recording and uploading/sending audio files.

[AZZenny]

I assume it's possible to make a recording (of your voice, let's say) on a CD Rom -- what program would I need?

Then part two, if I wanted to email the audio file to someone either to play on a computer or to download onto an i-pod, is that also possible? I am trying to tutor my grandson and it is becoming clear that he needs more auditory input than a phone call once or twice a week.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

You'll need a microphone for your computer (Logitechs have a good reputation) along with a program that can save the audio recording. This free program below allows you to record audio from your microphone and save it as an MP3. Once you have your saved MP3, you can email it or put it on a CD just like any other MP3.

Audio Recorder: http://www.download.com/Audio-Recorder-for-Free/3000-2168_4-10427509.html?tag=lst-1

Microphone: http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=122&name=Microphones

 

[jw7]

I think CHF gave some good links there. Obviously you need a microphone to start, but all the things you ask are possible and fairly easy.

But if you use Windows (not sure if you are or use a Mac), there is a built in sound recorder that you can start with.

Click on the Start Menu, go to "All Programs" bottom, click on Accessories-> Entertainment-> Sound Recorder.

This will let you record your voice and play it back. It also allows you to save it. So this should be stock with your computer.

The downside is that it saves it in .wav format which is really bulky. If you go with CHF's links and save it as an MP3 it will compress it to about about 25% or less of the original file size, making it much easier to email.

 

[abomb]

Audacity is free and very easy to use. You can create your own mp3s with a mic.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

 

[AZZenny]

OK, I used Audacity, and like it. Very straightforward for basic use, although it does assume more terminology-familiarity than I have to really manage recording well. So I made a 12-minute clip of spoken audio, got it ready to export and ready to send off -- and even with high-speed, it was going to take fo-rever to upload (like 30 min) and on the other end, I'm sure, as much to download.

We're dealing with ADHD on my end and zero patience (roll eyes, rock from one foot to the other, grrrr...), and we're dealing with a 13-year-old who, much as he may like the idea of this learning project, has the patience and attention-span of a... well, a typical 13-year-old boy. I have a hard time seeing this working as a 2-3 time a week quick lesson or quiz if we have to kill 30 min on each end every time.

So what is either the quickest way to transmit an MP3, or is there a place to upload it and he can download it that's faster than emailing? I mean, if I go to i-tunes or something, it doesn't take 30 minutes to download a 10-12 minute chunk of music. Is spoken word slower for some reason? If I cut it into 5-minute chunks, would it make a big difference (i.e., 2 five-min pieces rather than one ten minute?) Also, I am leaving silences so he can listen to and repeat back the phrases and answer the questions, but if I cut that out and let him pause it as needed (not quite as good, since the more pre-packaged this is, the more likely to be used) I bet it would cut the length of the clip by 25-35%. Somehow I thought 'no sound = no bytes' but probably naive, hunh?

Thank you guys in advance for your help.

Oh -- and super-fine veracity isn't necessary, as long as it's clearly audible, and doesn't mess with inflection too much. It's just a seat-of-the-pants language practice. "I like cheescake. Is there any cheesecake? Is it chocolate, or lemon? Do you want cheesecake, too?" etc.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

OK, I used Audacity, and like it. Very straightforward for basic use, although it does assume more terminology-familiarity than I have to really manage recording well. So I made a 12-minute clip of spoken audio, got it ready to export and ready to send off -- and even with high-speed, it was going to take fo-rever to upload (like 30 min) and on the other end, I'm sure, as much to download.

We're dealing with ADHD on my end and zero patience (roll eyes, rock from one foot to the other, grrrr...), and we're dealing with a 13-year-old who, much as he may like the idea of this learning project, has the patience and attention-span of a... well, a typical 13-year-old boy. I have a hard time seeing this working as a 2-3 time a week quick lesson or quiz if we have to kill 30 min on each end every time.

So what is either the quickest way to transmit an MP3, or is there a place to upload it and he can download it that's faster than emailing? I mean, if I go to i-tunes or something, it doesn't take 30 minutes to download a 10-12 minute chunk of music. Is spoken word slower for some reason? If I cut it into 5-minute chunks, would it make a big difference (i.e., 2 five-min pieces rather than one ten minute?) Also, I am leaving silences so he can listen to and repeat back the phrases and answer the questions, but if I cut that out and let him pause it as needed (not quite as good, since the more pre-packaged this is, the more likely to be used) I bet it would cut the length of the clip by 25-35%. Somehow I thought 'no sound = no bytes' but probably naive, hunh?

Thank you guys in advance for your help.

