Valiance Backbone for CW - VBC1.60.0 - App Store

Morse Decoder: Valiance Backbone for CW (VBC) VBC is the No. 1 Morse code decoder in the Japanese market, encompassing both paid and free categories.

This app allows you to decode Morse code using the built-in microphone of your iPhone or iPod touch. VBC utilizes the world's fastest FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) technology to detect and decode carriers. It is specifically designed to minimize false decodes from atmospheric noise, voices, or beep sounds (square or trapezoidal waves). While it will not decode vocalized "dit-dah" sounds, it offers an extremely high success rate for decoding actual transceiver signals. (Please check our videos of real DX station communications).

We believe its decoding capability surpasses that of many expensive dedicated hardware units and PC software. The carrier detection mode is highly effective, making it a truly practical tool for active hunting and pouncing in real-world radio operations.

The default settings are optimized for the best performance balance. We recommend testing it with an actual radio (800Hz tone) at a short distance using the default configuration.

Key Features:
Morse Sound Recorder & Player
Export text logs, audio data, and history via email
Timestamp and cancel stamp insertion in logs
Predictive decoding for difficult or connected Morse codes
Zero-in Tone Indicator / Shift-in Indicator
Tone frequency measurement (±5Hz)
Sound pressure measurement (dB)
Audio frequency response measurement & automatic correction
Peak search / Manual frequency setting (double-tap screen)
Automatic speed tracking / Manual speed setting (double-tap screen)
Auto Level / Auto Threshold / Manual Threshold (double-tap screen)
Noise reduction & waveform shaping via carrier detection
Japanese (Wabun) Morse support
Signal level adjustment
Input Level Over-Range Indicator When the input level exceeds the range (Over-Range), the waveform becomes distorted, leading to poor decoding accuracy. If this happens, please move your device further away from the radio. (Avoid placing the device directly on a vibrating radio; maintain a sufficient distance. The app is designed to decode accurately even from a significant distance.)Supports decoding speeds from 5 to 40 WPM

For more information and to see the app in action, please visit our YouTube channel for Real-DX videos and more:
http://goo.gl/ALXAqH
http://goo.gl/yEu3d1
http://goo.gl/7gp4yw

Note: Due to scrolling issues on the decode screen since iOS 8, we utilize the following library for text display. Our sincere thanks to the developer: SECoreTextView Created by kishikawa katsumi on 2015/03/25. Copyright (c) 2013-2015 kishikawa katsumi. All rights reserved.

Version History Morse Decoder VBC Ver. 1.60 — Update Details

1. New Features & Content
Added sample audio: Practice materials now include realistic QSO simulation audio, created with permission from the original counterpart station operator at the time.
Official iPad support: Optimized for the iPad’s larger display. Font size options have been expanded to up to four levels to improve readability.
Development support feature: Added a donation menu to support ongoing app development.

2. Usability & UI Improvements
Reworked log submission flow: The send button has been moved from the settings screen to the toolbar for quicker access.
Added a submission completion message to clearly indicate execution results.
Improved audio file selection: File list is now sorted by newest first.
Selection highlight color changed to blue for clearer visual identification.
Optimized log viewing: Improved scrolling so past logs can be reviewed smoothly even during decoding.
Increased text size on the Help screen.
RUN button visibility optimized: Displayed only when needed to streamline the layout.
Design refresh: Updated layout and design of the settings, calibration, and font size buttons.
Improved data management:
Unified recording file name and timestamp format (yyyy/MM/dd HH:mm).
Optimized log save timing to occur on email sending or draft saving (logs remain in the device EEPROM until explicitly deleted).

3. Support & Fixes for Latest Devices
Optimization for latest devices: Introduced automatic layout calculation to maximize display area on newer iPhones without a Home button and with a notch (camera area).
App icon updates: Added icons in the latest required sizes to fix display issues on newer devices.

4. Bug Fixes
Calibration save fix: Resolved an issue where CAL1–CAL3 save destinations were misaligned, preventing CAL3 from being used.
Filter setting improvement: Fixed an issue where peak detection failed when “No filter specified” was selected. The filter is now set to an almost full-range width, enabling stable detection. 1.60.0 Feb 11 Ver 1.51.0
Changed control buttons are easy to see, even on in iPhone's dark mode. 1.51.0 02/19/2023 Ver 1.50.0
Because the bottom button is not displayed due to specification changes in iOS13-14, added page maximization setting. 1.50.0 02/07/2023 Ver 1.40.04

Bugfix: On iOS 10.*, every apps need message of using-microphone. I added that message.

