Audio advice
Audio: Creating new digital media
This section deals with the creation of digital audio content for research, teaching and learning purposes. These technical advisory papers are targeted towards readers who will have hands-on responsibility for building new collections.
AAC Audio and the MP4 Media Format
A guide to the creation and use of AAC compressed audio resources. AAC is the successor to the popular MP3 format, and this document explains its advantages over MP3, as well as its place within the wider MPEG-4 media family.
Read full advice document...Acoustic Treatment
An illustrated introductory guide to the various methods of acoustic treatment for improving room acoustics and reducing sound transmission, and some simple methods for identifying acoustic problems.
Read full advice document...An Introduction to Digital Audio
A guide to the theory of digital audio, explaining the process of analogue to digital conversion and how sound is represented and stored in digital form.
Read full advice document...An Introduction to Using Digital Audio Software
This document provides some background information regarding digital audio production software and discusses some important precepts and explains some common terminology unique to digital audio software.
Read full advice document...Audio Feedback
This paper presents an introduction to audio feedback as a tool in teaching and learning in FE/HE. Drawing on previous research and case studies in the field, this paper discusses models of audio feedback and the potential of using audio over other methods of delivering feedback, as well as any notable drawbacks.
Read full advice document...Audio Feedback - A How-To Guide
This document provides a simple step-by-step guide to creating and embedding audio feedback using Microsoft Word 2000 and 2007, the most common format for student text works. There is also a mention of embedding audio in PDFs, which is discussed at the end of this document, with a link to the appropriate Adobe online resource.
Read full advice document...Audio Post-Production Techniques for Spoken Word
This paper is aimed at those with a low level of confidence in working with digital audio. Whereas some basic knowledge and experience is expected, the techniques and concepts adopted herein are presented for the novice. This paper intends to provide an introduction to some of the main considerations when producing digital audio after the recording stage of a spoken word project. Post-production offers a huge expanse of technical and creative capabilities where the spoken word can be fine-tuned to sound crisp and clear, blended with music, or made to sound as if it were recorded in a different physical space. This paper aims to provide simple, practical solutions to common problems faced when working with spoken word, as well as tips to enhance recordings and help you achieve the best possible result.
Read full advice document...Audio Processing - Dynamics and Compression
How compression and other forms of dynamics processing work, and how they can be used to improve the impact, clarity and subjective quality of your recordings.
[Note: In the context of audio signal processing, 'compression' has a completely different connotation to 'compression' when used to describe file compression in the computer domain. Though they share the same term the two are entirely unrelated, and should not be confused!]
Read full advice document...Audio Troubleshooting Guide
A step-by-step guide to diagnosing and rectifying some common technical problems encountered when preparing a recording system
Read full advice document...Audio via Blackboard
An overview of using Audio in Teaching and Learning, and an introductory guide to the facilities of Blackboard VLE for supporting audio-enriched content and communication.
Read full advice document...Basic Audio Editing
This document addresses some basic techniques used when editing digital audio within a DAE (Digital Audio Editor). It assumes little or no previous knowledge and experience of audio editing and offers advice on how and when to use common tools within the editing environment
Read full advice document...Basic Audio Mixing
This paper offers an introduction to the basic principles of audio mixing within digital audio software.
The principles of mono and stereo audio are summarised in this short screencast.
Read full advice document...Case Study: Good Newts / Bad Newts
A representative scenario, designed to help address common areas of interest regarding the audio and screen capture of PowerPoint presentations in lecture theatres.
Presented to us as a fictional scenario, designed to incorporate typical real-world issues and key areas of interest.
Read full advice document...Choosing a Digital Audio File Format
The choice of file formats can often prove overwhelming for someone new to the world of digital audio. The aim of this document is to discuss some of the key factors that should be considered before choosing a format and suggest suitable file formats for specific applications.
Read full advice document...Choosing an Audio Interface - Project Requirements
The implications of different types of audio and video project for your choice of audio computer interface.
Read full advice document...Choosing an Audio Interface - Technical Considerations
Explanation of the various specifications quoted for computer audio interfaces, and their relevance to functionality and sound quality.
