes. However, instead of blinking, the LED will glow steady while recharging and the power is on.

Can I recharge using the USB port of my computer?

Yes. Plugging the Stream to the USB port of a computer will recharge if the computer supplies sufficient power. However, the Stream may take longer than 4 hours or it may not charge at all depending on the level of power supplied.

How do I know if my computer supplies sufficient power?

There is no way to know. If it charges in 4 hours then it is supplying enough power. However, even if the LED blinks or the INFO (key 0) reports that the unit is charging there is no guarantee that the power level is sufficient to charge as quickly as using AC power. The most reliable way is to charge from AC power using the supplied USB charger.

The device becomes warm when recharging. Is that OK?

Yes. It is normal that the device becomes warm during the recharge process. The player has a safety mechanism that will suspend the charge if the battery becomes too warm. This could prolong the recharge beyond the normal 5 hours. Thus, for maximum efficiency you should recharge the player outside any case and be sure it is not near a heat source or in direct sunlight.

Will I lose bookmarks or player settings if I allow the battery to fully deplete?

No. The Stream saves all bookmarks and settings in its internal memory which does not require power to maintain the memory. When the player senses the battery is very nearly depleted it will save all settings and automatically power off.

What is the best way to store the device for a long period of non use?

The device should be stored in a clean, dry place respecting the following conditions:
•    Recommended storage temperature: -20 to +45 Celsius or -4 to 113 Fahrenheit
•    Relative humidity: less than 95%
•    Good ventilation
•    Avoid storing next to corrosive components
•    Keep away from fire and heat sources
When storing for long periods (several months) it is recommended that you charge and discharge at least once every 6 months, and to store with about 50% capacity charged.
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5. Bookmarks

How do I place a bookmark precisely at the start of a chapter or page or file?

Stop playback near the start of the heading, page, or file that you want to bookmark. Press the Where Am I? key to determine the heading, page, or file number. Then press the Go To key above key 1 to select the appropriate function: Go To Page, Go To Heading, or Go To File. Enter the number and then press the Confirm key. The Stream will position precisely at the start of the entered page, heading, or file but playback will not start. Now insert your bookmark.

How can I quickly remove all the bookmarks in a single book?

You can quickly delete all the bookmarks in a book by pressing the Bookmark key five times then the number nine five times followed by the Confirm key.

Will the Stream Bookmark data base fill up if I never delete bookmarks?

No. There is room for several thousand bookmarks in the data base. Even if this limit is reached the Stream will start reusing space from the least recently read book. The only reason to delete bookmarks is if you do not want them.

Can I enter a bookmark while recording?

Yes. While recording, press the Bookmark key once and a bookmark will be inserted at that position in your recording.
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6. Bookshelf and Folders

Why does Stream not find my text files?

All text files must be saved in the $VRText reserved folder.

If I put all my Stream files into the $VR folders can I save other types of files on the same SD Card?

Yes.

Can I have subfolders within the $VR bookshelf folders?

Yes, except for $VRNotes. The Stream will let you navigate the subfolders when you are browsing the bookshelf. You enter bookshelf browse mode with key 1. Keys 2 and 8 will let you choose your navigation level within your subfolders and keys 4 and 6 will move from folder to folder at that level. The lowest level is called the book level. For Music you can also navigate any folder structure that you have created within $VRMusic but since Music is defined as a single book, you must first open the music book by pressing the Play or Confirm key from the bookshelf browse mode.

Can I read Microsoft Word (DOC) files on the Stream?

Yes, if they are transferred as html files. You can transfer the DOC files as html using HumanWare Companion program or with the Save As dialog of Microsoft Word. To transfer with Word, select the Save As option of the File menu to save your document to the $VRText folder of your SD card. In the Save As dialog window select to save the document as an html file (filtered web page) from the Save As Type list. This will save your doc file to the Stream SD card as an html file type. The html file will maintain any structure headings that were in the Word document. This means you can use keys 2 and 8 on the Stream to select the heading navigation level and move backward or forward from heading to heading with keys 4 and 6. Word may warn you that saving the document as filtered html will remove Microsoft Office features. Select to save anyway, because the Microsoft Office features are unnecessary on the Stream and the filtered html file will take less space.

Can the Stream play Word DOCX files?

Yes.

I have many books on my Talking Books bookshelf. Do I always have to browse one book at a time in that long list?

No. You can use the Go To Book feature. For example, if you have 50 books and you know the desired book is located approximately in the middle of the list then you can press the Go To Book key above key 1 and enter 25 followed by the Confirm key. The Stream will move to book 25 and you can then use keys 4 or 6 to move back or forward from that position.

I have many books on my Talking Books bookshelf. Can I arrange them in categories?

