{"id":1772,"date":"2019-11-12T11:47:03","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T11:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.revolutionsincommunication.com\/viscomm\/?page_id=1772"},"modified":"2026-03-23T21:29:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T21:29:04","slug":"audio-project","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/revolutionsincommunication.com\/viscomm\/audio-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Audio projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

The goal of these projects<\/strong> is to learn how to create parts of a podcast or a full 3 minute or more podcast by going through the exercises.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Exercises 20 points\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>
\nUse any audio file for 5.1 – 5.2; Use an older (1920s era) file with clicks and pops for 5.3\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/strong>5.1a – File download<\/strong> – Go to the Internet Archive<\/a> and download a music file. One example: A famous Serenade for Strings in E Major<\/a> by Antonin Dvorak.\u00a0 (#2, Tempi di Valse is the most recognized).<\/p>\n

There are lots of download formats, but most listed on this page are text \/ meta information files.\u00a0 For now, just click on VBR MP3 – Variable bit rate MP3, then hover your cursor over the one you want to download, and you should see the download arrow.\u00a0 Save to your desktop.<\/p>\n

Next, create a new project in\u00a0 Audacity (or Adobe Audition) project. These instructions are written for Audacity but they can be applied to other audio workstations).\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

When you open the first window, it\u00a0 looks\u00a0 blank project. This is misleading.\u00a0 <\/span>So you have two choices:\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
      \n
    1. \u00a0 <\/span>Tracks \/ Add New \/ Multitrack Session
      \n<\/strong>Record using your microphone —\u00a0 <\/span><\/li>\n
    2. File \/ Import \/ Audio\u00a0<\/strong> Import a file — <\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Name and save your file.<\/strong> Example:\u00a0 <\/span>lastname.firstname.RadioSpot.aup3\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>\n
        \n
      1. Check that the saved file path is easy to locate\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Select \u201cNone\u201d for template.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Set <\/span>sample rate<\/b> to \u201c<\/span>44100<\/b>\u201d (44.1khz) and <\/span>Bit Depth<\/b> to<\/span> 24<\/b>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\n
          \n
        1. A higher bit depth (dynamic range) will affect the quality more than the sample rate. Record at 44.1 khz to keep file size manageable, and to integrate smoothly with many files downloaded from Freesound and other websites.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
        2. Set Master to Stereo\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          5.1b – Basic editin<\/strong>g — Use the I beam select tool to highlight a 30 second portion of the file to save and discard the rest. Then duck (reduce the volume) at the beginning and end of the file to allow a voice-over intro.<\/p>\n

          Then add a voice track.<\/p>\n

          5.1c – Filtering<\/strong> — Remove clicks and pops in an old audio file\u00a0 (Such as this Dvorak Serenade in E Major<\/a>)<\/p>\n

          See this Audacity Noise Reduction tutorial<\/a>, and especially the section on removing clicks and pop<\/a>s.\u00a0 \u00a0You can also try using the high shelf filter (new in Audacity 3..3).<\/p>\n

          5.1d – Effects<\/strong> – Download and open something short (for example, this clip from Dvorak’s New World Symphony<\/a>.)\u00a0 Try the various sound effects, and then undo each in turn.\u00a0 One fascinating effect is the Effect \/ Pitch and Tempo \/ Paulstretch.\u00a0 It is named for Octavian Paul.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

          5.1e –\u00a0 File management<\/strong> – Open your mp3 and save the file as an audacity project (aup3).\u00a0 Export to m4a (ACC), mp3 or wav formats.\u00a0 (Intro to Audacity Editing<\/a>).<\/p>\n

          Web placement –<\/strong>– Upload to \u00a0soundcloud.com (you can sign up for a free but limited account) or YouTube. Once the audio file is uploaded, open your\u00a0 WordPress.com page and look for the “Add Media” function.\u00a0 You have to click on the little black box with the white cross.\u00a0 You may see Soundcloud or YouTube in the “Add Media” box,\u00a0 but not Audio.com (yet).\u00a0 If you dont see them in the small window, click through to a larger window or search for them.\u00a0 \u00a0Now copy and paste the URL from your Soundcloud or YouTube\u00a0 page into the Add Media dialogue box.<\/p>\n

          5.2 Podcast Intro<\/strong> (50 points):\u00a0 Create a 15 second podcast intro using your voice along with public domain sound effects and music. You’ll export the .mp3 or .m4a\u00a0 \u00a0files, then upload to YouTube,\u00a0 Soundcloud or some other streaming server, then embed \/ display on your portfolio site.\u00a0 \u00a0 For example:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n