Best Practices for Recording Audio Articles

A lot of calls for content at Associated Content have been to provide an audio article. An audio article is an article read into a microphone and then loaded into an audio template with explanatory information. People with visual disabilities can click on your link and listen without having to strain to read your words. An audio article can expand your audience and provide additional ways to earn money. Many small journals also request pod feed contents. The methods involved are similar.

Tools to Create an Audio Article

My laptop came with a built in Sigma Tel High Definition Audio microphone and speakers and Microsoft Sounder Recorder, which is usually offered with the operating system. Microsoft Sound Recorder produces a audio file with a .wma extension. If your computer doesn't have a microphone, you can purchase a good quality microphone from such places as Radio Shack and Frye's Electronics. The staff at Frye's Electronics listened to my tale of woe about too much noise sounding on my recording and recommended the Plantronics as a high-end microphone with noise reduction.

Installing the Plantronics Microphone on Your PC

The Plantronics Microphone is designed to sit on your desk. You plug the microphone into one of your USB slots. Microsoft XP and Microsoft Vista will automatically identify you have a new device and set up the driver for you. When the device is set up, you will get a message telling you it is ready to use.

Using the Plantronics Microphone to Record Audio Articles

Have the microphone about 6 inches from your chin, at a slight angle. Test a sentence to see how good the sound quality is, and bring the microphone closer or further from your mouth. Have it equally spaced beneath your chin, otherwise more of the sound will go to one speaker or the other. Use the quietest room in the house and avoid having electric fans, dishwashers, washing machines, clocks, and other equipment running. You'll be surprised at all the sounds you ignore until you start doing this.

Using Control Panel to Adjust Your Settings

Adjust your speaker settings to play at about ¾ volume. When you have all of the volume turned up during recording, you can get feedback and also leave little room for your audience to adjust the sound levels on their computer. Using less volume may mean that you have to shout while recording.

Specify Microphone for Use when Making an Audio File

When I added the Plantronics Microphone to my computer, I found that using it had no effect. Then I discovered that I had to select which microphone to use. To select the microphone:

Click on Control Panel.

Click on Manage Audio Devices

Click on the recording tab. Click the device you wish to use, then save. At this point, you may also adjust the level of sound you are recording at this time by altering some of the values in the properties. I found some of them helpful but went back to the default settings when I got feedback in the recordings.

Preparing Your Text for Reading

A helpful book for giving readings and audio performances is Naked at the Podium: The Writer's Guide to Successful Readings by Peter V. T. Kahle and Melanie Workhoven. The authors provide many suggestions to aid your performance. I attended a workshop given by the authors at Pacific Northwest Writer's Association Conference and learned the following tip-mark up your text with helpful hints. Mark the emotional effect you want on your article. Show pauses, stresses, increases and decreases in volume, pronunciation guidance and explain the emotion - anger, sorrow, teasing, sneering etc. Acting classes are also helpful.

Recording Your Audio File

Have a printed copy of your text open on your computer, larger text is helpful but if you can get the entire text on your screen and not page, it is all very helpful. Paging can cause a delay while reading, so practice a few times so that you know what to expect ahead of time.

Open MS Sound Recorder. Click on the sound recorder to start recording. Then click on your text file.

Speak slowly and enunciate words, remembering to stress hard sounds like t's and d's at the end of words. Use the mark ups to ensure your audience feels involved in the story, article or poem.

Audio Articles Can Be Fun

Audio articles can be fun to record. Put a link to text for your articles in the notes section using html.