friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Under normal circumstances, I would be at work this evening broadcasting an interview. But the guests canceled the show, so here I am playing around with NVDA Composer.
First, I created a basic melody in NVDA Composer – it’s a Slovak folk song. Then I imported it into Reaper, added some modern samples from Nexus, and this is the result.
You might ask why I didn’t do it directly in Reaper’s step sequencer. Because that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. Hmm, seems that for some reason I can not upload mp3 dyrectly to this post, so here it is.
s.ondrosik.sk/f/b0cd4167954446…
#NVDAComposer #Composituary
#nvdacomposer #composituary

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

Interesting that something like this existed. Love that sort of ideas.

Jayson Smith

2026-01-22 09:21:17

mastodon - Link to source

Does anyone have a copy of the Minute Marker tape produced by Brayton and Sons Productions in the early 90's? It was a twenty-minute timer on a tape. There were different drum sounds for fifteen, thirty, and forty-five seconds past each minute, then each minute had claps counting the minutes. One side had a tick every second along with all the other sounds, the other side omitted the ticks. I never had or even saw a copy of the tape, all I ever heard was a promo for it he put in Playback Magazine, audio attached.


friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
I work as an audiobook quality controller. My employer uses ClickUp to manage tasks. Unfortunately, the web interface is unintuitive and inaccessible. It contains unnamed elements, menus that expand in all kinds of ways, and similar issues. I wrote to their developers, but even after years nothing has been fixed. Fortunately, ClickUp has an open API. So I used vibecoding and now I have my own minimalist HTML application that displays my tasks, start and end dates, comments, and attachments, and allows me to post comments. I still can’t change task statuses yet—we’ll see if I manage to solve that with the help of GPT. Of course, this is not how a blind person should function in an ideal world, but it is still a way we can help ourselves. That said, I still need a server where my PHP scripts run; it could probably be done with Python as well, but PHP seemed simpler to me since it’s already running on my server. BTW it would be ideal if Clickup api documentation is one simple document which I can throw to gpt but it seems that chatgpt already know how to use it.

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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

I have been notified about this #accessible text editor written in rust with a lot of interesting features.

github.com/Ambro86/Novapad/


GitHub - Ambro86/Novapad: Modern Notepad in Rust: read PDF/EPUB/DOCX, play MP3 audiobooks, create audiobooks with high-quality TTS, and manage bookmarks.

Modern Notepad in Rust: read PDF/EPUB/DOCX, play MP3 audiobooks, create audiobooks with high-quality TTS, and manage bookmarks. - Ambro86/Novapad
GitHub
#accessible

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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

When it comes to @Delta Chat (39c3) do you know it features 1 to 1 audio / video calls since v2.22?
It has a very lightweight client side app built with web technologies and a minimalist server side component turn server called chatmail-turn.

I am wondering, am I alone running that turnserver behind a nat?

github.com/chatmail/chatmail-t…


Added commandline arguments and functionality usefull to run behind a NAT by pvagner · Pull Request #7 · chatmail/chatmail-turn

This turn server enumerates all the interfaces found on the system, identifies globally addressable addresses and creates an UDP listen socket on the default port. Relay connections for this scenar...
GitHub
@Delta Chat

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

Dear #QT toolkit, recently I'm again looking into your #screenreader #a11y into #QML in particular.
I'm trying to make one of my favorite apps @Mixxx DJ Software a bit more accessible.
Last night I have managed to turn the menu with items such as 4 decks, Library, Effects and more into aria toolbar pattern in terms of keyboard navigation. It only consumes single tab stop when navigating through it and other buttons can be reached using the arrow keys.
Of course there is much more to do and I've started a forum topic documenting my attempts.

mixxx.discourse.group/t/new-qm…

#a11y #screenreader #qt #qml @Mixxx DJ Software

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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

This holiday season I'd like to make someone I think is very important a bit of joy, however I need your help with it.

National bank of slovakia is issuing so called commemorative and collector euro 2 coins to celebrate historic memories, anniversaries and other special events. A friend of mine is collecting these coins with her dad whenever it's possible.

I have found out this is not specific to our country as european central bank has standardised this process and all the countries that have accepted euro can issue such commemorative coins.

Now the part I'd need some help with.

Can you please check with the national bank where you live if you can acquire some of the commemorative euro 2 coins, make me an offer and send these to me through ordinary post / mail service please?

Thanks for your understanding and possible help you can provide. #fediHelp #fediPower #boostsWelcome

#boostswelcome #fedihelp #fedipower

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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Something is changing my default output device to 24 bit 96 khz. It is annoing, because it doesnt change the imput device, so Reaper can not open it in wasapi. Today it probably broke my vdo ninja recording, which was half a speed. It seems that this happens after lenovo or windows update. Lets see if I can create some script which will monitor it and let me know when this happens again

Peter Vágner reshared this.

in reply to garo

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

Peter Vágner

@garo Please can you help me to download the appropriate build?