You could create multiple levels of subfolders in your $VRDTB bookshelf. The first subfolder could be categories of books. For example, you could create a subfolder for Newspapers, another for recorded books, and a third for Text books. Then within each of these category subfolders you would create the sub-subfolders for each of your books. For example, when you browse the Talking Books bookshelf, Stream will list all the newspaper books, then the recorded books, and then the Text books.

Can I list my Talking Books bookshelf in date order?

Yes. You could prefix the folder name of each book with the date in year-month-day order. For example, if you add Harry Potter on the 23rd of April 2013, you could name that folder as “130423 Harry Potter”. Thus, the last book folder you create will always be at the end of the bookshelf and you can reach it quickly by pressing key 4 once when you enter the Talking Books bookshelf.

When my podcast episode ends, can Stream automatically play the next one?

Yes, if you save the podcast files in the Other Books bookshelf. On the Podcasts bookshelf each audio file is considered a book with its own reading position and bookmarks. Thus, the Stream stops playing at the end of the file and announces End of Book. If you have a collection of podcasts that are all related you may want to consider putting those in a single subfolder under $VROtherBooks bookshelf. On this bookshelf each subfolder is considered a book so the Stream will automatically play each file in the subfolder and continue playing the next file until all the files in the subfolder are played. It will also save only one reading position within the subfolder instead of for each file.
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7. Bookshare (United States)

How do I set up the wireless Bookshare feature?

Please see this section of the training and troubleshooting guide .

How do I search for Bookshare books?

When on the Bookshare online bookshelf the search can be done either by pressing the Go-to key above bookshelf key 1 or by using the option that is found after the last book on the online bookshelf. Search by title author or full text search is supported.

Is the book description or other details available in the search?

The book synopsis is available when reviewing the list of search results by pressing the “Where am I” key 5.

Can I copy downloaded books to the SD card?

Key 3 can be used to move a book from the online bookshelf to the talking books bookshelf on the SD card.

What is the proper way to manually put a Bookshare book into the Stream talking books Bookshelf?

Download the Bookshare zip book to your computer. Use Windows to extract the book files from the zip file into a folder on your computer. Then copy the folder to the $VRDTB folder on your SD card. The only files that are required are the four that end with .NCX, .OPF, .SMIL, and .XML. However, it is OK to copy the entire folder as the extra files will not affect book playback. Also, instead of using Windows, you may also use the HumanWare Companion software to transfer Bookshare zip books. The Companion will automatically unzip the book and create the folder on the SD card.
If you have downloaded books wirelessly via the Stream’s Bookshare online bookshelf, you can also use the key 3 to transfer any of the downloaded books to your SD card.
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8. General

Do I have to return the Stream to my dealer to get the software upgraded?

No. Stream software upgrades are delivered via Wifi. The device will prompt you automatically to update if one is available.

What should I do if my Stream does not respond even to the power button?

If the Stream becomes non-responsive, you can force a system reset and reload all software by pressing and holding the Power button for 7 seconds. This is equivalent to removing the battery. If this does not restart the Stream, you should contact customer support for assistance.

Can I play the Stream while it is connected to my computer?

Yes.

Why do some audio files play at different volume levels on different bookshelves?

The Stream uses a dynamic volume normalization called AGC (Auto Gain Control) during playback for all bookshelves except music and Internet Radio. This dynamic volume adjustment is useful for recordings that may come from varying sources and may not have consistent volume levels from one file to the next or even within one file. To avoid the user having to frequently adjust the volume, the Stream’s built-in AGC automatically raises or lowers the volume during playback to a pre-determined level. However, the AGC is not applied to music files because it is desirable to exactly reproduce the original music recording. Thus, if exact reproduction of a recording is desirable, then place it on the music bookshelf.
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9. HumanWare Companion

What is the HumanWare Companion?

The HumanWare Companion is a free Windows program that you may download for free from https://www.humanware.com/stream_software . The HumanWare Companion supports both the Stream and the StratusM players. It provides several functionalities:
•    Book/File Transfer Menu: From this menu you can choose the Stream bookshelf to which you wish to transfer books or files. Each bookshelf transfer window provides an interface that lists all your computer’s DAISY or NISO Talking Book titles, Other Book files, music files, podcast files, and text files. For each bookshelf transfer, you specify the path on your computer where the books or files are located and the Companion will copy selected files to the appropriate $VR folder of your Stream SD card. It is intended as a tool to provide a simple way to transfer books or files for users who are not comfortable setting up folders and copying data using Windows.
•    Playlists: If you wish to use playlists to customize your music playback and do not have a tool to create them then the Companion provides a pane for creating playlists in the $VRMusic folder.
•    The Companion Tools menu has an option to create a voice label on your SD card that Stream will announce when you insert the card.
•    Check for Updates. The Companion has 2 items in the Help menu to check for updates to both the Companion and the Stream software.