Read full advice document...Choosing an Audio Interface - Unit Specifications
A comparison of the features and specifications of some popular and suggested audio interfaces.
Read full advice document...Choosing your Digital Audio Software
It can be a difficult task to choose the right audio software for your specific project, especially if you are new to the world of digital audio. This paper discusses some of the key factors to consider when choosing audio software and provides a comparison guide to some of the most popular packages.
Read full advice document...Creating an Audio Ident
This paper discusses some of the design considerations and practicalities when using and/or creating idents for audio resources. The paper is divided into two halves - the first offers an overview of audio idents, discussing areas including when idents can be effective, and the types of sounds that can be used in idents. The second provides a how-to guide on constructing and adding idents to existing spoken word recordings using the software Audacity.
Read full advice document...Creating an Audio Podcast
An introductory guide to recording an audio podcast on a computer with a microphone and free open-source software.
This advice document will help users with little or no experience of recording audio to record their voice onto their computer using free software and simple peripherals. It then covers basic processing and editing of their recording and mastering it to a final format - in this case MP3. Simple instructions are then given for delivering this recording as a podcast through an institution's VLE and for archiving projects.
Read full advice document...Digital Equalisation
An introduction to the most common types of equaliser available within software, and equivalent purpose-built hardware units, suitable for live sound reinforcement, recording and mixing.
Read full advice document...Free Online Audio Editors
There is a wide range of both free and commercial software which you can install onto your computer to record and edit digital audio, whether for podcast or music production. But what if you don't have the ability to install software on your machine, or it isn't powerful or fast enough for the task, or there isn't enough space, or if you simply don't want to?
For simple audio editing and processing tasks there are now a few versatile audio tools which you can access online via their providers' websites, and which run on remote servers while you remotely operate their interface through your familiar web browser, and stream audio to and from them via the internet.
Read full advice document...Headphone Guide
A guide to the types of headphones available for various listening tasks, their features, strengths, weaknesses and relative merits. This guide is intended to help users choose the best type of headphones for their needs.
Read full advice document...Microphone Guide
A guide to microphone characteristics, selection and care
Read full advice document...Microphone Technique
A guide to using microphones in some of their common applications in recording. Covers good practice in setting up and connecting microphones, and includes tips on getting the best from your equipment and subject.
Read full advice document...Portable Digital Audio Recorders
A guide to choosing and using a portable digital audio recorder, covering everything from digital dictaphones to professional field recorders. If you need a self-contained device for recording audio on location, audio note taking, or for any other scenario where recording with a computer is impractical or inconvenient, this document examines the alternatives.
Read full advice document...Recording Audio Voiceovers for Teaching and Learning Materials
This paper introduces the concept of voiceover for media resources and provides information and links to technical resources to help in creating voiceover resources.
Read full advice document...Recording Skype Calls
This is a simple step-by-step ‘how to' guide to recording Skype phone calls. Skype is a free VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) software tool which allows free calls to be made over the internet. This guide assumes that you already have Skype installed and running on your computer and that your speakers/headphones and microphone are already configured to make and receive calls via Skype.
Read full advice document...Recording Telephone Conversations
Guidance on the principle, ethics and practice of recording telephone conversations for Remote Interviews and Oral History.
Read full advice document...Setting up an Audio Workspace
A guide to some of the considerations when installing a Digital Audio Workstation, and preparing and optimising the space for recording and listening.
Read full advice document...Stereo Recording Techniques
A more advanced guide to various stereo microphone techniques.
Read full advice document...The Digital Audio Software Environment
At first glance the interface of your digital audio software (DAS) can be somewhat intimidating. This document breaks down the main components of the software environment and introduce you to their functions and features.
Read full advice document...The Physical Principles of Sound
An introductory guide to the physical properties of sound and a basic introduction to the acoustics of enclosed spaces.
