Tips for Recording Audio

Best Practices:

• Limit audio recordings to 30 minutes
• Segment lengthy topics sub-points to record separately
• Write a script for prepared content
• Determine key points; deliver them succinctly and concisely
• Extend longevity for lecture content intended for reuse by avoiding: references to current events, dates, page numbers, the weather, etc.

Examples of Use:

• Course lecture content
• Narrate Slides (e.g., PowerPoint or Keynote)
• Guest Speakers
• Interviews
• Discussions
• Weekly communication
• Summaries of forums, assignments, blog posts, wikis, etc.
• Audio contributions to assignments or forums by students

Apps:

• Audacity (File > New > Record > Export > Export as WAV)

• Audacity Tutorials: Audacity Overview  |  Basic recording and editing  |   Linkedin-Learning - Learning Audacity
• Windows Voice Recorder
• Mac Quicktime Player (File > New Audio Recording > Record > Save or Export)
• iOS smartphone: Voice Memo App
• Android smartphone: Recorder App

Microphones

• Use an external USB microphone to record on a computer, when possible
  • e.g., Blue Snowball Mic available for checkout from the BU library
  • a microphone on a headset (even earbuds) is better than the internal mic on a computer
• Use an audio recording app to record on a smartphone (e.g., Voice Memo on iOS, Recorder App on Android)
  • The microphone on a smartphone is better than the internal mic on a computer
  • a  microphone on a headset (even earbuds) will improve the sound quality
  • an external mic can be purchased for a smartphone, which will improve the sound quality

Locations:

• Faculty may reserve the Voice Over Booth (ANC265) using this calendar link
• Bethel Podcast Studio (HC300A)

Recording Tips

• Drink water before recording to avoid mouth noises
• Silence all devices
• Keep microphone a few inches away from mouth
• Make sure audio quality and levels are good by recording a quick test and listening back to it through headphones

Tips for Recording From Home:

• Find a quiet room to record in
• Record during a quiet time of the day or night
• Avoid other voices, traffic noises, barking dogs, kitchen noises, etc.
• Mute phones and other devices with alarms or audible signals
• Select a room that has a significant amount of "softness" which will reduce echos. This includes items like:
  • carpeting
  • drapes
  • furniture upholstered with fabric
  • bedding
  • clothing
  • pillows

How to do it yourself:

Step One

• Write an outline or script
• Record a short segment and play it back to check the sound quality
• Record yourself
• Save your file as an .mp3, .m4a, or .wav

Step Two

• Choose Your Deployment Method - place in Moodle (audio files that are less than 50MB), or share via Google Drive (audio files greater than the 50MB Moodle file limit).

  • If uploading into your Moodle course: use the "File" resource, or link to the file in a label, page, assignment or forum
  • If sharing from Google Drive: use the URL resource, or link it in a label, page, assignment or forum. Upload a Google Drive File to a Moodle Forum or Online Assignment