Does the HumanWare Companion program work with MAC computers?

No. It has been developed for Windows Windows 10 and up.
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10. Microsoft Word Save as DAISY Add-in

What is the Save As DAISY Add-in?

The Microsoft Save As DAISY add-in is a free program you can install on a Windows computer running MS Word 2007 or above to translate DOCX Word documents to a DAISY book. After installing the program there will be an Accessibility tab on the MS Word ribbon. Within the Accessibility tab there is a Save As DAISY option. This option has a submenu to choose to create a full text/full audio DAISY book from either single or multiple MS Word DOCX documents. The resulting DAISY book will use the built-in Text-to-speech (TTS) voice of your Windows operating system to create the full audio portion of the resulting DAISY book.

Will the Save As DAISY Add-In work with Word 2003?

If you have Word XP or Word 2003, it is necessary to install the Microsoft Office 2007 compatibility components, which allows you to save MS Word DOC files in DOCX format. Once the document is saved in DOCX format it can be translated to DAISY.

Which Victor Reader players can play the DAISY books created by the Add-in?

The Save As add-in produces both a DAISY 2.02 and DAISY 3 (officially called ANSI/NISO Z39.86 2005). The Victor Reader Stream, Stratus, ClassicX, ClassicX+, and ClassMate Reader can play these books. The older Classic and Classic+ can also play them providing they have software version 3.1 or higher. The Victor Reader Wave will play only the DAISY 2.02 form of the translated book. The Stream and Stratus M can play both the text and full audio portions of the book. This means you can use key 9 on those players to switch between the recorded and text portions of the book. Accessing the text portion will allow you to benefit from spelling words and searching the text. If you burn the DAISY book to a CD then the Victor Reader Stratus, Classic and, Wave CD players will play the recorded audio portion of the book.

Where do I get the Save as DAISY add-in?

You can download it from the projects area of the DAISY.org website: https://www.daisy.org/project/save-as-daisy-microsoft-word-add-in
This page contains the downloadable add-in installation program. After installation you will find a DAISY Translator folder in the Start Menu containing a Getting Started and detailed Instruction Manual. Brief installation and user instructions are also provided in the following FAQs. However, for a thorough understanding of the Add-in, please refer to the documentation folder in the Start Menu of your computer.

After downloading the add-in, how do I install it?

Follow these steps:
•    The download package is in an executable EXE program file.
•    Remove any previous versions of the Save As DAISY add-in that you may have installed.
•    Be sure you close all programs on your computer.
•    Then, run the downloaded Setup.exe program.
•    A Security Window may pop up asking you to confirm if you want to run this setup program. Select the Run button.
•    Follow the dialogues of the DAISY Translator installation wizard.
•    The installation program will then do its work for several minutes. When done, a window will pop up indicating the DAISY Translator is successfully installed. Select the Finish button to exit the Setup Wizard.
•    Then the DAISY Translator Getting Started window will open so you can review it if you wish. It is also available for later review from the DAISY Translator folder in your computer’s Start Menu.

How do I prepare my Word document so I can save it as a DAISY book?

You must go through your Word document and ensure the section headings are marked with the Word heading Style tags. It is these Style headings that are mapped as DAISY book navigation tags when the document is translated to DAISY. If you do not mark the headings then the translated DAISY book will not have any DAISY navigation.

How do I mark the Headings in my Word document?

Highlight each heading and select the Styles option in the format menu. Then, select the appropriate heading; level 1, 2, 3 etc. Heading 1 is the highest level heading. Be sure to nest multi-level headings properly. In other words, you should not have a heading 1 followed by a heading 3 without a heading 2 in between. DAISY books can have up to six heading levels.
Note: A keyboard shortcut for applying level 1 to 3 headings is to simply place the cursor at the start of the heading line and then press Alt+Control+1 to assign heading level 1, Alt+Control+2 to assign level 2 and Alt+Control+3 for level 3.
Note: Be sure to not accidentally include blank lines after your headings as part of those headings. This is easily done when using the mouse. If you are unsure you can use the Reveal Codes option of Word to ensure that blank lines are not tagged as headings. For screen reader users, you may be able to announce the style of blank lines with a shortcut key (e.g. for JFW, use JAWS key + F).

When my document is ready, how do I save it as a DAISY book?