I've navigated to this url microsoft.com/en-us/software-d…
Selected Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 devices)
Pressed the Download now button.
The iso image I've downloaded does not start narrator when pressing ctrl+windows+enter after fully booting.
The file name of the image is Win11_25H2_EnglishInternational_x64.iso
The direct url to the image I managed to download this way is software.download.prss.microso…

Thanks for the help

CC @Jonathan

@garo @Jonathan
in reply to Peter Vágner

mastodon - Link to source

garo

@jonathan859 The links you sent are cut off. Also, I cannot really help you unfortunately. All I know is that after build 7019 Narator should work - at least by resetting from the settings.
Alternatively, just use a 24h2 iso from the Internet Archive. It's really easy to find and you safely can use it (I did so too). Also the upgrading process to 25h2 is fairly easy.
@Jonathan

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

Yesterday an open-source developer Christian has released life changing update to the privacy respecting #android app called #MakeACopy. The app now features so called #accessibility mode that is enabling #screenReader users to take pictures of the paper documents independently.
Accessibility guide is available on github.
The latest prerelease version provides clear Accessibility guidance phrases with screen readers such as Talkback, Corvus, Jieshuo and others that can handle announcement accessibility event.

I am verry happy about this. We are now getting privacy respecting open-source based screen reader accessible solution that performs very well and is easy to use.

The prerelease version can be downloaded at
github.com/egdels/makeacopy/re…


makeacopy/docs/accessibility_mode_guide_en.md at main · egdels/makeacopy

MakeACopy is an open-source document scanner app for Android that allows you to digitize paper documents with OCR functionality. The app is designed to be privacy-friendly, working completely offli...
GitHub
#Accessibility #android #screenreader #makeacopy

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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

I have just found a nice document scanning app for android that can do automatic edge detection, cropping, multipage scanning, OCR, PDF export and more.
It's called #makeacopy and it's using #tesseract engine to perform the OCR directly on the device with no internet connectivity requirement at all.
The app has almost full #a11y support for screen reader users in the sense that all the controls are clearly labelled and it's easy to navigate.
I can't resist and I have asked the developer if it would be doable to add a screen reader compatible notifications making the automatic edge detection somehow accessible as well.
Now I'd appreciate comments from low vision screen reader users, mobility trainers, people assisting other blind people or others who might be able to tell if my idea is viable and how much you like it?
Here is link to the github issue I have started: github.com/egdels/makeacopy/is…

Thanks for looking into it.

#a11y #tesseract #makeacopy

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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

Zoom released New firmware for H1E. I am sending this again because i broke the first post.

  • You can set imput gain during recording but i don't know exact buttons
  • You can record and export to mp3
  • You can record with AI noise isolator. It analyzes the noise during first 3 seconds to get noise profile. you can enable it with shortcut, the third button in the top row (button which marks during recording) or in rec settings. Not bad but it filters just high frequencies.
    Do you guys testet this? @Andre Louis @Borris @Tomecki
    zoomcorp.com/en/jp/handheld-re…
@Tomecki @Andre Louis @Borris

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
I just read that FFMPEG supports lufs normalization. That with combination with luveler and MrsWatson allows for nice automatic normalization of recordings. I can use Reaper and tweak everithing, but there are people who just need to get their recordings to relative consistent levels.Luveler teragonaudio/MrsWatson: A command-line VST plugin host

LUveler

luveler.blogspot.com

Peter Vágner reshared this.

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
On my side Microsoft 365 generates NDR when I send the message to non existing email address using outlook online but does not generate NDR when sending a message to same non existing email address from thunderbird or other app sending emails through microsoft 365 SMTP server.
This sounds strange to me and I can't find a way to make it generate NDR aka bounce messages for messages submitted through SMTP.

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

Recently, I discovered Mynoise.net by @Stéphane (Dr. P). Sometimes, when I cant sleep or need background noise for boring work, I use various background soundscapes. Here is my article about Mynoise from the blind users experience. Long post follows:

Getting Started


  • We won’t install or configure anything.
  • Simply open the page mynoise.netmynoise.net in your web browser.
  • Activate, for example, the link windSeaRainNoiseGenerator (wind, sea, and rain noise generator).
  • Since browsers block autoplay by default, enable focus mode and press the letter p twice. The first press pauses playback, and the second resumes it. At this point, you should already hear the sound of the sea and wind noise.

Here you can also try other soundscapes, such as Rain on a Tent or Fireworks. I recommend opening the Full List. The soundscapes are organized under headings.

Playback Control


At this point, the possibilities of Mynoise are just beginning. Each player can be customized. Although the ambiance differs, the controls are always the same. Let’s take another look at the previously mentioned Wind, Sea, and Rain Noise.

Presets


Under the heading Presets, you’ll find buttons with various predefined settings. Activating them changes the sound’s characteristics. For instance, you can choose Breaking Waves or Irish Summer.

Under User Stories, you’ll find user comments. By activating a comment, the sound’s parameters adjust to the same configuration used by that commenter.

