Ascendis Software LLC Support Forums

I have a nice wav file to use for hold music, a 20 second spot of classy jazz. I have converted the files to PCM 16 bit at 8MHz as we covered in an earlier post.

As it stands, Caller calls in during business hours, gets a please hold wav file, then music. Music plays for about 3-4 seconds and dies. Is there a time limit for how long a wav file can be?



CID plays about 4 second of the file and kicks out error:

3/30/2005 09:11:41 AM - Script problem: Could not play sound over phone because Could not play wave file "C:\Program Files\Ascendis Software\Caller ID\HoldMusic\City_Stroll_8_bit_mono_11k.wav" PhoneSound ('C:\Program Files\Ascendis Software\Caller ID\HoldMusic\City_Stroll_8_bit_mono_11k.wav'); [line 4, column 1]
3/30/2005 09:11:41 AM - Script has ended, but call is still connected -- disconnecting
3/30/2005 09:11:42 AM - waveOutOpen() -- The specified device is already in use. Wait until it is free, and then try again.
3/30/2005 09:11:42 AM - Script problem: Could not play sound over phone because Could not play wave file "C:\Program Files\Ascendis Software\Caller ID\HoldMusic\City_Stroll_8_bit_mono_11k.wav" PhoneSound ('C:\Program Files\Ascendis Software\Caller ID\HoldMusic\City_Stroll_8_bit_mono_11k.wav'); [line 4, column 1]
3/30/2005 09:11:42 AM - Script has ended, but call is still connected -- disconnecting

Line Monitor:
03/30/2005 09:11:42.140 - TAPI device=$0 event=LINE_REPLY
03/30/2005 09:11:42.140 - LINE_REPLY: (FLine)
03/30/2005 09:11:42.140 - TAPI $10291 success
03/30/2005 09:11:42.140 - TLineSink.OnLineReply
03/30/2005 09:11:42.687 - Reopening U.S. Robotics 56K Voice PCI
03/30/2005 09:11:42.703 - attempting open with media mode [LINEMEDIAMODE_INTERACTIVEVOICE, LINEMEDIAMODE_AUTOMATEDVOICE] and privilege [LINECALLPRIVILEGE_MONITOR, LINECALLPRIVILEGE_OWNER]
03/30/2005 09:11:42.703 - TAPI lineOpen error= LINEERR_INVALMEDIAMODE:
03/30/2005 09:11:42.703 - Open on line 0 failed with TAPI error "Invalid media mode"
03/30/2005 09:11:42.703 - attempting open with media mode [LINEMEDIAMODE_INTERACTIVEVOICE] and privilege [LINECALLPRIVILEGE_MONITOR, LINECALLPRIVILEGE_OWNER]
03/30/2005 09:11:42.703 - TAPI lineOpen error= LINEERR_INVALMEDIAMODE:
03/30/2005 09:11:42.703 - Open on line 0 failed with TAPI error "Invalid media mode"
03/30/2005 09:11:42.703 - attempting open with media mode [LINEMEDIAMODE_AUTOMATEDVOICE] and privilege [LINECALLPRIVILEGE_MONITOR, LINECALLPRIVILEGE_OWNER]
03/30/2005 09:11:42.734 - Handle = $10391
03/30/2005 09:11:42.734 - Port Name = "COM3"
03/30/2005 09:11:42.734 - Device id = $0
03/30/2005 09:11:42.734 - Opened line id 0

Suggestions?

Hi Frostye,

There is currently a 10-second limit for PhoneSound. This includes preparation time, so the actual sound might be limited to 9 or 9 1/2 seconds. I'm surprised by your 3-4 second findings. Is there a significant delay (theoretically 6-7 seconds) before the sound starts playing through the phone? Does the amount of sound played change if you play a short (even silent) sound first?

The version of Ascendis Caller ID you're using does not timeout gracefully. I uploaded a new version that does. The limit will still apply, but you won't get an exception message. I also fixed a problem where a PhoneSound command after the truncated PhoneSound command could get terminated prematurely.

There are a couple of reasons for the limit, one being that there is no way to stop the sound once started (except, perhaps, for some modems, for the other party to hang up). Another reason is that the script and parts of Ascendis Caller ID wait for the sound to complete. This will probably not be changed in the near future. I suppose I could make the limit configurable and let you experiment.

The new beta version (1.8.1.9) can be downloaded here:
http://ascendis.com/callerid/beta.php

Finest regards,
Bill Root
Ascendis Software

Oh yeah, bill.
The more ability you give us to customize the software the greater range it will have for individual use.

I have developed a few "hold music" wav files to be able to "entertain folks" while I am on the other line. When I hear my last message sounding quietly in the background - I know how long they have been on hold and that I have 15 seconds to wrap up my current conversation.

If I had the ability to voice message to incoming calls that the wait time is less than 2 minutes and let a few 30 second wave files play while I wrap up business on the other line, I would be able to keep more calls and do more busniess while giving the "illusion" if you will that I am a much larger company with a PBX system. Follow?

After all of this, I should go into independent software testing and consulting though. What do you think? I know together we have made your product better.

Hi Frostye,

Frostye wrote:Oh yeah, bill.
The more ability you give us to customize the software the greater range it will have for individual use.

I agree, but it has to be done without making it too complicated for users who don't need the control.

I have developed a few "hold music" wav files to be able to "entertain folks" while I am on the other line. When I hear my last message sounding quietly in the background - I know how long they have been on hold and that I have 15 seconds to wrap up my current conversation.

Interesting. How do you hear the outgoing message? Do you put the call on speakerphone, muted?

If I had the ability to voice message to incoming calls that the wait time is less than 2 minutes and let a few 30 second wave files play while I wrap up business on the other line, I would be able to keep more calls and do more busniess while giving the "illusion" if you will that I am a much larger company with a PBX system. Follow?

Yes, I follow. I upped the default limit to 60 seconds (we'll see how that goes) and added a hidden setting to change it. This will be in the next beta release.

After all of this, I should go into independent software testing and consulting though. What do you think? I know together we have made your product better.

You have undoubtedly helped make the program better, and for that you have our thanks!

Finest regards,
Bill Root
Ascendis Software

Hey Bill it's reset to 30 seconds again what was the hidden trick to up that to 60 seconds?

Hi Frostye,

In the Options window, Devices tab, "Modems and TAPI" sub-tab, press CTRL and SHIFT to make an "Advanced" button appear. Press the button and you can change the timeout. This now defaults to 60 seconds, but you may be running an older version.


Finest regards,
Bill Root
Ascendis Software