Advantages of audio recording

  • Easy to make
  • Audience can listen and download anywhere
  • Conversational
  • Great for longer explanations of an idea
  • More than one person can be involved in conversation to give multiple perspective

Disadvantages

  • No visuals
  • No text for note taking
  • Stopping and returning to a podcast can be challenging
  • Pacing of voice and information needs careful consideration; inflection is important
  • Practice is important to avoid um...um...um

Introducing Some Free Audio Recording Options

1. Online-voice-recorder.com requires a stand-alone or built-in microphone. This is a free online recording program.

Record: Click the red round button to begin recording, (you may be prompted to select allow access to the microphone). A wave diagram will appear to show your voice recording.

 Stop: Use the Square button to stop recording.

 Play: Use the round Play button with the trianble to listen.

Record again: Use the Record again button to record over again.

 Save: When satisfied with the recording select the Save button.

Start DownloadDownload: Use the Start Download button to save your file to your computer.

2. Vocaroo Select the microphone in the red circle to begin recording your voice, and the square button to end it. You cannot edit. You can listen to it or re-record it with the red button with the arrow. This is a good option for Chromebook.
When done, select Save & Share >> to see the options:

  • Download as an mp3 file
  • hyperlink to the recording on their site
  • generate a QR code to scan or save
  • Embed code for a web page
  • Delete trash can
  • Share to: Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Whatsapp, or Email (to yourself or teacher).

Screenshot of Vocaroo audio recording site with pixie girl

3. Audacity requires you to download the free program from Sourceforge to your device only with permission at school.

  • Special directions are provided on our Recording with Audacity page.
  • This is an excellent stand-alone multi-track audio recording and editing program only for Windows, Mac OSX, Linux and some other operating systems. It is not available on Chromebook.

4. Some additional recording options are listed in the Websites and Documents box on the right-side.

Steps:


1. Your script: Now it is time to write your own script, for your message.

2. Timing: Your target should be a recording of between 30 seconds and no more than two minutes. How will you know how many words and sentences to write in your script? You can test yourself by writing your script, and then see how long it takes you to read it comfortably (not racing through it). You could have someone (perhaps at home) time you. 

3. Practicing: Now that your script is ready, make sure you practice, practice, and practice reading it out loud so you are comfortable and not rushing or gasping to get your breath. Your goal should be to have the listener be able to understand you. When you make your recording you will want to speak into the microphone as clearly as you can and without a lot of noise in the background.

4.Self-Critique: Check your script against the qualities in the chart below. Which column would you put your script in? Try to meet your awesome qualities.

Qualities of your audio introductionpodcastintro

Information you include in your audio recording

evaluate script

 

5. Making your recording: Check with your teacher to see which software you will use to make your recording.

6. Check your audio recording: How did you do? Have a couple of friends check this chart after they listen to your recording. Find out what you can improve on. You may want to record it again before you turn it in.

Qualities of your recording audioquality

 

7. Reflections: Jot down your thoughts about this experience:

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of an audio recording to communicate a message?

​8. Share your audio recording and return to finish Quest three. Check with your teacher about where to post and share your recording.


Podcast: It is a series of audio recordings that are shared online for others to listen to and subscribe to. Some schools, classrooms, students, teachers and principals are creating podcasts.

Vodcast: The same thing as a podcast, but with video, a series of media files that you can subscribe to.

Learn more about Podcasts.