Good audio is essential for multimedia. This document provides tips for gathering, recording, and editing audio interviews and sound effects using a digital recorder, cell phone, or computer program like GarageBand or Audacity. It discusses getting comfortable audio equipment, finding a quiet place to record, asking open-ended questions, and basic audio editing steps like converting file formats. The goal is to end up with high-quality .mp3 audio files that can be posted online.

1. Audio
Good audio is the basis of
multimedia.

2. Audio
Voices
Emotion
People telling their own stories in their
own words
Allows audience to imagine visuals

3. Audio
WHAT YOU NEED TO GATHER
AUDIO:
•Digital recorder or cell phone
•Headphones (strongly preferred)
•Microphone (optional, but best
way)
•Way to get your audio to computer
(USB, email, WiFi)

4. 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.

5. Tips for Interviewing
•Find a quiet place.
•Get comfortable. Make your subject
comfortable.
• Ask a introductory question.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Collect Other Sound
Sound Effects
Makes audio more vivid.
Car doors slamming. Eggs frying. Dogs
barking. Birds chirping. Gavel pounding.
Dentist drilling. Etc.

11. Editing Audio
Basic Audio Editing
Programs
GarageBand (for Macs)
Audacity (for PCs and Macs) –
Free download

12. Editing Audio
Common Types of Audio Files You Should Be
Able to Recognize
.wma - windows media audio
.wav - uncompressed
.aiff - Mac and standard podcasting format
.m4a -common cell phone audio file
.mp3 - most universal audio format and what
you want to post online

13. Editing Audio
1. Plug your recorder into the USB or email
to yourself.
2. Drag your audio file(s) onto your
desktop.
3. Make a copy. Ctrl and Click. Duplicate.
4. Edit the copy, NOT the original.

14. Editing Audio
Switch Audio Converter
A free download
Works on both Macs and
PC
Available in Boz 134
Go>Applications>Switch

15. Editing Audio
Switch Audio Converter
1. Go>Applications>Switch
2. Drag file in.
3. Set Output to .aiff for
Garageband or .wav for Audacity.
4. Hit “Convert” button

16. 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