At each session the speaker code of the subject will be confirmed. (Initially this will be done by checking a printed list of speaker details - an automatic system will subsequently be used.)
Session specific information will be entered via the EUROPEC system - some manually and some from the conditions file.
At each session the recording manager will provide an outline of the procedure for that session. This briefing should be in written or recorded form so as to achieve consistency between subjects.
At each session in the anechoic room the subject will be asked to practise speaking typical material for that session, with the level meter switched off. A note will be made of the peak level during the practice and the gain of the OROS AU21 will be set such that this peak level is 12-15 dB below maximum possible recording level. A large number of experienced recording sites have rejected the original suggestion of 6 dB head room. They feel that 12 to 15 dBs would be safer and reduce the possibility of takes having to be re-recorded due to overload, this in turn will reduce the stress on inexperienced speakers. The gain setting will be automatically recorded for inclusion in the session dependent recording conditions file.
If the session is to involve the use of control by level meter the subject should practise controlling their level with respect to the meter, for all (3) level meter gain settings.
The recording conditions/material etc. for each take will be entered into EUROPEC - this will cause the correct file names to be generated.
At each take the subject will, where appropriate, be given the opportunity to preview the prompt material. This is particularly needed for continuous speech material. In some cases, e.g. for particular forms of numbers, orthographically ambiguous nonsense material etc., additional instructions need to be given, and the subject given time for familiarisation with the task before the session.
The recording manager will monitor the speech production with reference to the prompted text. If there are any errors the take will be stopped and the subject asked to start the relevant take again. The disc file will be discarded and the same serial number reused for the re-recording. The digital audio tape recorder safety backup will not be stopped due to re-recording of errors - only at the end of a session. If after the integrity check a take has to be re-recorded then the digital audio safety backup recorder should be restarted.