Once you have marked your headings and saved your document as Word 2007 or 2010 DOCX follow these steps to translate the document to a synchronized full text/full audio DAISY book.
•    Open the Word 2007 or 2010 DOCX document.
•    Click on the Office button (Top left hand corner of the Word 2007 screen) or press the Alt key to access the rribbon.
•    Select the Accessibility tab on the ribbon.
•    Under Accessibility, select the “Save as DAISY” item.
•    A menu of for items will appear. Select the second item, Full DAISY (from Single DOCX). This will show a further sub menu item providing for Text to Speech TTS narration of the Word document into a full DAISY DTB (digital talking book). Note that the Accessibility tab also has buttons to control how abbreviations /acronyms should be narrated and a button to validate your Word document for DAISY translation. More about these buttons can be found in the instruction manual in the DAISY Translator folder in the Start Menu.
•    Fill in the resulting Translation form items such as the DAISY book Destination folder name, book Title, creator, Publisher, and UID. These fields will have default values taken from the document properties. This Translation window also has an Advanced button if you wish to change things like MP3 encoding but the defaults are ok in most cases.
•    Select the Translate button.
•    A window will display showing the progress of the book translation process and indicate when it is successfully completed.
Note: Translating text to recorded audio with TTS is a slow process. While a short document may take only a couple of minutes to translate to DAISY, long documents could take an hour or more to translate. Also be advised that the recorded TTS will result in a DAISY book that will be many times larger than your original document.

How do I put the DAISY book onto a Victor Reader player?

Within the destination folder you specified for the translated DAISY book you will find two subfolders: one for the DAISY 2.02 book and one for the ANSI/NISO Z39.86 book. You may transfer either or both of these subfolders to the $VRDTB folder of your Stream or Stratus SD card. For the ClassicX you must burn all the files within either subfolder to a data CD. For the Wave you must burn only the DAISY 2.02 book files to a CD because the Wave does not support Z39.86 books.

Can I change the Text-to-Speech voice used to narrate the audio part of my DAISY book?

The Save As DAISY add-in uses the default SAPI5 Text-to-Speech driver configured for your computer. To change the default TTS voice, go to the Windows Start menu and select enter “text to speech” in the search box. Then select to change text to speech settings. If your computer has multiple text-to-speech (TTS) voices installed, you can preview each voice and select the one you wish as the default TTS. Do not change the default speed of the computer TTS as the Victor Reader players have built-in speed control that you can adjust when you play the book. If you do not have multiple SAPI5 TTS voices available you can purchase additional TTS from many sources on the Internet.
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11. NFB Newsline (United States)

How do I download NFB Newsline publications to my Stream?

The Stream has everything you need to manage your subscription. If you prefer to go through the website, follow these instructions:

First log in to your NFB Newsline account online at http://www.nfbnewslineonline.org and set up your list of favorite newspapers and magazines in the “Newsline In Your Pocket” section. This need only to be done once or whenever you want to modify your list of favorites. Then, each time you wish to download your favorite content, simply make sure your Stream is connected to a wireless network for automatic synchronization with the NFB Newsline servers, or follow these steps if you are using the optional PC software application and a USB cable:
•    Power off the Stream, connect the Stream to your computer using the long USB cable, and then power it back on. Or, if you have an SD card reader on your computer, you can simply insert the Stream SD card into it.
•    Select the NFB Newsline In Your Pocket desktop icon.
•    The NFB Newsline In Your Pocket program will run and look for your Stream SD card. The first time it will ask you to enter your login ID and pass code and confirm a name for your Stream device. Then it will connect to the NFB Newsline server, download your selected favorite publications, and transfer them to your Stream. It will announce the content as it is being transferred.
•    Select the Windows Safely Remove Hardware option in your Windows system tray. When Windows tells you it is safe to do so, power off the Stream and disconnect it or remove your SD card from the card reader.
•    You will find your downloaded newspapers and magazines on the Talking Books bookshelf of your Stream.
To use the wireless method:
Please see this section of the training and troubleshooting guide .

How do I delete publications from the NFB Newsline bookshelf?

If using the wireless method the Stream will automatically synchronize the NFB Newsline bookshelf on the Stream with the available editions of your favorite publications. It is not necessary to manually delete older publications as they will be replaced automatically with the latest available editions.

How can I save a publication so it is not automatically deleted?

The copy function on key 3 can be used to copy a publication from the NFB Newsline online bookshelf to SD card. Publications that are copied to the SD card will be found on the Talking Books bookshelf.
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12. NLS Books (United States)

Are NLS books available for download?

Yes. The NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) website provides digital talking books, electronic Braille books, and audio magazines for download to eligible NLS patrons. For more information visit the BARD site at: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/

How do I register for the NLS BARD service and enable my Stream to play NLS books?

