Central Australian Education and Training Network

1. Central Australian Education and Training Network E-Learning Project 2007 with Bill Wade July 17, 2007

2. Digital Audio Day Plan • Introductions • Digital Audio Basics & Recording Tips • Using MP3 Recorders • Editing Audio - Audacity Lunch • Benefits of Audio Our Art, Our Place, Our Way • Blogging Skills • Reflection on blogging, podcasting, audioblogging • Uploading Audio / podcasting to our blogs Conclusions & Closure CAETN - E-Learning 2007

3. Energy Moving molecules Something we hear Vibrations in our ear Brains interpretation of a form of energy that results in vibrations in our ear Auditory memory What is Sound? Image source http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/sound/u11l1c.html viewed June 20, 2007 CAETN - E-Learning 2007

4. A Pressure Wave Longitudinal wave needs a medium Points of low (rarefaction) and high (compression) pressure How do we capture or “record it?” What is Sound? Image source http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/sound/u11l1c.html viewed June 20, 2007 CAETN - E-Learning 2007

5. Recording Begins in the 1800’s • Wax cylinders • Capturing acoustical energy and storing it on some medium for later replay. • Transduction • The conversion of one form of energy into another, e.g., acoustical into mechanical shown here. CAETN - E-Learning 2007

6. Recording - the Microphone Mics are Transducers Speakers are Transducers What we do in between – e.g., editing, adjusting, copying, pasting, uploading our audio, eventually has to be re transduced so we hear it. We need a good signal at the source of the recording or all other steps are compromised CAETN - E-Learning 2007

7. Recording - the MP3 Recorder • Built in Microphone • Records Voice and FM radio • Allows retrieval of podcasts so you can listen to programs, lectures, music “on the go.” • Let’s try ‘em out! CAETN - E-Learning 2007

8. Recording - Interviews • Review your interview with your partner • Find out more - highlight their interests in art, culture, education • Now, record a discussion, introducing each other and note any ideas either of you may have for using digital audio. CAETN - E-Learning 2007

9. About Audacity Audacity is a free, easy-to-use digital audio editor and recorder. • Record live audio. • Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs. • Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files. • Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together. • Change the speed or pitch of a recording. CAETN - E-Learning 2007

10. Editing • Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete. • Use unlimited Undo (and Redo) to go back any number of steps. • Very fast editing of large files. • Edit and mix an unlimited number of tracks. • Use the Drawing tool to alter individual sample points. • Fade the volume up or down smoothly with the Envelope tool. CAETN - E-Learning 2007

11. Edit Toolbar All of the buttons on this toolbar perform actions - and with a couple of exceptions, they're all just shortcuts of existing menu items to save you time. Cut Copy Paste Trim away the audio outside the selection Silence the selected audio Undo Redo CAETN - E-Learning 2007

12. Edit Toolbar Holding the mouse over a tool will show a "tooltip" in case you forget which one is which. Zoom In Zoom Out Fit selection in window - zooms until the selection just fits inside the window. Fit project in window - zooms until all of the audio just fits inside the window. CAETN - E-Learning 2007

13. Splitting / Duplicating • Split - Moves the selected region into its own track or tracks, replacing the affected portion of the original track with silence. • Duplicate - Makes a copy of all or part of a track or set of tracks into new tracks. See the figure below: CAETN - E-Learning 2007

14. Audacity – Main Screen Shot CAETN - E-Learning 2007

15. Import and Export with Audacity Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings. Export your recordings in several common file formats. • Import and export WAV, AIFF, AU, and Ogg Vorbis files. • Import MPEG audio (including MP2 and MP3 files) with libmad. • Export MP3s with the optional LAME encoder library. • Create WAV or AIFF files suitable for burning to CD. • Import and export all file formats supported by libsndfile. • Open raw (headerless) audio files using the “Import Raw” command. • Note: Audacity does not currently support WMA, AAC, or most other proprietary or restricted file formats. CAETN - E-Learning 2007

16. Recording in Audacity CAETN - E-Learning 2007

17. Recording in Audacity Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize recordings from cassette tapes, vinyl records, or minidiscs. With some sound cards, it can also capture streaming audio. • Record from microphone, line input, or other sources. • Dub over existing tracks to create multi-track recordings. • Record up to 16 channels at once (requires multi-channel hardware). • Level meters can monitor volume levels before, during, and after recording. CAETN - E-Learning 2007

18. Removing Background Noise • Get Noise Profile • 2-3 seconds noise only • Select Audio to Filter • Use Slider to Select How much noise to filter out • Preview until desired amount is achieved • Choose Remove Noise CAETN - E-Learning 2007

19. Other E-learning Technologies • Digital Cameras • The Ipod Craze • MP3 Recorders • Mobile Technology • Digital Video • Other Technologies CAETN - E-Learning 2007

20. After Lunch … Digital Audio Blogs/Podcasting

21. What is a blog? A blog is a web page Frequently updated posts that are arranged chronologically The content and purposes of blogs varies greatly Blog posts are like instant messages to the web. An Example http://trainingforchange.blogspot.com/ http://tfctryouts.blogspot.com/ Many blogs are personal, "what's on my mind" type musings. Others are collaborative efforts based on a specific topic or area of mutual interest. Some blogs are for play. Some are for work. Some are both. Blogging 101 CAETN - E-Learning 2007

22. Excellentteam/department/company/family communication tools. They help small groups communicate in a way that is simpler and easier to follow than email or discussion forums. Use a private blog on an intranet to allow team members to post related links, files, quotes, or commentary. Set up a family blog where relatives can share personal news. A blog can help keep everyone in the loop, promote cohesiveness and group culture, and provide an informal "voice" of a project or department to outsiders. More on Blogging Retrieved from: http://help.blogger.com CAETN - E-Learning 2007

23. Find a free Blog Hosting service like: Blogger or Blogspot Sign up for a free account Walk through templates and blog creation Create/edit your profile information Post your blog Moderate blog postings Let’s try it out! How to Start Blogging Retrieved from: http://help.blogger.com CAETN - E-Learning 2007

24. How to Start Blogging Retrieved from: http://help.blogger.com CAETN - E-Learning 2007

25. Can use your own existing email Easy one-time setup Then all your blogs (and postings) are associated with this email login Let’s all get signed in Things to notice Create posts Edit posts Invite others to post Add photos Publish audio and video casts to your blog (or another blog that you have the right to post to – thanks marcia for inviting us …. Signing in with Google CAETN - E-Learning 2007

26. Uploading our Audio / Podcasting CAETN - E-Learning 2007

27. Conclusion • Feedback from Today • Where to from here • Unanswered Questions • Next workshops? • Close CAETN - E-Learning 2007