Digital Audio / Sound —Digital Audio / Sound —An Underutilized MediumAn Underutilized Medium

Integrating Technology Integrating Technology into the Curriculuminto the Curriculum

© 2004 Jim Lockard© 2004 Jim Lockard

Digital Audio AgendaDigital Audio Agenda

Digital Audio ConceptsDigital Audio Concepts– What’s it all aboutWhat’s it all about

Creating AudioCreating Audio– EquipmentEquipment

Demos and practice timeDemos and practice time– Best way to appreciateBest way to appreciate

More technical detailsMore technical details

Audio ConceptsAudio Concepts

How sound worksHow sound works Analog vs digitalAnalog vs digital

Audio ConceptsAudio Concepts

How sound worksHow sound works Analog vs digitalAnalog vs digital

Familiar digital audio typesFamiliar digital audio types– Computer soundComputer sound– CDsCDs

Digital Audio File TypesDigital Audio File TypesTypes & Their CharacteristicsTypes & Their Characteristics CDA (native audio CD files)CDA (native audio CD files) WAV (CD quality to much less)WAV (CD quality to much less) MP3 (range of quality choices)MP3 (range of quality choices) WMA (MS competitor of mp3)WMA (MS competitor of mp3) AUAU AIFFAIFF MIDI (totally different)MIDI (totally different) Others?Others?

Creating Digital Audio - 1Creating Digital Audio - 1 Hardware needsHardware needs

– ““Card” standard for yearsCard” standard for years (= computer audio) (= computer audio)• Highly variable qualityHighly variable quality

– Add microphoneAdd microphone ($5 up) ($5 up)

– Add cables Add cables ($4 each, may need only one) ($4 each, may need only one)

Basic PrincipleBasic Principle– Connect “OUT” to “IN”Connect “OUT” to “IN”

Windows Audio JacksWindows Audio Jacks Inputs (typical)Inputs (typical)

– ExternalExternal• MicMic• Line (recent Macs lack)Line (recent Macs lack)

– Interchangeable CardInterchangeable Card

– IntegratedIntegrated

Audio HardwareAudio Hardware Hardware needs (OUT to IN)Hardware needs (OUT to IN)

– ““Card” standard; add mic, cablesCard” standard; add mic, cables

Typical PCsTypical PCs– InternalInternal

• Optical drive wired toOptical drive wired to sound card sound card

Dell hook-ups for audioDell hook-ups for audio

Look at YOUR computerLook at YOUR computer– Is the headset connected correctly?Is the headset connected correctly?

Speakers(out) Mic

(in)

Line(in)

Creating Digital Audio - 2Creating Digital Audio - 2 Hardware needsHardware needs Software to record / editSoftware to record / edit

– Sound RecorderSound Recorder (standard) (standard)– MusicMatch Jukebox MusicMatch Jukebox (free, no edits)(free, no edits)– Sound ForgeSound Forge, et al. – sophisticated, et al. – sophisticated

Software / Hardware to Software / Hardware to createcreate– SmartSoundSmartSound– MIDIMIDI

Windows Audio BasicsWindows Audio Basics Mixer(s)Mixer(s)– Determine selected input /Determine selected input / output “device” output “device”

– OftenOften unfamiliar unfamiliar– Can be multiple!Can be multiple!

#1 = Windows#1 = WindowsVolume ControlVolume Control

Setting Up to Record DemoSetting Up to Record Demo Volume ControlVolume Control

– System Tray icon?System Tray icon?– Start > Programs > Multimedia (lab)Start > Programs > Multimedia (lab)– Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment

(office / home)(office / home) Shows PLAYBACK only at firstShows PLAYBACK only at first

– Mute mic, but not othersMute mic, but not others Options > Properties > RecordingOptions > Properties > Recording

– Choose inputs to displayChoose inputs to display– Select Select oneone to be used to be used

Sound Recorder DemoSound Recorder Demo

Limited duration, Limited duration, but often adequatebut often adequate

Demo w/o adjustmentsDemo w/o adjustmentsRecord & SaveRecord & Save

Sound RecorderSound Recorder

Record Options affect qualityRecord Options affect quality

DemoDemo

Windows Media Player 8/9Windows Media Player 8/9

Has “ripping” capabilitiesHas “ripping” capabilities

No editingNo editing

MusicMatch JukeboxMusicMatch JukeboxFreeware DemoFreeware Demo

For producing longer WAVs, For producing longer WAVs, MP3s, & some limitedMP3s, & some limited

format conversionformat conversion

Also plays your audio CDsAlso plays your audio CDs& can tap web CDDB& can tap web CDDB

Available on BBAvailable on BB

Editing Sound Files Editing Sound Files with Sound Recorderwith Sound Recorder

What’s the point?What’s the point?