There are 3 steps to register to the NLS BARD service and authorize your Victor Reader Stream to play NLS books and magazines.
Step 1 – Apply Online at the NLS BARD website.
Access to the BARD website is restricted to eligible readers. You require a login id and password to use the BARD service. To apply for your username and password visit: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/ Select the link for the BARD application instructions which explain the criteria for participation. If you qualify, select the link to the BARD application form. Fill out this enrollment application completely and after activating the submit button the following page will offer a link to choose your player. Activate this link and select the Victor Reader Stream from the resulting list of players. If you are approved to participate, NLS will send you an e-mail message with your BARD site username and password. If there is a problem, you will receive a message explaining the problem.
Note: If you forget to select the Victor Reader Stream when applying you can still go back later after NLS approves your application. Simply log in to the BARD site with your new username and password and then select Account Settings to register your Victor Reader Stream.
Please note that your enrollment information will be shared with the National Library Service, Library of Congress and HumanWare.
Step 2- HumanWare will contact you
Once you have registered your Victor Reader Stream with NLS, NLS will notify HumanWare. HumanWare will then contact you by email with a link to a HumanWare web form where you will need to supply your Stream’s serial number to authorize it to play NLS books. Please do not try to complete the HumanWare web form until you receive our email as we cannot process your request in advance.
Step 3 – Sending the NLS Authorization Key to You
After you complete the HumanWare web form, HumanWare will respond within 2 working days with a second email. Attached to this email will be an NLS authorization key file to install on your Stream. The email will contain the installation instructions. After you install the key file, you will be able to play NLS downloaded digital talking books and magazines as well as digital book cartridges.
Note: If your Stream is a model 503 or 603 with wireless capabilities and is configured and connected to a wireless network, the NLS key file will be downloaded from the HumanWare website and installed on the Stream automatically with a spoken message that will confirm the key installation.

Once I am registered for NLS BARD service, how do I download a book?

Follow these steps:
Go to the NLS BARD site at https://nlsbard.loc.gov/ Log in to the website by entering your NLS username and password. Note that both of these are case sensitive.
After login, you will be on the screen to choose books or magazines. You can search for books by title, author, subject, or keyword. You can find magazines by title or issue date. The different sections of the page are marked with headings. Individual books are also separated by heading markers making it easy to jump from one book to the next with the heading shortcut keys of your screen reader. The site also has a link to get help on how to search for books and magazines.
Once you arrive at your chosen book simply click or press ENTER on its download link.
Your computer will ask if you want to OPEN or SAVE the book. Specify to SAVE It.
Your computer will then ask where you want to save the downloaded book. The book download is a single ZIP file containing all the necessary files for the book. Choose a desired location on your computer where you want to save NLS books and select the Save button. The download window will then open showing the progress of the download. After the zip book is downloaded you will need to unzip and transfer it from your computer to the SD card. See the section, Transferring ZIP Books to the Stream.

Will the Stream 3 play the NLS book cartridges?

No, the Stream 3 does not support NLS cartridges.
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13. Playback and Navigation

If I accidentally press key 4 or 6, how can I quickly get back to my reading position?

If you press the Cancel (Star) key within 10 seconds of the accidental move, the Stream will undo your navigation. For example, suppose you were in the middle of chapter 5 and accidentally press key 6 and moved to chapter 6. If you then press the Cancel key within 10 seconds, you will be returned to your previous position in chapter 5.

How can I quickly get to the start of a book?

Press the Go To key followed by the Play or Rewind keys.

How can I quickly reach the end of a book?

Press the Go To key followed by the Fast Forward key.

How can I quickly jump to a position far into a large text file?

While in the Text files bookshelf, press the Go to key above key 1 which functions as a Go to Percent key for text files. Simply enter the relative percentage offset from the start of the file that you wish to reach. For example you can enter 50% to position at the middle of the file, 67% to position two thirds of the way into the file and so on. You can press Go to Percent followed by the Play or Rewind keys to return to the start of the file.

How can I quickly jump to a position far into a large audio file?

Use the Go To Percent or Go To Time functions to enter a percentage or time offset from the start of the book. These functions are available for Other Books, Podcasts, and Notes. Note that the time or percentage offset is from the start of the first book file in OtherBooks, or the start of an individual Podcast or Audio Note file.

How do I backup just a few seconds with Rewind key?

If I hold it too long it backs up 1 minute.

You can press and release the Rewind key instead of holding it down and this will backup 5 seconds for each press. The same applies to the fast forward key.

Can I resume reading a few seconds back from where I last stopped?

Yes. Instead of pressing the Play key to resume your playback, just tap the Rewind key. It will back up 5 seconds and start playing.

How can I lock the keypad while playing a book?

If you are listening to your Stream while carrying it in a backpack or purse, you may wish to lock the keypad so keys are not accidentally pressed. To do this, start the book playing, then press and hold the star key. To unlock the keypad, press the 1, 2, and 3 keys in sequence.
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14. Copying Content from CDs

How do I copy CD DAISY books to the Stream?

