Glyssen assists with the process of preparing an audio recording script for dramatizing Scripture. It is intended for producing publishable-quality recordings. To start a new project in Glyssen, you will need either a Digital Bible Library "text release bundle" with at least one book of Scripture that has been approved for publishing or a "live" Paratext project on your computer. Glyssen does not read plain Standard Format files. Once you have created a project and made a few basic decisions about project settings and what books to record, there are four main phases to the recording project:
It is strongly recommended that field teams work with an experienced ministry partner to ensure a successful recording project. In most cases, Faith Comes By Hearing is able to assist teams with all phases of a project. (They can even do step 1 for you, but you might find it beneficial to do it yourself or at least get involved in that.) If you are working with IMS, FCBH, or another partner, you will want to discuss the overall project plan with them before starting to use Glyssen. That will help you avoid unnecessary work.
If you have a question, suggestion, or encouragement for us or our backers, please visit our web forum. If you have a bug report, you can get that into our "to do" list directly by emailing glyssen-support_lsdev@sil.org.
Glyssen stores all its project files in the Program Data folder, under the SIL-FCBH\Glyssen directory. On a default installation of Windows, that would be here: C:\ProgramData\FCBH-SIL\Glyssen. To support multiple recording projects, versions, and languages, there will be three levels of subfolders under that folder. Back up the whole thing. If you are using Glyssen to generate empty clip files for the recording phase, the software lets you choose where to create those. Back those up also. If your project is based on a text release bundle that is in the Digital Bible Library and you have access to that, you don't need to back it up, but for the sake of convenience, you may want to. You might also want to back up any glyssenshare files (usually found in C:\ProgramData\FCBH-SIL\Glyssen\share) or exported Excel or glyssenscript files. (If you have saved these in My Documents, they will likely already be part of your normal back-up plan.)
Improvements to the data files that help Glyssen determine who is speaking where. Detects places where \pi marker is used for discourse blocks that appear to be quotes (in the absence of quotation marks). Fixed logic mistake to properly handle successive paragraphs with dialogue dashes.
Added an option when exporting to Excel to break out chapters into separate sheets.
Enhanced USX parser to correctly process "milestone" markers.
When a reference text row is selected, Paratext is notified so it can sync to that location in the text.
Added logic to ensure that block numbers in actor- and book-specific Excel exports match the numbers of those same blocks in the master file for the project.
Enhanced parser to identify "poetry" paragraphs as Scripture quotes when no other character speaks in the verses.
Changed English and Russian reference texts to use chevrons instead of curly quotes for improved visibility when scripting.
Improved reference text logic when matching to reporting clauses ("he said" blocks) to prevent duplication. English and Russian reference texts updated to match v. 101 of the FCBH New Testament Director's Guide.
Switched localization to use XLIFF format instead of TMX. More (albeit minimal) UI languages available. Translations can be done via crowdin.com.
When a block is identified as "he said", Glyssen looks for other identical blocks and aligns them automatically.
As of this version, Glyssen is now a 64-bit application and will not run on 32-bit versions of Windows.
Complete Old Testament reference text available in English.
Improved support for right-to-left text in Excel output.
The major new feature in this version of Glyssen is support for direct access to data from live Paratext 8 projects.
Added reference texts for much of the Old Testament
Glyssen can now export a script for recording using HearThis.
Added context menus useful when identifying speaking parts and aligning vernacular blocks to the reference text. (This also gives a way to add project-specific characters or deliveries without having to leave "rainbow mode".)