Working (Audio Recordings) with SMEs that don't have Articulate

Mar 04, 2011

Hello all,

...new to this process...

Can anyone share methods used to work with an SME when recording audio?  The SMEs will not have Articulate on their machines, but we want them to record their voices and be the presenters...I will be taking it from there.  Sitting with each SME while they record on my machine is not an option because of time/schedule constraints.  My idea at this point is to have them use the record feature in PowerPoint using a simple storyboard (where they will have written the script) and then create/sync animations, and annotations (etc.) from there.  Does this sound like the best option, or can anyone suggest a better method they have used in the past.

Much appreciation...

Vin 

13 Replies
Gerry Wasiluk

Hi!

Here's something that we presented to our internal users over a year ago.

We talked about two methods--using a web meeting tool (Global Crossing) or PowerPoint itself.

Since we presented that, the Global Crossing web tool now uses audio in the SWF, instead of a separate MP3.  For that, I'd take a an Flash audio extractor tool (like SWF-to-MP3) to extract the audio as a WAV and then use something like Audacity to chunk it out in pieces.

The PowerPoint method is probably easier.  Just make sure that if they do this, that the users never go back a slide as noted.

Shelly Cook

Bruce Graham said:

..or,

You could buy a few of these, and use this method instead, (a bit less intimidating than reording to a microphone perhaps?)

Bruce

In a pinch we've used the portable recorders with fairly good success.  They typically have lots of storage space available, so the SME can use as many takes as necessary to get it sounding the way they'd like.  However, one warning: our SMEs give the slide name or # and then record their narration (important so we can match it up to the right content slide) -- which can make editing an even more delightful task (that's sarcasm, of course.).

I'd like a course on how to take out the Audio Blairwitch -- are there any good resources that you know of on how to optimize the sound quality using Audacity?

Shelly

Vincent D

This next question will shine light on the extent to which I am a beginner... 

My assumption is that when using a portable recorder you will have one audio file that you can then edit using the audio features in Articulate...correct?  If so, does the audio feature in Articulate allow you to 'split up' the file into separate files to then import into each slide, or, do you use the one file and try to sync it all the way through?  I am hoping it is the former and not the latter.

Vin

P.S. Happy Friday!

Amanda Westendorf

One very basic way to have your SMEs record is to use the Sound Recorder option on your PC. It is located: All Programs - Accessories - Entertainment - Sound Recorder.

Pros: Very simple to use. Just click on the record button and then choose Save As and save into a file.

Cons: Not the very best quality and can only record up to 60 seconds at a time.

We have used this option in the past when having a SME record audio for us. It is a cheap, easy way to record slides (and we really don't want a slide to have more than 1 minute narration per slide anyway). The narrator just does a Save As after every slide and then we import into PPT.

Shelly Cook

Vincent D said:

This next question will shine light on the extent to which I am a beginner... 

My assumption is that when using a portable recorder you will have one audio file that you can then edit using the audio features in Articulate...correct?  If so, does the audio feature in Articulate allow you to 'split up' the file into separate files to then import into each slide, or, do you use the one file and try to sync it all the way through?  I am hoping it is the former and not the latter.

Vin

P.S. Happy Friday!


The recorder I use separates the sound files everytime the user hits a particular key.  This makes it a breeze to export.  To answer your question about Articulate - yes, you have the ability through the Audio Editor to set your slide markers into one big audio file or import separate .wav or mp3s using the Import Audio feature.  The editor is pretty basic but it does the job if you need to add silence, delete parts, increase volume, etc.

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