Digital Audio Agenda Digital Audio Concepts  What’s it all about Creating Audio  Equipment Demos and practice time  Best way to learn = explore  Guides on class web site!

Audio — The Underused MM Asset What uses??

Audio — The Underused MM Asset Analog or Digital Analog  Means? Digital  Means?

Analog Audio LPs LPs Cassette / reel / 8 track tapes Cassette / reel / 8 track tapes Advantages of each Advantages of each   Disadvantages of each Disadvantages of each  

Analog Audio Advantages (LP, tape) Advantages (LP, tape)  Familiarity  Availability (hardware)  Easy recording (tape)  Relative Durability (tape)  Transportability  Other?

Analog Audio Disadvantages Disadvantages  Quality  Initial  Dubs (tape)  Durability (especially LPs)  Format stability  Exception (so far) = cassette  Duration (playing time)  Remember changers?  ? ? ? ?

Digital Audio CDs  Advantages?  Disadvantages? Computer sound files  Advantages?  Disadvantages?

Digital Audio - CDs Advantages of CDs Advantages of CDs  Quality  Original  Dubs  Create own combos  Playing time (max = ?? min)  Transportable  Durable

Digital Audio - CDs Disadvantages of CDs Disadvantages of CDs  Playing time (capacity) ?  Dubbing requirements  Most newer PCs can  Special copiers unnecessary  Price of commercial  Are you being ripped off??  Music downloads  Other?

Digital Audio – Computer Files Advantages of Computer Sound Advantages of Computer Sound  Editable – use only what you need  Distributable (= files)  Convertible  Match format to application  Quality choices  Affect file size  Significance?  Other?

Digital Audio – Computer Files Disadvantages of Computer Sound Disadvantages of Computer Sound  Lack of familiarity / experience  Play requires computer (or conversion to another format)  File size  Can be huge!

DA Concepts - 1 Digital Audio File Types +/- of Each Type  CDA  WAV  MP3 & WMA  AU / AIFF  MIDI  Proprietary  Others?

Digital Audio Files Types & their Characteristics CDA WAV (CD quality or less) MP3 (= mpeg layer 3) WMA AU / AIFF Proprietary Streaming (Real, et al) MIDI (totally different)

Finding and Downloading Audio The bounty of the Web

Sample Audio Resources wavcentral.com (nice variety) wavcentral.com (nice variety) wavcentral.com allwavs.com (some very BAD stuff, too) allwavs.com (some very BAD stuff, too) allwavs.com The Daily Wav (movie & TV clips, some nasty) The Daily Wav (movie & TV clips, some nasty) The Daily Wav The Daily Wav Search for audio files (wav, mp3) Search for audio files (wav, mp3) Audio Software Companies Adobe (Audition) Adobe (Audition) Adobe Goldwave (Goldwave) Goldwave (Goldwave) Goldwave Sony (Sound Forge) Sony (Sound Forge) Sony Sonicdesktop (Smart Sound) Sonicdesktop (Smart Sound) Sonicdesktop

DA Concepts - 2 Factors you control Recording Volume  Too little = ?  Too much = ? Audio file type  Choices vary by software

DA Concepts - 3 Factors you control Quality via Sampling Rate  CD = 44kHz (stereo)  Radio (FM) = 22kHz (stereo)  Telephone = 11kHz (mono) Quality via “Format” = Codec  Compression / decompression  Varying possibilities within types  Experiment!

DA Concepts - 4a Hardware needs  “Card” standard; add mic, cables Typical PCs  Internal  Optical drive wired to sound card

DA Concepts – 4b Hardware needs  “Card” standard; add mic, cables Typical PCs  Interchangeable Card  Integrated

DA Concepts – 4c Hardware needs  “Card” standard; add mic, cables iMac Example G3 example

DA Concepts - 5 Software to record / edit  Sound Recorder is standard (Win)  Limitations  Media Player (std, limits)  MusicMatch Jukebox (free)  Sound Forge, et al.  More sophisticated, flexible; buy Software / Hardware to create  SmartSound (buy)  MIDI devices

Setting Up to Record - Demo Volume Control Volume Control  System Tray icon?  Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment  Start > Programs > Multimedia in lab Shows PLAYBACK only at first Shows PLAYBACK only at first  Watch for “mute” checks Options > Properties > Recording Options > Properties > Recording  Choose inputs to display  Select one to be used

Sound Recorder Demo Mixer controls & problems Known? Multiple? Record Options that affect quality Edit Getting what you want “Special effects”

Music Match Jukebox Demo For Producing Longer WAVs, MP3s, & Limited Format Conversion

Sound Forge Demo For most flexibility and control

SmartSound Demo Create your very own music for any need- no copyright issues

Inserting Audio into PowerPoint — Demo Principle: Everything in one single folder!

Streaming Media Resources Faculty Development Faculty Development  More than you’ll need to know  Audio via RealProducer, QT, etc. www3.niu.edu/facdev/media/ presentations.htm www3.niu.edu/facdev/media/ presentations.htm www3.niu.edu/facdev/media/ presentations.htm www3.niu.edu/facdev/media/ presentations.htm