Ver 1.40
* You are able to send your recorded-audio-files by e-mail (large-volume mail server such as iCloud Drop Mail).
* You are able to send your text-log by e-mail.
* Carrier Detect processing is able to highly precise decoding without noise. (New carrier detection system)
* New-synchronize-system are able to improve precision.
* After telephone call, the VBC can be resumed to recording or decoding by automatically.
* Calibration mode is changed to be flat by setting default button.
* SECoreTextView was changed to v0.8.5.
Created by kishikawa katsumi on 2015/03/25.
Copyright (c) 2013-2015 kishikawa katsumi. All rights reserved.

bugfix
* Carrier detection judgement is not carrier, but it is indicate blank only.
* Only first installing default setting is not correct.
(A new synchronization system wasn't functioning.)
* Decoding center processing is corrected. The signal corrugated detection on the filter boundary was made severe.

iOS 8.0/after is available from this version. (iOS 5.1-7.* doesn't available.) 1.40.04 04/13/2017 Ver 1.40
* You are able to send your recorded-audio-files by e-mail (large-volume mail server such as iCloud Drop Mail).
* You are able to send your text-log by e-mail.
* Carrier Detect processing is able to highly precise decoding without noise. (New carrier detection system)
* New-synchronize-system are able to improve precision.
* After telephone call, the VBC can be resumed to recording or decoding by automatically.
* Calibration mode is changed to be flat by setting default button.
* SECoreTextView was changed to v0.8.5.
Created by kishikawa katsumi on 2015/03/25.
Copyright (c) 2013-2015 kishikawa katsumi. All rights reserved.

bugfix
* Carrier detection judgement is not carrier, but it is indicate blank only.
* Only first installing default setting is not correct.
(A new synchronization system wasn't functioning.)
* Decoding center processing is corrected. The signal corrugated detection on the filter boundary was made severe.

iOS 8.0/after is available from this version. (iOS 5.1-7.* doesn't available.) 1.40 04/10/2017 You need update the VBC decoder to Ver 1.31 which is on iOS 9.*
The VBC decoder 1.21 does not decode on iOS 9.*

Ver 1.31
*You can not use help, because web access API changed to able to https only on iOS9.*
Now, you can use help files. 1.31 05/31/2016 You need update the VBC decoder Ver 1.30 which is on iOS 9.*
The VBC decoder 1.21 does not decode on iOS 9.*

Ver 1.30
*Adding AGC Auto Gain Control fast-slow setting.
*Because data size of voice input API changed on iOS9.* , the VBC decorder can not decoded.
So I changed interface program. 1.30 05/10/2016 Ver 1.21
*I changed subroutine using kishikawa katsumi's PETextView for scrolling-problems on iOS8.*.
PETextView Created by kishikawa katsumi on 2013/04/20.
Copyright (c) 2013 kishikawa katsumi. All rights reserved.
*Adding PAUSE/RUN button.
The PAUSE button is suspending decoding temporarily. The RUN button is start decoding. (muku-kiri san request)
*Detaching the backlog-erase-confirmation at starting of VBC. Attaching the backlog-erase-confirmation, if long-size-backlog makes low-decoding-speed. (muku-kiri san request)
*Detaching strange character around the Frequency indicator on iOS7.*.
*The backlog, which is for e-mail, may be left bigger size if possible.
* The back-scroll buffer is limited to 2000-6000 characters (by the size of the character shape) . This buffer size will not slow down decoding-speed.
*Scrolling-position by touch is not change until new-signals-detection.
*Setting page is no space. Attaching new swipe setting pages. 1.21 12/20/2014 New Functions
- Automatic fit iPhone5 screen size.
- Audio frequency characteristic measurement function.
- Audio frequency characteristic calibration function.
Speaker's/Head phone's audio frequency characteristic calibration are able to memorized and automatic calibration audio level for decoding.
- Decoding center frequency can be set up and decoding range can be set up from the center ±125 / 250/500 Hz / all range.
- End button demiss(apple's request).
- Decoding　character can be selected capital/small letters.
- normal/dxmode -> level slider button.
- Font sizes can be selected small/mid/large sizes.
- Change tool bar design.
- Add new wpm synchronize mode.

bugfix
- Abnormal end when the continue-long-sound's frequency is changed.
- Abnormal end when the log-text is cleared. 1.2 06/25/2013 Letter-size select function added.
CW carrier detect ability enhanced.
Number recognize ability enhanced.
Space-mark-detecting continues recoding time to be long.
It makes no delay scrolling Morse code and sound wave screen that the back-scrolling 500 characters limit. All log-text could be send by e-mail.
If you did not finish by finish button, you can remain a past log.

bug-fixed)
Corresponding the memory increase bug of iOS text scrolling.
Connected-Morse-code recogunized feature's sometime makes same-letters.
Manual frequence mode do not work. 1.1 07/28/2012 1.0.0 06/27/2012