You must create a subfolder for the book in the $VRDTB folder of the Stream SD card. Then, copy all the files from the CD into that subfolder. If the CD has more than one book, then copy all the folders on the CD to the $VRDTB folder excluding the Discinfo file on the CD.

Can I also copy MP3 CD books?

Yes. In this case, create the subfolder for the book in the $VROtherBooks folder of the Stream SD card and copy all the MP3 files for the book from the CD to the subfolder.

Can I also transfer DAISY or MP3 CD books using HumanWare Companion?

Yes. For a DAISY CD, be sure you are in the Talking Books window of the Companion, insert the CD into your computer. The title or titles of the books on the CD will appear in the list of titles. Check the titles you wish to transfer and activate the Transfer button. After the CD book(s) are transferred simply eject the CD and Companion will redisplay the list of Talking Books on your computer. To copy an MP3 CD, be sure you are in the Other Books transfer window of the Companion and follow the same procedure.

How do I copy DAISY multi-CD books to the Stream?

If you have a DAISY book that is on 2 or more CDs then you put the files of each CD into separate folders of $VRDTB just as if each CD was a separate book. For example if you have a 2 CD book titled, History of Science, then create two subfolders in $VRDTB called:
History of Science CD1
History of Science CD2
And put all the files from CD1 into the first subfolder and the files of CD2 into the second subfolder. If you make a mistake and copy the CD2 into the CD1 folder it does not matter. The Stream will still play the book correctly and announce the book title part 1 and part 2 based on the actual book contents not the folder names.
The Stream will announce the message to insert CD2 whenever you attempt to navigate to any part of the book that is on CD2. The message to insert CD2 is actually part of the book itself. It is not part of the Stream’s program. Similarly, if you are playing the CD2 portion of the book and navigate to a part of the book that is on CD1 you will hear a similar message to insert CD1.
Note that the INFO key 0 will report the total time and total pages for the entire book i.e., all the CDs. So, if CD1 was 1 hour with 50 pages and CD2 was 30 minutes with 25 more pages then key 0 would report a total of 75 pages and 1.5 hours total time for the book. If you were reading the part of the book from CD1 and you requested to go to page 61 you would hear the book message to insert CD2. At this point you could press Go To Page again to change your mind and enter a number less than 50 and remain in part 1 of the book. Or, you could press key 1 for the bookshelf and navigate to the second part of the book and press play to open it. However, at this point you will be at the beginning page 51 of part 2, not page 61. In other words, the Stream cannot jump from the first part of the book to the actual page number you enter in the second part of the book.
So, when you hear a message to insert a different CD, then at that point, you need to press the bookshelf key 1 and then press the left or right (key 4 or 6) to navigate to the other part of the book on your talking books bookshelf. If you have created the two folders in the $VRDTB folder for each CD then you will find both part 1 and part 2 of the book on the bookshelf list.

Why does Stream not play the files I copied from my audio CD using Windows Explorer?

You cannot copy commercial audio CDs using a simple copy and paste with Windows Explorer. To copy audio CDs you must use special CD extraction software to extract (often referred to as rip) the audio CD format to a format such as MP3 that can be played on Stream.

I have a DAISY CD with multiple books and a Discinfo.html file. How do I copy that CD to my Stream SD card?

Simply copy all the folders of the CD to the $VRDTB folder. Do not copy the Discinfo file.
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15. Recording

How do I find the total recording time available on my memory card?

While browsing or playing audio notes just press the info key (0). It will announce both the recording time remaining and the space available on the SD card.

What file types can I record in with Stream?

You may choose to record in MP3, FLAC or WAV file types. Press menu key 7 until you get to general settings. Press the 6 key until you reach the recording menu, then press the Confirm key. Then press keys 4 or 6 to navigate the recording menu items. You may choose mono or stereo mode, file type, and for MP3 file type you may also choose the recording quality. For each value you wish to select, press the Confirm key. Exit the menu with the Cancel (Star) key.

Does the selected recording file type affect recording quality and file size?

Yes. MP3 files take less space than WAV files but have less quality. The lower the bit rate for MP3 the lower the quality. WAV recordings provide the highest quality but take the most space.

I have many Audio Notes and cannot remember all the note numbers. Can I rename/move the Notes for archival?

Yes. Using Windows you can move the Audio Note files from the $VRNotes folder to one or more subfolders in $VROtherBooks and rename them with appropriate file names. Stream will play them like any other book in the Other Books bookshelf announcing the folder and file names using the text-to-speech. Note that moving the notes in this way will not move any bookmarks you made while recording. Also, the HumanWare Companion has a conversion tool to copy Audio Note files to WAV files on your computer so you can edit or archive them on your computer.

What type of microphone should I use on my Stream?

