All advice documents, training courses and blog entries tagged 'sound recordings'
Moving images advice tagged 'sound recordings'
Basic Guide to Videoing Groups
This document is intended for users who wish to record groups. This includes events like workshops and seminars where more than one person is speaking; for events where only one person is speaking the user should refer to the Basic Guide to Videoing Lectures.
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Audio advice tagged 'sound recordings'
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...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...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...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...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...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 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 - Project Requirements
The implications of different types of audio and video project for your choice of audio computer interface.
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...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...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...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...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...Equipping an Audio Digitisation System
This document aims to provide information needed when equipping an audio digitisation project of analogue media to a digital hard drive. This document is written with the digitisation of stereo and mono files in mind. For information regarding digitising multi-track recordings, there is a section at the end of this document with some recommendations and considerations. This document is intended to provide a guide to staff who wish to undertake digitisation projects of any scale, be it small or large.
This document is intended to be read alongside Selecting an Audio Digitisation System, which provides a variety of system specifications for differing budgets.
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...Selecting an Audio Digitisation System
This document is a discussion of some of the primary audio digitisation systems available for digitising analogue audio media. This document is intended to be of use to staff engaged in the digitisation of analogue audio, whether dealing with only a few or a few hundred tapes.
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...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...Stereo Recording Techniques
A more advanced guide to various stereo microphone techniques.
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...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...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...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...Microphone Guide
A guide to microphone characteristics, selection and care
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Cross-media advice tagged 'sound recordings'
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...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...Project Management for a Digitisation Project
This paper takes a look at the role and responsibilities of the digitisation project manager. It addresses common managerial challenges such balancing the expectations of stakeholders and ensuring the of quality of output. It is intended to be of use to the management team of time limited digitisation projects or to resource management staff planning to digitise their collection.
Read full advice document...Deciding to Digitise
This brief document takes an introductory view of pre-digitisation project considerations. It is intended to be of use to resource management staff considering the digitisation of all or part of their collection.
Read full advice document...To Outsource or to Digitise In-house?
This document is intended to inform the managers of analogue collections which have been identified for digitisation. It looks at the pros and cons of outsourcing digitisation work before contrasting these with carrying out work in-house.
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Training courses tagged 'sound recordings'
Digital Media Restoration
Analogue media deteriorates at an alarming rate and few digitisation projects can hope to retrieve great signals from aged collections. In order to archive maximum usefulness some basic digital remastering is often required. Fortunately, today’s digital tools mean we can easily remove unwanted ‘defects’ whether hisses and scratches from shellac discs or the distorted colours of old videotapes
n.b. This course covers digital restoration of audio-visual resources only. It does not cover restoration of still images
Read course description...Audio Production: Recording Lectures, Seminars, Interviews and Podcasts
This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to record and produce recordings of spoken word audio, with specific emphasis being placed upon the recording of lectures, seminars and events. You will learn the basic concepts of recording technologies and through practical exercises you will learn how to confidently apply these to practical situations. The workshop will also introduce you to ideas for delivering new media such as podcasting, and suggest methods for managing your digital recordings.
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Blog entries tagged 'sound recordings'
You are listening to…
Our new advice document Creating an Audio Ident provides information on what an ident is, desiging an ident, and how-to create an ident using Audacity software.
Read blog entry...Catch a wave - uncompressed digital audio
We’ve just published a new advice document covering uncompressed audio file formats.
Read blog entry...Everything you need to know about MP3
A new advice document looking at use and management of the popular MP3 audio format. From its suitability for use delivering audio in teaching and learning, to how to use ID3 tags to identify, catalogue and manage your MP3 resources, we look at all aspects of this most well known of sound file types.
Read blog entry...*NEW* Acoustic Treatment advice document
An overview of acoustic treatment methods and materials, and advice on identifying and meeting the acoustic needs of your room.
Read blog entry...Microphone technique screencast
A new JISC Digital Media screencast offering advice on microphone technique and choice for voice-over. Recorded for today’s online surgery.
Read blog entry...Choosing an Audio Interface - The Trilogy
Three new advice documents designed to assist you in choosing an audio interface for your computer system.
