Learning by Ear: Creating Sound without Fury Mary Ellen Bornak [email protected] John Sheridan [email protected] Bucks County Community College Newtown,

Learning by Ear:Creating Soundwithout Fury

Mary Ellen [email protected]

John [email protected]

Bucks County Community CollegeNewtown, PA

Sounding Us Out

John’s a jazz guitar

Mary Ellen’s a beach

Discussion Sound Bites:

• Sound and cognition• Sound and learning• Instructional design• Digital sound• Sound Production• Sound Workstation

Dual Cognitive Processing

Multiple input Visual, auditory

Multiple processEye, ear

Multiple paths

Dual Process Learning

Single Memory Process Visual working memory

(Animation and text)

Dual Memory ProcessVisual plus auditory memory

(Animation, text, and sound)

Result: Out-Performance Retention, recognition, transfer

Audio Listening Skills

Listening skills help students:

• Identify main ideas• Recall details• Sequence events• Draw conclusions• Identify perspectives• Predict outcomes

Auditory Stimulation

• Transfers to reading skills• Results in more reflection• Utilizes familiar brain paths

Captures imagination, drama,

Audio Demonstrations

Renowned speakers, leaders model:Oral clarity, style, coherence, expression,

rhetorical devices, strategies

Instructional StrategiesReal life aspect

News broadcasts, interviews

InstructionExplain assignments

Teacher presencePenn’s Prof. Bill Bernerdemonstrates expertise

http://mediamogul.seas.upenn.edu:8080/ramgen/physics_lab/real/reflectionrefraction.rm

Instructional Strategies• Memory Aid

Rhythm and sound

Photo, text and sound

Language class

StorytellingEffective teaching

Experiential literature

• Richness of webCulture, language

http://wiredforbooks.org/carol/http://wiredforbooks.org/macbeth/

Spinal Cord Protection

By the vertebral column, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid, and vertebral ligaments.

Audio Teacher Presence

Adding Narration to Slides

Merlot: Charles Ansorge LTA

PowerPoint: Tutorials

Portable Station Decisions

High-end ProTools MBox

Low-end FreeTools

No XP version

Windows Recorder

IPod Audacity

Considerations:Platform

PC, Mac

Web

File formatCapture

Compression

High-End Hardware Setup

• Computer

• MBox

• Condenser mic

• Low-impedence mic cable (2)

Add-On Equipment

Portable mic stand

Gooseneck mic holder

Headphones

Mic ChoiceKey to Quality Sound

Handheld mics, Imic and Lavelier

Software ChoicesSound recording

ProToolsWindows Recorder (free)Audacity (free)

Sound editingProToolsAudacity (free)

File conversionProToolsJukebox (free)

Free Recording Software

Windows Sound Recorder

Basic Mic, Free Recorder

Sound RecorderMic basics:

Quality Position

Hardware Ready to Record Laptop

• MBox • Mic• Mic Stand• Cables• Headphones

On Call:Our Portable Studio

1. Request2. Script assured3. In-office setup

Script Is Ready…NowStart with clean sound environment

Survey office noiseHeater

Air Conditioner

Telephone

Hallway noise

Interruptions

Prepare for the Worst

Unexpected Noise Grass blowing outside the window

Security guard’s squawking radio

Bad TakesDon’t stand on the cables

Plan for Retakes

Checklist Reminders• Set headphone volume• Set mic level

– Highest without clipping– Loudest passage

• Record a take– Don’t rush

• Affects quality• Talent performance

• Playback– Check for clean signal

• Do Multiple takes

Working with Pro ToolsCopy and paste

Editing Fades (in, out, cross)

Repair wave form

Mixing Effects, equalization

Compression Volume peaks

Reverb Dialogue depth

Mixing/Final Outputin Pro Tools

Automation– Mix– Mute– Effects

Set Output Levels

Final Mix Down

Audio Mastering Data

File format• AIFF, Wav, MP3 or real audio?

Sampling rate• 44.1 kHz for CD quality

Bit depth• 16-bit depth for CD quality

Bounce to disk• Mono• Stereo

From .wav to .mp3

Jukebox File Converter Interface

Show Time:

Walt’s Welcome Page

Putting Heads TogetherTo Take Home Ideas

• Share successful uses

• Ideas to cut costs

• Embed or stream?

• Equipment – high-end, low-end

• References and tutorials

• Any software/recommendations