The built-in microphone of the Stream is satisfactory for most voice recording applications. The built-in microphone is omni-directional meaning it will pick up sound in all directions which is useful for recording in group situations such as meetings. However, if you have special needs such as recording interviews or dictation you may want to investigate using a directional microphone. Also, some people find a directional microphone helpful for recording lectures where you are mainly interested in capturing the instructor’s voice at the front of the room. Most electret type microphones for computer usage that have an input impedance of around 2.2KOhms are suitable for the Stream. Such microphones require plug-in power which the Stream provides through the microphone jack. The jack is a standard 3.5mm size.

Is there value in purchasing professional grade condenser or dynamic microphones?

Not really. These microphones require external pre-amps and an XLR adaptor for use on the Stream. Unless you are a professional who understands and requires the specific advantages of these types of microphones the additional cost and complexity may provide more frustration than advantage. Also, improper use of these microphones has the potential of damaging the Stream through too high a signal input.

Can I record from external devices such as mixers or CD players?

Yes. Connect the line-out or headphone jack of the external device to the microphone jack on the left side of the Stream. Press menu key 7 until you get to general settings. Press the 6 key until you reach the recording menu, then press the Confirm key. Press keys 4 or 6 until you reach the choice to use the external microphone or line-in source, then press Confirm. Use keys 4 or 6 to select line-in and press the Confirm key. Then also select your recording file type and quality. Then exit the menu with the Cancel (Star) key. Press the Record key to start recording. You may monitor the recording in the headphones. If using the headphone jack of the external device you will need to adjust the recording level using the volume controls on the external device.
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16. SD Cards

What type of SD cards should I use in Stream?

The Stream is compatible with SD (Secure Digital) cards up to 1TB. The “Class” designation does not matter because Stream is not optimized for any particular class of SDHC/SDXC card. Reputable brand name media manufacturers are recommended for your SDHC/SDXC cards.

Do I need to format my SD card before using it?

You need to format only if the card is not accessible. If your SD card is not recognized by Windows when it is inserted in your computer card reader or when the Stream is connected to the computer, it may be possible that the card needs to be formatted. Also, if for any reason data becomes corrupt, you may notice that some files/books will not play properly on your Stream. This is also an indicator that reformatting is needed.

How do I format my SD card?

You can use a PC to format your SD card. However, as we now support xFat, formatting the SD card is not required to use on the Stream 3.

If I format the card and replace the files will I lose all the bookmarks and reading positions in my books?

No. The Stream saves current reading position and bookmark information in a database stored in the player’s internal flash memory. This information is not saved on the SD card.

If I write-protect the SD card does it mean I cannot set bookmarks?

No. The Stream saves bookmarks and reading position in its internal flash memory, not on the SD card. So, a write-protected SD card will prevent you from recording audio notes or audio bookmarks and it will also prevent you from deleting books.

Must I always connect the Stream to my computer to copy files to its SD card?

No. Some computers have built-in SD card readers. If your computer has an SD slot, then a convenient way to copy is to place your SD card in that slot and copy the files to it directly. If you don’t have an SD slot in your computer then you can connect the Stream to a USB connector of your computer using the long USB cable provided with the Stream. You can connect it whether it’s on or off, but you it will need to be turned on for it to appear on the computer. The Stream will appear on a device on your computer, and you will see two folders: one for the internal memory, and one for the SD card (if present). You may also purchase a USB card reader and connect it to the USB connector of your computer. Copying to a USB card reader is usually faster than copying to the Stream through its USB cable.

Why does Stream become unresponsive or announce, “No media”, when I insert my SD card?

Just wait a few seconds to give Stream a chance to scan the SD card. The more files you have on an SD card, the longer it takes for Stream to scan the card especially if there are many files in a folder. When you have many files, try to organize them in multiple subfolders.

Do I always need to use the Windows Safely Remove option to disconnect my Stream or remove my SD card from my card reader?

If you’re using the Stream to access your SD card, you do not need to eject it prior to disconnecting. If you are using your SD card in a 3rd party card reader or directly in the computer, then it is suggested to eject prior to removing the card.

Is there anything I can do if the Safely Remove Hardware option is not in my Windows System Tray?

The Safely Remove Hardware icon may be hidden. Press Tab on the Desktop to go to the Windows Start menu button and then press Alt+Enter to open the Task Bar and Start Menu properties dialog. In the properties dialog, ensure the check box for “Hide Inactive Icons” is not checked.
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17. Transferring ZIP Books to the Stream

What are zip books?

A DAISY book consists of many files. To simplify download of DAISY books, DAISY libraries package all the DAISY files of a given book in a single file called a zip file. This way you need only download one zip file per book. To play the book on the Stream you need to unzip all the DAISY files of the book into a separate subfolder on your computer and then transfer the unzipped folder to the SD card of your Stream.

