Technology

Daisy - FAQs

Summary: Frequently asked questions about Daisy.

• Daisy verses other audio formats
• Sources of Daisy books
• Daisy book creation

---

Daisy verses other audio formats

Why can I not play a Daisy CD on my CD player?

A standard CD player cannot read the files on a Daisy CD. However, if your CD or DVD player has an MP3 mark on it, you will still be able to play the audio part of the Daisy CD, but you will not be able to use the navigation features that Daisy offers. A Daisy player, however, will also play standard CDs and MP3 CDs.

What is the difference between MP3 CDs, music CDs and Daisy?

MP3 is an audio format which allows up to 20 times as much audio to be burnt on a single CD, so whereas ordinary CDs contain up to 80 minutes, an MP3 disc can contain up to 25 hours. Daisy is made up of several different kinds of files, including MP3. The extra files are what allow you to navigate directly to specific sections, chapters, pages and even phrases, although this depends on how the book has been structured by the producer. For more technical information on Daisy, visit the Daisy Consortium's website at daisy.org

Isn't cassette better than CD because I never lose my place?

Standard CD players will not resume playback from where you finished listening, but all Daisy players have a resume function, so that they automatically mark the last reading position for each book you are reading. In addition, you can add bookmarks to return to particular points of interest.

A book which requires 25 cassettes may be recorded on 1 Daisy CD, and enables you to jump straight to the bits you want to read, and skip over the bits you don't.

Sources of Daisy books

I'm looking for a particular title in Daisy, where should I start looking?

RNIB Talking Book Service has over 14,000 titles available and you can either contact Customer Services on 0845 762 6843 or 01733 37 53 50, or email cservices@rnib.org.uk. Alternatively, you can search for specific titles, or browse the entire catalogue online using the new RNIB BookSite at RNIB.org.uk/booksite. You can also order the catalogue in braille or on CD from customer services for £9.99.

The Talking Newspaper Association UK (TNAUK) produce audio versions of around 100 magazines and newspapers. Go to their website tnauk.org.uk for more information.

Calibre Audio Library are converting many of their titles into MP3, and these can also be read using a Daisy player. Go to their website calibre.org.uk for more information.

Will my local library have any books recorded in the Daisy format?

Probably not, but you will be able to play their audio books on your Daisy player, albeit with less navigation capability than Daisy books offer.

I know that some of the smallest, most portable Daisy players use memory cards instead of CDs. Where can I buy or borrow books on memory card?

At the moment Daisy books are not supplied on memory cards, so have to be copied from the original Daisy CD to the memory card using a PC. You would need to take this into account when choosing your player.

Daisy book creation

Is there any way of creating my own Daisy books?

There are several options available for producing Daisy.

The Plextalk PTR2 (DD21) which allows you to record directly to CD or to a PC and to insert your own headings and page numbers, and is fully accessible to blind and partially sighted people.

If you have an electronic text, you can use EasyProducer (DD25) to create a Daisy book using synthetic speech. This is particularly useful if you have limited time and requires no training.

EasyConvertor and EasyPublisher are two other software tools which can produce highly structured Daisy.

Does RNIB provide training in using Daisy?

RNIB can offer training on creating Daisy and using Daisy players.

Content author: ict@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13