Read full advice document...Uncompressed Audio File Formats
This document summarises the main features of uncompressed audio file types, including WAV, AIFF and Broadcast WAV (BWF). It gives an overview of these 'raw' formats, and a simple explanation of the common options they will offer the user when creating or working with digital audio. It also looks at lossless compression tools for subsequently reducing the size of these files which will allow reconstruction of their original audio data sonically unaltered. Several sections include links to further resources covering specific relevant topics in more detail, so this is a good place to start if you want to learn more about any of these formats.
Read full advice document...USB Microphone Guide
Everything you need to know about choosing and using a USB microphone for voice recording and communication.
Read full advice document...User Guide to MP3
A guide to the creation, manipulation and use of audio flies in the popular MP3 format, including a close look at the many audio and metadata options which MP3 offers, and its use within teaching and learning.
Read full advice document...Using a Mobile Phone as an Audio Recorder
Examining the potential uses of mobile phones and other mobile devices as simple voice recording and audio blogging tools.
Read full advice document...Working with Digital Audio Files
In the physical world we learn how to interpret sounds through hearing and perception. In the digital realm sound waves are traditionally represented in graphical form. This document introduces some of the precepts helpful when beginning to work with digital audio in audio software packages.
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Related cross-media advice:
Analogue Film Types Used for Still and Moving images
This document looks at the history of photographic and movie film and how and why the film type has altered over time. The document also contains some frequently asked questions on film types and handling.
Read full advice document...Audio/Video Production: Recording Lectures, Seminars and Events
The principles and practice of location recording of sound and video for educational use.
In this paper we discuss requirements and issues to consider when recording events. We look at both sound-only and combined sound-and-vision recording. The discussion focuses on considerations applicable to any scenario the reader may encounter; for issues specific to different types of event the reader is directed to the appropriate Basic Guide.
We conclude with some example scenarios.
Read full advice document...Basic Guide to Accessibility
This paper looks at the issue of accessibility. The topic is introduced and defined and then the term 'reasonable adjustment' is explained. The advantages of digital media for accessibility are discussed, followed by sets of guidelines and a basic accessibility check that can be performed on existing documents.
Read full advice document...Basic Guide to Videoing Audiovisual Materials
This document is intended for users who wish to record teaching materials such as those used during a lecture. This includes both projected materials, materials shown on a television screen and printed materials. It covers everything the novice should need to know from the first step to the last.
Read full advice document...Burning audio CDs, video and slideshow DVDs - Mac OSX
Burning your photos or movie files to a disc sounds, on paper, like a relatively simple task, but can often turn out to be a confusing and time consuming one. Choosing the right file types and knowing which software to use is often never clear and instructions on the simplest method to create CDs and DVDs on the whole do not come pre-installed on a computer. With these things in mind, this document provides step-by-step guides and practical advice on how to create audio CDs and video DVDs using the simplest approaches on Macintosh machines (see also our guide for Windows).
Read full advice document...Burning audio CDs, video and slideshow DVDs - Windows
Burning your photos or movie files to a disc sounds, on paper, like a relatively simple task, but can often turn out to be a confusing and time consuming one. Choosing the right file types and knowing which software to use is often never clear and instructions on the simplest method to create CDs and DVDs on the whole do not come pre-installed on a computer. With these things in mind, this document provides step-by-step guides and practical advice on how to create audio CDs and video DVDs using the simplest approaches on Windows machines. (see also our guide for Mac OSX).
Read full advice document...Choosing a File Name
File naming is a vital first step for those beginning to digitise. This document examines planning and using an effective file naming system when managing digital files. This paper highlights the advantages of using the 8.3 convention and looks at some options when naming derivative, surrogate files.
Read full advice document...Copyright and Other Rights for Creating Time-based Media Resources
This advice document provides some basic information on rights issues associated with creating time-based digital media resources. By time-based we mean resources that change over time - including spoken audio, music, animation, and video - as opposed to still images or screen shots, which do not change over time. Rights issues include copyright, recording rights, moral rights and performance rights.
Read full advice document...Designing Learning Experiences
Once you scratch at the surface of producing learning materials, it quickly becomes apparent that there are many elements to their creation. An overarching theme outlined here is that of “designing the learner experience”. This introductory advice document examines the notion that building a resource is akin to the process of an architect designing a building where context is paramount.