Oh -- and super-fine veracity isn't necessary, as long as it's clearly audible, and doesn't mess with inflection too much. It's just a seat-of-the-pants language practice. "I like cheescake. Is there any cheesecake? Is it chocolate, or lemon? Do you want cheesecake, too?" etc.

Maybe abomb can correct me if I am wrong, but it doesn't look like Audacity supports creating mp3s without first getting a plugin. Did Audacity create the clip as a different kind of sound file, such as a WAV? Can you check how big and what type of a file the 12 minute sound clip ended up being? If you did create it as an mp3, can you tell what bitrate it saved it as? To find the bitrate in Audacity, you can go to Edit, then Preferences, then File Formats and it should be listed at the bottom. Spoken word should actually be smaller in size than a song. If it used 128kbps or higher for the bitrate, then it is probably overkill for spoken voice (and it giving you a bigger file than you need, meaning more time to upload or download).

Unfortunately, with a constant bitrate you are getting the same file size for each minute whether you are speaking or not. However, for spoken voice the total file size if using the mp3 format should be less than a megabyte per minute, which is definitely a manageable download with high speed internet. Also, what are you using to upload the sound clip to the recipient? 30 minutes for an upload/download is a lot longer than necessary for this kind of audio.

Sorry for being all over the place here, but theres a couple of things that could be the culprit so go ahead and ask if I said something that doesn't make sense. Your grandson is very lucky to have someone like you.

 

[Sandan]

If it was a .wav that might be a LOT bigger than an mp3.

There are bunches of freeware you can download to convert formats

 

[AZZenny]

I did download the plug-in for Audacity to make an MP3. I will check the bit rate, I just used whatever the default is. (Heck, I've never done anything like this before, so I'm flying totally blind.)

I was uploading it to my AOL email as an attachment. I do have a non-AOL email account, too -- that's also why I ask if not sending it as an attachment, but in some other manner, would be better. And if it matters at all, it's going from my pc to his Mac.

 

[Linderbee]

upload is going to take longer than download, by quite a bit, but I agree it shouldn't take that long. What is the size of the file?

 

[AZZenny]

OK, it is at 128 kbps, it's an MPEG Layer 3 Audio file, and the total file was 11.9 MB. How low a bit rate can I go? I'm going to re-record it and shorten it by half for a first run anyhow, and be more efficient with the pauses for him to repeat/answer. Better to do more often and shorter, since the goal is to get him saying and thinking the basic vocab and grammar a little bit every day.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

OK, it is at 128 kbps, it's an MPEG Layer 3 Audio file, and the total file was 11.9 MB. How low a bit rate can I go? I'm going to re-record it and shorten it by half for a first run anyhow, and be more efficient with the pauses for him to repeat/answer. Better to do more often and shorter, since the goal is to get him saying and thinking the basic vocab and grammar a little bit every day.

96kbps is roughly like FM radio quality sound, and 32kbps is about AM quality sound so you can definitely drop it from the 128kbps.

If you're still having a long wait to upload it as an attachment, you could look at www.yousendit.com. Its free to use (at least for small files like these) and a link to the file will be sent to you and the recipient so he can download it whenever convenient. It has fairly quick upload/download speeds, it took me about five or six minutes to upload a 12MB file (and it shows an upload status bar which is helpful) and less than a minute to download it, even though my high speed internet isn't all that fast.

 

[AZZenny]

OK, I set the 'bit sample rate' from 32 to 16, kept the recording to about 6 minutes, sent it as an attachment using my non AOL mail. (It still showed a bit rate of 128 -- so I guess I don't know what bit sample rate in Audacity is vs. bit rate on MP3, or how to change the export bit rate.) It uploaded in under 3 minutes. We shall see how well it downloads and listens! Much better so far. Thank you all again for the guidance.

edit -- OK, I found where to drop it from 128, so I cut it to 96.


So new Q. -- my very good 'noise-cancelling mic' that I use for voice dictation seems to be recording a fair amount of noise on Audacity. What can I do to reduce the noise (puffs and so on) and crispen the sound when I'm speaking?

 

[puckhead]

So new Q. -- my very good 'noise-cancelling mic' that I use for voice dictation seems to be recording a fair amount of noise on Audacity. What can I do to reduce the noise (puffs and so on) and crispen the sound when I'm speaking?

You could try backing off the mic a little. All the "plosive" sounds get magnified the closer your mouth is to the mic. If their is a high-pass filter you could apply to the file, that would help also.

I'm not familiar with audacity, but if their is a variable bit rate option, use that. For your situation, I think you could get away with a minumum bit rate of 8kbps and a max of 24kbps, also if you could change from stereo to mono, you could seriously drop those file sizes.