simple audio for journalism students: gathering, editing and posting to the web

Audio

Good audio is the basis of multimedia.

Audio

VoicesEmotion

People telling their own stories in their own words

Allows audience to imagine visuals

Audio

WHAT YOU NEED TO GATHER AUDIO:

•Digital recorder (that saves as .wav, .wma or .mp3 format)

•Headphones

•Microphone

•Cables

•Backup batteries

Getting Started with Recorder

1. Turn it on.

2. Find record, stop, playback, files etc.

3. Plug in headphones and microphone.

4. Press record.

5. Listening on your headphones.

6. Start talking. Listen for sound quality. Reposition mic.

Tips for Interviewing

•Find a quiet place.

•Record 2 min of room tone.

•Get comfortable. Make your subject comfortable.

• Ask a introductory question.

Tips for Interviewing

•Encourage the subject to answer in complete sentences by keeping your questions short and open ended.

•Avoid “yes” or “no” questions.

•Ask subject to repeat herself if necessary.

Tips for Interviewing•Do not move your hand or shake the device.

•Do not say “uh huh” or talk while you interview. Listen.

•Maintain eye contact. Listen. Nod.

•Get an ID: Name, age, occupation, location.

Tips for Interviewing•When you are done interviewing, let the recorder continue to run. Sometimes this is when you get the best stuff.

•Make sure you have your ID.

Collect Other Sounds

Room Tone

The background sound of the room. Turn on your recorder and let it run

For 2 min.

Use it to loop under your interview later.

Collect Other Sound

Sound Effects

Makes audio more vivid.

Car doors slamming. Eggs frying. Dogs barking. Birds chirping. Gavel pounding.

Dentist drilling. Etc.

Editing Audio

Simple Audio Editing Programs

GarageBand (for Macs)

Audacity (for PCs and Macs) – Free download

Editing Audio

Common Types of Audio Files You Should Be Able to Recognize

.wma (windows media audio)

.wav (uncompressed windows file)

.mp3 (most universal audio format)

.aiff (Mac and standard podcasting format)

Editing Audio

1. Plug your recorder into the USB.

2. Drag your audio file(s) onto your desktop.

3. Make a copy. Ctrl and Click. Duplicate.

4. Edit the copy, NOT the original.

Editing Audio

Switch Audio Converter

A free download

Works on both Macs and PC

Available in Boz 134

Go>Applications>Switch

Editing Audio

Switch Audio Converter

1. Go>Applications>Switch

2. Drag file in

3. Output as .aiff for Garageband

.wav for Audacity

4. Hit “Convert” button

Editing and Posting Audio

•Edit your audio to desired length•Save and Export as .mp3•Post .mp3 online•Soundcloud.com offers audio free hosting and a player that is compatible with Wordpress.com