Read blog entry...On the level - audio compression and dynamics
New advice document now online, introducing the mysterious art of dynamics processing, including compression, limiting and gating.
Read blog entry...There can be only One…
New entry-level audio interface from industry heavyweights Apogee, aimed squarely at the podcaster, but boasting quality suitable for serious music usage.
Read blog entry...A little (Myna) bird told me…
... that there’s a new browser-based audio editing and mixing environment out from Aviary:
Myna - a free digital audio editor accessed entirely via the web.
Read blog entry...pd Bootcamp
Last week I attended the excellent Pure Data Bootcamp at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Read blog entry...British Library world and traditional music archive is now free online!
The British Library has just placed its entire world and traditional music sound archive online for free access.
Read blog entry...That sounds cheap
We are often being asked about where to find copyright-free sound resources online for use in teaching and learning, especially for creating new media.
Read blog entry...Sounds of the Brum-derground
The Birmingham Music Archive (BMA) is a cracking new project spearheaded by Jez Collins as a collaboration between Birmingham Central Library and Birmingham City University.
Read blog entry...New digital restoration course among autumn training dates
The keen-eyed among you will have already noticed we have just released details of our new training programme for September to December.
Read blog entry...Zoom with a view - video with an audio bias
The new Zoom Q3 audio/video recorder offers simple video, combined with high quality stereo audio capture.
Read blog entry...Pocket audio toolbox
We have a new advice document now online, looking at using your mobile phone as a portable audio recorder:
Using a Mobile Phone as an Audio Recorder
Read blog entry...*NEW* advice on recording telephone conversations
We’ve just published a new advice document about the practice and legalities of recording telephone conversations for oral history and research purposes.
Read blog entry...Hanging on the Telephone
With the rising popularity of Skype and other VOIP tools, recording calls is a great way of creating resources, for example, long distance interviews or even preparing assessment material for language courses.
Read blog entry...Voice recorders on the iPhone
First impressions of the Voice Memo function in the new v3.0 iPhone software and comparison with an equivalent existing utility.
Read blog entry...Earliest known sound recordings
Read blog entry...Demo - Apple Podcast Producer
Last week Rich Belson from Western Computer in Bristol came in to our offices to give us a demo of Apple Podcast Producer, with specific focus on its use in education. Its premise is to support the recording, uploading, file management and delivery of podcasts using audio, video and/or screen capture.
Read blog entry...Analogue isn’t dead yet…
The Tape Project is releaseing a series of recordings on 1/4 inch, reel-to-reel, 15 ips, half track, analogue tape.
Read blog entry...Gonna get myself connected
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Free loudness optimiser for spoken word
From the Conversations Network, a free and incredibly simple tool for maximising the perceived volume of your recordings, and compensating for differences in voice levels in a recorded seminar, workshop or interview.
Read blog entry...Tip - Silence the phones
You’re on a roll, you’re recording your best piece of audio ever….. and then one of your phones in the room rings, throwing you completely off. Although it seems obvious, you would be surprised at how easy it is to ruin a recording by being thrown off due to the phone ringing. Remember to turn off/silence/unplug your phones when recording. More recently this also applies to computer noises such as twitter/facebook alerts. If you hear the Microsoft Windows shutting down sound then you have probably lost your recording anyway! If you have any tips yourself, please do add them to the comments.
Read blog entry...Audio blogging on the move
A new ‘audio blogging’ service has launched which might be worth keeping an eye on.
Read blog entry...A hard day’s noise
A scientist has used Fourier analysis to try to answer one of the great questions of 20th century popular music: just what was that chord at the beginning of A Hard Day’s Night?
Read blog entry...Arrival of audio production training
It is exactly one month until the launch of the JISC Digital Media Audio Workshops, which kicks off with Audio Production: Recording Lectures, Seminars, Interviews and Podcasts.
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Pendulum Music - a location recording case study
As an accompanying piece to my installation next week of Steve Reich’s Pendulum Music, I’ve been asked to provide an ambient sound bed, which will play between the ‘performances’ of the Pendulum Music which take place over the course of a week.
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