Digital Audio / Sound — An Underutilized Medium Integrating Technology into the Curriculum © 2004 Jim Lockard

Digital Audio Agenda  Digital Audio Concepts –What’s it all about  Creating Audio –Equipment  Demos and practice time –Best way to appreciate  More technical details

Audio Concepts  How sound works  Analog vs digital

Audio Concepts  How sound works  Analog vs digital  Familiar digital audio types –Computer sound –CDs

Digital Audio File Types Types & Their Characteristics  CDA (native audio CD files)  WAV (CD quality to much less)  MP3 (range of quality choices)  WMA (MS competitor of mp3)  AU  AIFF  MIDI (totally different)  Others?

Creating Digital Audio - 1  Hardware needs –“Card” standard for years (= computer audio) Highly variable qualityHighly variable quality – Add microphone ($5 up) – Add cables ($4 each, may need only one)  Basic Principle – Connect “OUT” to “IN”

Windows Audio Jacks  Inputs (typical) – External MicMic Line (recent Macs lack)Line (recent Macs lack) –Interchangeable Card –Integrated

Mac Audio Jacks  Hardware needs –“Card” standard; add mic, cables  iMac Example  Tower example

Audio Hardware  Hardware needs (OUT to IN) –“Card” standard; add mic, cables  Typical PCs – Internal Optical drive wired to sound cardOptical drive wired to sound card

Dell hook-ups for audio  Look at YOUR computer – Is the headset connected correctly? Speakers (out) Mic (in) Line (in)

Creating Digital Audio - 2  Hardware needs  Software to record / edit –Sound Recorder (standard) –MusicMatch Jukebox (free, no edits) –Sound Forge, et al. – sophisticated  Software / Hardware to create – SmartSound – MIDI

Windows Audio Basics  Mixer(s) – Determine selected input / output “device” – Often unfamiliar – Can be multiple!  #1 = Windows Volume Control

Setting Up to Record Demo  Volume Control –System Tray icon? –Start > Programs > Multimedia (lab) –Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment (office / home)  Shows PLAYBACK only at first –Mute mic, but not others  Options > Properties > Recording –Choose inputs to display –Select one to be used

Sound Recorder Demo Limited duration, but often adequate Demo w/o adjustments Record & Save

Sound Recorder Record Options affect quality Demo

Windows Media Player 8/9 Has “ripping” capabilities No editing

MusicMatch Jukebox Freeware Demo For producing longer WAVs, MP3s, & some limited format conversion Also plays your audio CDs & can tap web CDDB Available on BB

Editing Sound Files with Sound Recorder What’s the point? What about that time limit?

Sound Recorder Record Options that affect quality Editing Getting just what you want Getting just what you want “Special effects” “Special effects” Handout on BB

Digital Audio – Part 2

Digital Audio -1  CDs –Advantages? –Disadvantages?  Computer sound files – Advantages? – Disadvantages?

Digital Audio CD-1  Advantages of CDs – Quality OriginalOriginal DubsDubs – Create own combos – Playing time (max = ?? min) – Transportable – Durable

Digital Audio CD-2  Disadvantages of CDs – Playing time (capacity) ? – “Dubbing” requirements Most newer computers canMost newer computers can CD copiers unnecessaryCD copiers unnecessary – Cost of commercial Are you being ripped off??Are you being ripped off?? –Other?

Digital Audio Files-1  Advantages of Computer Sound – Editable – use just what YOU want – Distributable (= files) – Convertible among formats Suit to application / needSuit to application / need – Quality choices available Affect file sizeAffect file size Significance?Significance? – Lots on the web!

Finding and Downloading Audio

Sample Audio Resources  wavcentral.com (nice variety) wavcentral.com  allwavs.com (some very BAD stuff, too) allwavs.com  The Daily Wav (movie & TV clips) The Daily Wav The Daily Wav  Search for audio files (wav, mp3) Audio Software Companies  syntrillium.com (Cool Edit) syntrillium.com  goldwave.com (Goldwave) goldwave.com  sonicfoundry.com (Sound Forge) sonicfoundry.com  sonicdesktop.com (Smart Sound) sonicdesktop.com

Digital Audio Files-2  Disadvantages of Computer Sound – Lack of familiarity / experience – Play may require computer (or format conversion) – File size 10MB/min for CD quality10MB/min for CD quality Must compress to reduceMust compress to reduce

Creating Digital Audio - 3 Factors you control  Recording Volume – Too little = ? – Too much = ?  Recording quality by method – Mic vs “patch cord”  Audio file type – Choices vary by software

Creating Digital Audio - 4 Factors you control  Quality via Bits & Sampling Rate –CD = 16-bit, 44.1kHz –Radio (FM) = 8-bit, 22kHz –Telephone = 8-bit,11kHz  Quality via “Format” = Codec –Many possibilities within type –Compression / Decompression –Experiment!

Sound Forge One of the lowest cost “full-featured” audio tools

SmartSound Demo version on BB