How to Create Your Own Background


Let’s say you want to manually adjust the balance between wind, waves, rain, and so on. Each player consists of ten sliders whose volume you can control. Here’s how:

  • Enable focus mode in your screenreader.
  • Press Enter to deselect all sliders.
  • Choose one of the sliders using numbers 0–9.
  • Adjust the volume with the + or – keys.
  • Press Enter twice to deselect all sliders.
  • Choose another slider (0–9).
  • Adjust the volume again with + or –.
  • If you’re satisfied but find the overall sound too loud, you can lower the volume with J and raise it with K.
  • You can also generate a random setting by pressing the ? (question mark)key.


I Created a Beautiful Ambience—How Can I Return to It?


The author thought of that, too. Press B to find the Save as URL button. After pressing it, a URL containing your custom parameters will appear in an edit field. You can copy this link to your clipboard and save it as a bookmark. That’s how it works in Firefox. Chrome, on the other hand, will automatically reload the page with the new URL. You can share this URL as usual—for this article, I created This Noise as an example.

Can I Combine “Rain on a Tent” and a “Crackling Fireplace”?


Yes, and there are two ways to do it. If you’ve been experimenting with the site for a while, you might have opened one soundscape in one browser tab and another in a second tab. However, this setup is difficult to save or share. Fortunately, you can create a single page that combines multiple generators—up to ten soundscapes in one! This way, you can really make something like a Campfire in the Rain. Here’s how:

  • Open your first soundscape, e.g. Rain on a Tent.
  • Reset the sliders to zero and adjust them as you wish, as described earlier.
  • Press C to save your current setting.
    – In another tab, open the main Mynoise page and find your second soundscape.
    – Open a new generator, for example Fireplace.
    – Adjust everything again as you like.
    – Press C again to save it.
    – Use Shift+C to save all settings together.
    – The page will ask for a name.
    – Enter a name and confirm.
    – You can now save the page as a bookmark or copy and share the URL.


Mobile App


Unfortunately, Mobile app is not accessible for blind users yet. You can still use Mynoise in your smartphone’s web browser. The easiest way is to share the custom links you prepared on your computer. That way, you’ll always have your favorite sounds at hand—for example, to help you sleep.

The author also offers online radios featuring some of the sounds. You can find them in the RadioBrowser database by searching for Mynoise. Additionally, there’s a podcast called Pomodoro Sessions, so you can enjoy your favorite soundscapes right in your podcast app.

Conclusion


The author is open to discussing accessibility. Thanks to this, button labels have already been added to the player pages. To celebrate finishing this article—and your reading it all the way through—you can listen to Fireworks.


Pomodoro Sessions

Podcast · myNoise · No ads, no talking. This podcast provides a wide range of background noises and music formatted for the Pomodoro technique: stop procrastinating and get the job done, 25 minutes at a time! These sounds won’t interfere with your fo…
Spotify
@Stéphane (Dr. P)

Peter Vágner reshared this.

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
WhatsApp changes its terms to bar general-purpose chatbots from its platform. Meta said that the new chatbot use cases placed a lot of burden on its system with increased message volume and required a different kind of support, which the company wasn’t ready for. Really? I think that Meta just wants to force users to use Meta AI. techcrunch.com/2025/10/18/what…

WhatsApp changes its terms to bar general-purpose chatbots from its platform | TechCrunch

Meta's rationale behind this move is that WhatsApp Business API is designed for businesses serving customers rather than acting as a platform for chatbot distribution.
Ivan Mehta (TechCrunch)

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
I’m currently working on an interesting project. Last year, I met a former homeless man named Peter. He lost all his money to gambling. On the streets, he sold a street magazine, and later he started writing his own book. Today, most of his income comes from selling that book.
He wanted to create an audiobook. Since the budget was small, we did it like this: I gave him a Zoom H1N recorder. He locked himself in a relatively quiet room and gradually recorded the entire book. He sent me the raw material, which I ran through @Auphonic to remove background noise and room echo and to balance the loudness levels.
Now I just need to remove the mistakes and create the music background. It won’t be full studio quality — but honestly, I’ve heard “studio” recordings that sounded much worse than what we’re working on now.

Peter Vágner reshared this.

friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Another nice talk at @OpenAlt starts at 12:00 in some 40 minutes.
Improve the world map with @MapComplete .
Watch it at this link if you like.
vhsky.cz/w/9Hdaqab9CvbPwhk1VnD…
Or see the schedule here: talks.openalt.cz/openalt-2025/…

Konference OpenAlt 2025 – D105

Vítejte na konferenci OpenAlt 2025. 🗓️ 👍 Program a hodnocení: https://www.openalt.cz/2025/program/
VHSky
@OpenAlt @MapComplete

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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
I've just discovered Michal Hrušecký is talking about @Delta Chat on the @OpenAlt conference.
The talk is in czech.
He had a similar talk a few weeks ago:
talks.openalt.cz/openalt-2025/…

DeltaChat - konečně inovativní IM OpenAlt 2025

S IM se roztrh pytel. Klasickěmu XMPP dnes konkurují služby jako Matrix, Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp a další. Je tu však jedna služba, která v této záplavě komunikátorů vyniká - DeltaChat.
talks.openalt.cz
@Delta Chat @OpenAlt

OpenAlt reshared this.

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