Whether you’re recording yourself or someone else, it’s a good idea to prepare a few talking points or a short script for each piece of audio you’re planning to record. Having a few talking points or a quick script at hand will keep you focused on delivering the content.
Before you start recording every piece of audio, it’s a good idea to do a quick test recording to make sure that your audio sounds clear, and you’re recording at a good volume. When you’re done recording, listen to the clip to confirm that your audio sounds clear, you don’t sound too rushed, and the volume and background noise levels are good.
Creating high-quality audio doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment or technical know-how. And with these few audio basics and a little bit of planning, you’ll be an audio recording pro in no time!
● Find the quietest corner in the room starting with closing the door and windows. Even curtains or blinds can help to isolate the room sound so you can control what’s being recorded.
● Listen to your room with your headphones through your audio recorder. If you hear any background noise, find the source of noise and engage creative solutions to minimise it. This means turning off any noisy electronics, like fans, air conditioning, fridge, and computers if possible)
● Make a sign or let people know you’re recording so they don’t interrupt you by accident. Post a sign on the door. Something like, “QUIET PLEASE. AUDIO RECORDING IN PROGRESS” can help remind folks to quiet down.
● Try to find a spot that’s away from busy foot traffic areas where it’ll be difficult to avoid the sounds of people walking by or talking outside the door.
● Record during off-hours. Schedule your recording time for a time of day when things tend to be quieter, such as early mornings or after 5 p.m.
There are many places to find audio, video, and images online that are in the public domain, royalty-free, or Creative Commons-licensed. Here are some links below. We recommend that all participants create their own images and sound or collaborate with your local artists, friends or events where you can build strong connections with your community and create something together. We strongly believe that that will give more depth to your story.