Digital Audio
How can I create digital audio recordings of my students playing instruments?
How can I make a digital audio recording of student work for inclusion in their electronic portfolio?
What free or inexpensive software is available for manipulating sound?
Sound is an easy, yet powerful way to add multimedia elements to any project.
Consider the following ways you can use digital sound:
- Podcasts
- Flash Projects
- PowerPoint Presentations
- Word Documents
Digital Audio
Digital audio are sounds that are stored on an electronic device such as a CD, DVD, hard drive, or MP3 player. Sounds can be recorded on any computer using a microphone.
Downloading Audio from the Web
Digital audio can also be found on the Internet and downloaded or streamed. Downloaded audio is copied from a remote web server and played on the computer's hard drive. Streamed audio is also downloaded, but only temporarily stored on the computer while it is playing.
Streaming audio is not permanently stored on your hard drive. You must be online to listen to the sound. In addition, since it's not stored on your hard drive, it can't be edited. If you wish to use a segment of streaming audio in your multimedia project, you will need software that records (or rips) the sound. The words capturing, recording, downloading, saving, and ripping are all used to describe copying audio off the web.
Before you consider saving and editing streaming audio, you need to be certain that you have permission. Some websites specifically state that streamed media may not be saved on your hard drive. Others indicate that the sounds may not be reused or repurposed.
Many free and shareware software is available for recording/ripping streaming media. Go to All Streaming Media for a nice chart of the available software and reviews.
Audio Listening Software
Use the following software to play digital audio.
- QuickTime
- RealPlayer
- Windows Media Player (Windows) (Mac)
Windows Sound Recording Software
Use the following software to record any sound produced by your Windows system including live input or microphone.
- Audacity: Free Audio Editor and Recorder (Open Source) **
- Freecorder by Applian (Shareware)
Can record from microphone, line-in inputs, speakers, or Skype calls - HarddiskOgg (Freeware)
- Power Record from Blaze Audio ($29; Trial)
- iSound (link downloads software) (Shareware)
Use the following software to record streaming (RealAudio, WIndowsMedia, QuickTime, Flash, MP3, MIDI) sounds on your Windows system.
- Replay by Applian
- Replay Music ($49; Shareware; Free to try)
- Replay Radio ($49; Sharware; Free to try)
- All Streaming Media - links to many options
Use the following software to edit sound recordings.
- Sound Companion 2.0 ($59.95; Trial) - Designed for Kids
Convert CDs to .wav; Convert MP3 to .wav; edit sounds
Macintosh Sound Recording Software
Use the following software to record any sound produced by your Mac OSX including live input or microphone.
- Audacity: Free Audio Editor and Recorder (Open Source) **
- Audio Companion ($24.95)
- Audio Express ($19.95, Trial Available)
- Audio Hijack ($16.00) **
- Sound Studio ($79.95, Trial Available)
- Wiretap Pro 1.1.4 ($19.00) **
- Audio Recorders - links to many more options
Use the following software to record streaming (RealAudio, WIndowsMedia, QuickTime, Flash, MP3, MIDI) sounds on your Mac.
- iRecordMusic from Bitcartel ($20; Shareware version records 15 min at a time) - Mac OSX
Records Internet audio as MP3, AAC, AIFF - All Streaming Media - links to many options
Use the following software to edit sound recordings.
- Sound Companion 2.0 ($59.95; Trial) - Designed for Kids
Convert CDs to .wav; Convert MP3 to .wav; edit sounds
Record It
Download one of the suggested software programs.
Record yourself talking, singing, or making great noises.
Integrate this recording into other software such as a web development tool, PowerPoint, or Word.