Learning Resources - Media 1.06

1.06 Digital Sound. Create a digitized sound.

Introduction

Digitizing sound involves recording a sound on your computer and saving it to your hard drive. Many newer computers are multimedia ready. Packaged with speakers, a microphone, a CD-ROM player, audio/video inputs and outputs, and recording software, a computer can record from many audio sources. At a minimum, you must have a microphone, an input jack for the microphone, and recording software to digitize sound.

The type of computer and recording software you are using will determine the process for digitizing sound. As a result, use the computer's manual, as well as the manual for the recording software.

No matter which software is used, when digitizing a sound you will have to decide on the following options.

  • Input Source - Microphone, External Audio, or Internal CD player.
  • File Type - Specifies the format for the file.
  • Sample Rate - Sample rates are the number of audio samples taken every second. Higher sampling rates yield better sound fidelity and larger sound files. Use lower sampling rates if you want to save disk space. If disk space is not an issue, save the sound at the highest sampling rate (44.100 kHz the standard compact disc audio rate) and then lower the sampling rate, balancing sound quality and file size, in order to meet the design parameters of the intended use.
  • Sample Sizes - Sample size determines the resolution of each sample. The most widely supported resolution is 8 bits. CD-quality sounds use 16 bits. When recording, always choose the highest sampling resolution that your hardware supports.
  • Compression Schemes - Sound compression is a mathematical way of storing the sound information in less space; it's useful for saving disk space. Since you can't apply effects to a compressed sound, it's better to record a sound uncompressed and apply effects before compressing the file.

Your Job:

  1. Use the details provided below to create a product that addresses and demonstrates mastery of this competency.
  2. Use the stepwise process listed under Your Portfolio to display the completed product in your ITSC portfolio.

    Product Details:

    • Create a short digitized sound (20 seconds or less).
    • The digitized sound is to be your own voice.
    • The sound that you create will be a personal introduction to your ITSC portfolio.
    • A link to your digitized sound must be included on the "index" page of your portfolio.

Your Portfolio:

  1. FTP your completed product for this competency to the "1media" folder within the web-based portfolio template provided.
  2. Click here to view the "Devel" page in the portfolio template.
  3. Download the "Devel" page from your ftp folder.
  4. Locate 1.06 Digital Sound on the "Devel" page.
  5. Under "1.06 Digital Sound" locate this sentence..."To view the evidence that I offer for this competency, please click here."
  6. Link the word "here" to your product.
  7. Delete the old "Devel" page in your ftp folder.
  8. Upload your revised "Devel" page.
  9. Submit the URL for your completed product in the student database.

Related Resources:

  • Reference Manual for Audio Software
    • Type of resource: Book (hard copy)
    • Source: Your personal library
    • Description: Refer to your audio software manual
  • Progressive Networks- The Home of RealAudio
    • Type of resource: Web site
    • Source: http://www.real.com/realone/?src=realaudio
    • Description: Go here to download a copy of the RealPlayer for listening to audio or viewing files of streamed video. You can also download the RealAudio Encoder software to convert .wav files to RealAudio.
  • Multimedia Tools
    • Type of resource: Web site
    • Source: http://www.abacon.com/pubspeak/deliver/webtools.html#top
    • Description: Descriptions with links to Web sites of slideshow presentation software, web tools, HTML tutorials, and multimedia tools are presented at this Web site. The descriptions of the links are very clear and thorough.
  • Index to Multimedia Information Sources
    • Type of resource: Web site
    • Source: http://viswiz.gmd.de/MultimediaInfo/
    • Description: This is "the" clearinghouse for On-line multimedia development resources. Audio, video, animation, authoring, development environments, education, publishing, broadcasting, conferencing, storage technology, and the WWW all have links to appropriate resources.
  • The Videoconferencing Atlas
    • Type of resource: Web site
    • Source: http://www.savie.com/support.html#GUIDES
    • Description: Guides, handbook, and glossaries related to video conferencing concepts.
  • For Mac OS, what applications can I use to play, convert, or edit sound files?
    • Type of resource: Web site
    • Source: http://kb.indiana.edu/data/adqn.html?cust=12620
    • Description: The Knowledge Base Web site from the Indiana State University offers a complete list of sound utilities for the Apple operating system. Included are sound players, sound converters, and sound recorders and editors. All applications are freeware or shareware.

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