This workshop focuses on the technical and content elements of editing audio files. In it, you will produce a clean, edited version of the audio clip I provide.
Your work will result in an mp3 file that you post to the Canvas Discussion forum dedicated to this workshop.
For the complete details about how to submit your work, see Submission Requirements.
This workshop continues the process of learning about audio production tools, techniques, and strategies. Like the first Working with Audio workshop, this too focuses on tools & strategies for refining an audio recording. You do not yet need to record anything. That will happen for the first time during Working with Audio, Part 3. However, the editing processes emphasized here are fundamental to producing good quality audio.
This workshop experience begins with a video demonstration within which I show you how to refine an audio file to produce a monolog that feels authentically human but professional. This is particularly valuable for podcasting. In the video, I work in Adobe Audition on my Mac computer. Although your machine and software version may look a little different, the editing strategies I demonstrate are universal to professional-grade audio editing packages. Thus, even if you are using a different tool to complete the work, watch the video to see which editing strategies are highlighted.
As you work to build a toolkit for audio production during this course, you'll likely wonder what smart tools are available to do this work. There are a few available, and they offer editing solutions for challenges that are difficult to master (e.g., repairing files with nasty sonic anomalies, leveling audio from sources of different base quality). However, the basic editing necessary to make a podcast sound professional grade are a particular weak point for even the best AI-enhanced audio editing packages. I have tested several extensively, and none are capable of results equal to what I can produce through my own effort. That said, I encourage you to focus for now on learning how the tools work, and what makes a good audio edit. With that knowledge, you can later make your own judgments about when and how to implement AI into your audio process.
This workshop requires you to edit an audio file that I have recorded that is not cleanly edited. The clip includes instructions, awkward pauses, sounds that should not remain in the final version, and that is characterized by a bit of hiss. Your task is to produce a clean, coherent final version of the recording.
Note that I have provided a video that demonstrates some refined audio editing strategies. This supplements the material that I provided in support of your first workshop about Working with Audio. That said, it remains essential that you engage in curating your own list of best content and content providers for audio work and podcasting.
Review the two files I provided to support this workshop. Although you may be tempted to skip my discussion of editing strategies, I cover things that may not appear in the videos you have already seen. I contextualize those strategies in production, as well.
The work for this assignment is relatively straightforward. It requires that you complete the following tasks.
When you save your file for submission, use the filename YourLastName-WorkingWithAudio2.mp3.
Post your audio file to the forum dedicated to this workshop on Canvas Discussions with a brief introduction where you identify the music you incorporated. Attach your edited workshop mp3 your post.
This section describes the standards by which your work will be evaluated for this workshop. Attend carefully to these details. If you do so, you will earn full credit for the workshop.
There are 50 possible points for this workshop. I will award points according to this standard.
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