What about that time limit?What about that time limit?

Sound RecorderSound Recorder

Record Options that affect qualityRecord Options that affect qualityEditingEditing Getting just what you wantGetting just what you want “ “Special effects”Special effects”Handout on BBHandout on BB

Digital Audio – Part 2Digital Audio – Part 2

Digital Audio -1Digital Audio -1 CDsCDs

–Advantages?Advantages?–Disadvantages?Disadvantages?

Computer sound filesComputer sound files– Advantages?Advantages?– Disadvantages? Disadvantages?

Digital Audio CD-1Digital Audio CD-1 Advantages of CDsAdvantages of CDs

– QualityQuality• OriginalOriginal• DubsDubs

– Create own combosCreate own combos– Playing time Playing time

(max = ?? min) (max = ?? min)– TransportableTransportable– DurableDurable

Digital Audio CD-2Digital Audio CD-2 Disadvantages of CDsDisadvantages of CDs

– Playing time (capacity) ?Playing time (capacity) ?– “ “Dubbing” requirementsDubbing” requirements

• Most newer computers canMost newer computers can• CD copiers unnecessaryCD copiers unnecessary

– Cost of commercialCost of commercial• Are you being ripped off??Are you being ripped off??

– Other?Other?

Digital Audio Files-1Digital Audio Files-1 Advantages of Computer SoundAdvantages of Computer Sound

– Editable – use just what YOU wantEditable – use just what YOU want– Distributable (= files)Distributable (= files)– Convertible among formatsConvertible among formats

• Suit to application / needSuit to application / need

– Quality choices availableQuality choices available• Affect Affect file sizefile size• Significance?Significance?

– Lots on the web!Lots on the web!

Finding and Finding and Downloading AudioDownloading Audio

Sample Audio ResourcesSample Audio Resources wavcentral.comwavcentral.com (nice variety)(nice variety) allwavs.comallwavs.com (some very BAD stuff, too)(some very BAD stuff, too) The Daily WavThe Daily Wav (movie & TV clips) (movie & TV clips)

Search for audio files (wav, mp3)Search for audio files (wav, mp3)

Audio Software CompaniesAudio Software Companies syntrillium.comsyntrillium.com (Cool Edit) (Cool Edit) goldwave.comgoldwave.com (Goldwave) (Goldwave) sonicfoundry.comsonicfoundry.com (Sound Forge) (Sound Forge) sonicdesktop.comsonicdesktop.com (Smart Sound) (Smart Sound)

Digital Audio Files-2Digital Audio Files-2 Disadvantages of Disadvantages of

Computer SoundComputer Sound– Lack of familiarity / experienceLack of familiarity / experience

– Play may require computer Play may require computer (or format conversion) (or format conversion)

– File sizeFile size• 10MB/min for CD quality10MB/min for CD quality• Must compress to reduceMust compress to reduce

Creating Digital Audio - 3Creating Digital Audio - 3

Factors you controlFactors you control Recording VolumeRecording Volume

– Too little = ?Too little = ?– Too much = ?Too much = ?

Recording quality by methodRecording quality by method– Mic vs “patch cord”Mic vs “patch cord”

Audio file Audio file typetype– Choices vary by softwareChoices vary by software

Creating Digital Audio - 4Creating Digital Audio - 4Factors you controlFactors you control Quality via Bits &Quality via Bits &

Sampling Rate Sampling Rate– CD = 16-bit, 44.1kHzCD = 16-bit, 44.1kHz– Radio (FM) = 8-bit, 22kHzRadio (FM) = 8-bit, 22kHz– Telephone = 8-bit,11kHzTelephone = 8-bit,11kHz

Quality via “Format” = Quality via “Format” = CodecCodec– Many possibilities within typeMany possibilities within type– CoCompression / mpression / DecDecompressionompression– Experiment!Experiment!

Sound ForgeSound Forge

One of the lowest cost One of the lowest cost “full-featured” audio “full-featured” audio

toolstools

SmartSoundSmartSound

Demo version on BBDemo version on BB