Read full advice document...Free Online Screencasting Tools
A guide to free online services which enable you to use your internet browser to capture on-screen computer activity, along with input from peripherals like microphones and webcams, and which offer users the ability to download and/or share the resultant videos in a variety of ways and formats. This advice document will be of interest to those new to screencasting, who would like to try it out with simple tools which require no purchase or installation. Online screencast services will also interest experienced screencasters needing access to screencast tools 'in the field', and the quick publishing and sharing tools which accompany them.
Read full advice document...Introduction to Lenses
This document looks at the camera lens (stills or video) and how it contributes to the quality of the photographic image. It describes the component parts of the lens and how they contribute to the final image. The document should also help the reader to select a specific lens for a task.
Read full advice document...Light Sources for Still and Moving Images
The word photography means drawing with light, without light it is impossible to record a video or still image. So lighting whether in a classroom, office or dedicated photographic studio is an essential component in a photograph or video. The captured image is a record of the light that is emitted, reflected or absorbed by the subject. With a basic understanding of light and how it can be modified the photographer or filmmaker should be able to improve the appearance of their images. This document will look at commonly used light sources and how the user can get the most from them.
Read full advice document...Open Source and Free Software Directory
The following tables comprise a selective guide to various free and open source software tools for a variety of digital media applications.
Read full advice document...Overview of JISC Digital Media Materials for those involved in Business and Community Engagement
This guide provides an overview of the JISC Digital Media website, highlighting materials we think may be of particular use to HE/FE staff involved in business or community engagement (BCE).
Read full advice document...Preparing for an Interview
Aside from correctly addressing the technical concerns when conducting an interview, the success of a good interview also relies heavily on the interaction between the interviewer and the subject and the pre-production preparation undertaken. This document aims to provide some useful tips and thoughts to help you enhance your interviews and create a relaxed and productive conversational environment.
Read full advice document...Screencasting Workflow
An overview of all the elements involved in producing screencasts at different levels of complexity, and for a variety of educational purposes. We examine some technical tools and methods for screencast creation from the ground up, and for those already familiar with screencasting there are ideas and tips for improving quality and effectiveness.
Read full advice document...Stands and Supports for Still and Moving Images
One of the easiest ways to improve the quality of still or moving images is by using a support. Supports and stands can reduce or eliminate vibration or movement which otherwise would degrade the quality of the captured media. Supports come in all shapes and sizes: this document looks at a variety of support types including tripods, copy-stands, clamps and brackets as well as improvised solutions.
Read full advice document...The Video Enabled Digital SLR
Until very recently if you needed to shoot video you purchased a video camera and if you needed to shoot stills you bought a stills camera. However, over the last couple of years manufacturers have started to release stills SLR cameras that can also capture video. With many of the middle and higher range camera models now offering video capture we should look at this new feature and try to identify its strengths and weaknesses. This document is aimed at anyone who has or is about to purchase an SLR camera and needs to know if the video option is of use to them.
Read full advice document...Using Multimedia in a PDF
PDF files have long been used for their versatility and convenience, working well both on the web and in print. While predominantly text and image based, there is also the opportunity to use video and audio. This advice document outlines the considerations for using and embedding multimedia in PDFs.
Read full advice document...Vector Graphics Resources
The links listed here have been gathered to provide a useful collection of vector graphics resources.
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Training courses
- Advanced Techniques in Digital Image Capture
- Audio Production: Recording Lectures, Seminars, Interviews and Podcasts
- Building a Departmental Image Collection
- Colour Management
- Copyright and Digital Media
- Digital Media Restoration (Audio-Visual only)
- Digital Photography - Getting Started with your SLR
- Digital Photography - Taking Control of your SLR
- Digitising Analogue Audio
- Digitising Grooved Discs and Open Reel Audio
JISC Content provides an introduction to digital collections to help academics, students, researchers and librarians understand the wealth of resources available to them.
