Audio software tips for the beginner
I created this is short handout to address some of the technical issues we’ve been seeing with reporter-collected audio in the Anchorage Daily News newsroom.
Before you get started
You can improve the sound quality collected by the Olympus DS-30 recorders if you use an external mic. Remove the microphone on top of the unit to reveal the mini-jack. Connect the XLR-to-mini-jack cord to one of our Beyerdynamics mic. Use headphones! Record.
What kind of file did you record?
Conversion programs:
OK. You’re converted. Now what?
Open Soundtrack (if you’re using Audacity, Mindy McAdams at at Teaching Online Journalism has a good how-to here).
You can find your raw tracks with the Soundtrack browser, which is located to the left of the main editing screen.
The Soundtrack controls are simple: there’s a selection tool (quick key A) and a blade tool (quick key B). Like Final Cut, Soundtrack allows you to grab and move the ends of a clip to remove or add material.
Overlapping two tracks creates an automatic crossfade.
Stacking tracks layers the sound. Rename tracks by clicking to the title. Selecting the speaker button to the right of the track name will mute the track.
Click the triangle located left of the track name to display the volume envelope.
Double click on the volume levels to create an audio key frame. Click, hold and drag the key frame to adjust audio levels.
When finished editing use the “set end of song” marker (under Mark > set end of song).
When you’re ready to move on, export your final track: File > Export > Export Mix.
Putting it together in Soundslides
Open soundslides on one of the photo mac computers.
First step is to hit the “New - Create a project” button and follow the instructions.
The program itself is very easy to use. Simply drag the pictures to arrange them. Moving the bars on the timeline adjusts the timing of the pictures.
Under the Template tab, make sure the ‘show header’ box is unchecked and the ‘play automatically’ box is checked. The other boxes are optional, though I like to add captions and credits if I can.
The TEST box will open your soundslide in your web browser.
Hit EXPORT when you’re finished. A folder called ‘publish to web’ will open on your desktop. You need to rename the entire folder with a descriptive project name (you can find the publish to web folder inside your project folder).