Sounds Great: The Top Five Things You Need to Know for Great eLearning Audio

Online Events Archive

Online Forums 2014 - June 12, 2014

Much of the audio used in eLearning leaves a lot to be desired. Sounds and voices are often too loud, too soft, too echoey, too distorted, or too noisy! Bad audio can significantly distract from the effectiveness of an otherwise terrific eLearning module. The problem is that many eLearning developers don’t know enough about what makes audio good. The technology to produce high-quality audio is cheap and readily available, but you need some know-how.

Session participants will gain a variety of tips for capturing good voice recordings, setting of levels, removing background noise, and avoiding echo and reverberation (when you sound like you are talking from across the room). You’ll learn about different types of microphones and which types you should use. You’ll discuss microphone technique, how to make the characteristics of a microphone work for you and not against you, and tips and exercises for making your voice clear, consistent, and pleasing. You’ll examine the best times and places for recording your voice, when you should create recordings yourself, how to find other talent at no cost, and when to use professional talent. Finally, you’ll discuss how to find and when to use background music.

In the session, you will learn:

• Tips for creating great audio recordings
• What types of microphones are available and how to choose the right one for you
• How to record your voice properly to consistently sound good
• How to perform basic editing to remove unwanted noise from your recordings
• How to find and when to use background music or other sounds

Audience:
Novice-to-intermediate eLearning designers and developers. No specific skills or knowledge required.

Handout(s)

Recording

 

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