After downloading the ZIP file to my computer, how do I transfer it to my Stream?

You must unzip the book files to a folder on your computer and then copy that folder to the Stream as follows:
•    First unzip the book files which are contained inside the ZIP file. You do not need to install special software to unzip. Windows computers will unzip the book files from the downloaded ZIP file.
•    To unzip the files, right-click on the ZIP file or press the Applications key to the left of the Control key. A context menu will pop up. Select the option to Extract all files.
•    An extraction wizard dialog will open. Select the Next button to begin extracting.
•    The Wizard will ask which folder to extract the zipped book files. By default, a subfolder with the same name as the book will be created in the folder you downloaded to. Just press the NEXT button to accept this or use the Browse button to find another location on your computer to create this book folder. Ignore the Password field in the Wizard unless your library uses password protected zip files.
•    The Wizard will unzip all the book files into the subfolder. It is not necessary to view the files so uncheck the box to show the extracted files and then select the Finish button to close the Wizard.
•    Arrow down your list of folders to the newly created folder. Press Control+C to copy that folder containing your book files to the Windows clipboard (or right-click on the folder and select Copy).
•    Connect your Stream to the computer using the USB cable.
•    Using the Windows Explorer or My Computer programs, find the Stream. You will find in it the internal memory and the SD card (if present). Enter them. Arrow down to the $VRDTB folder on the SD card and press Enter to open it.
•    Now press Control+V to tell Windows to paste your book folder from the clipboard into the $VRDTB folder. This could take a while as all the book files need to be copied.
•    When the copy is complete, use the Safely Remove Hardware option of the Windows System Tray to release your SD card. Then disconnect the Stream or remove the SD card from your card reader. The book will now appear on the Stream’s Talking Books bookshelf.
Note: If you have a computer card reader you may use it instead of connecting your Stream.

As an alternative, can I transfer ZIP books using HumanWare Companion?

Yes. The Companion will unzip and transfer the book for you greatly simplifying the process. In the Companion Talking Books window be sure to check the Include ZIP files box so that your downloaded zip file will show in the list of books.
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18. Wireless Features

What is the purpose of airplane mode?

This feature works exactly the same as smartphones and tablets by turning off any wireless functions. When airplane mode is enabled on the Stream, no wireless functions are available and the Stream could be used safely on an airplane or in a hospital where use of wireless devices is restricted.

How do I disable airplane mode?

Airplane mode can be enabled or disabled by pressing and holding the Online key located above the number 2 on the keypad.

What information do I need to set up a wireless connection on Stream?

You will need to know the name of the wireless network that you wish to join, this is known as the SSID, and also the wireless key or password which is case-sensitive.

How do I connect the Stream to a wireless network?

The wireless network connection can be configured either directly on the Stream or via a settings file that can be created with the HumanWare Companion software on the PC. To configure a wireless network connection on the Stream:

What types of wireless networks can Stream access?

The Stream can connect to any standard wireless network that uses WEP or WPA/WPA2 encryption via a standard wireless router or access point. Wireless connections that require a login or agreement to terms and conditions via a web page are not supported on the Stream.

How do I install my NLS key via wireless connection?

Once you have received the confirmation email from HumanWare that contains the NLS key for your Stream, it will be downloaded and installed automatically the next time the Stream is connected to a wireless network.

Why am I not able to scan for wireless networks?

Airplane mode must be disabled for all wireless functions and menu options to be available. Once airplane mode is disabled, press the Online key to navigate to the online bookcase, and then press the Menu key 7 to configure any wireless settings or to scan for available wireless networks.
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19. Internet Radio

The station I am looking for is not listed in the ooTunes database.

ooTunes is a dynamic user-driven service and the database is constantly updated. You can request that a specific station be added by using the form on the ooTunes web site at: http://help.ootunes.com/contact

What should I do to report a station that is not working?

You should first verify that your wireless connection is working correctly and that other stations can be accessed successfully. It is also recommended that you try the same station again later to determine if it might be only a temporary issue with that specific station.
If the station was found by searching or browsing ooTunes, please use the form on the ooTunes web site to report the problem: http://help.ootunes.com/contact
If it is a station from one of the HumanWare playlists, please report the issue to HumanWare technical support.

How can I add custom stations?

Custom stations or playlists can be added using the HumanWare Companion software for the PC. Please see the HumanWare Companion user guide for further information.
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20. Wikipedia and Wiktionary

How do I choose a different search result?

Stream uses the current word from the text navigation as the default search term and it can also be changed before searching. Stream presents the information from the first matching search result. If the result is not correct, it may help to try refining the search by using a different or more specific search term.
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