NCH Swift Sound, Express Scribe Transcription Playback Software

We recently received an email query regarding software that can be used on Mac OS X that would playback dvf format (a Sony proprietary format for compressed voice files) audio files. Apparently, originally used to record a meeting’s conversation. The user received dvf audio files for reference that could not natively be played on any applications that shipped with Mac OS X and befuddled, in our quest to assist, we came across this freeware from, Australian-based, NCH Swift Sound.

Among the plethora of open audio formats currently in use — wav, mp3, ogg, gsm, dct, flac, au, aiff, vox and raw; and proprietary audio formats — wma, aac, atrac (.wav), ra, ram, dss, msv and dvf; Express Scribe supports most of them.

For free… [edited] “Looks like there’s no free lunch — despite the misleading claim at the NCH site (which has since been amended after inflammatory feedback from a disappointed Mac user, known only as, Simon — see comments), the Mac OS X version of Express Scribe only supports wav, mp3, aiff and dct file formats.” (Mack)

NCH Swift Sound also offers an impressive array of free Mac OS X audio-related applications, notably:

• Express Scribe (assist the transcription of audio recordings. This computer transcriber application features variable speed wave playback, foot pedal operation, file management and more);
• TRx Call Recording (record telephone calls on a phone line connected to the voice modem (or telephony card) of your computer. TRx also works as a caller number ID display system and lets you put calls on-hold) ;
• Express Dictate (computer based voice recorder that works like a dictaphone and a dock station for a portable recorder);
• RecordPad (sound recording program);
• Tone Generator (create audio tones, sweeps or noise waveforms using a Mac computer or a PocketPC handheld);
• Switch Sound Format Converter (convert many different types of audio files into mp3 or wav format and more).