The IATEFL Computer SIG

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Paul Brett
Pete MacKichan
Gary Motteram
Lesley Shield
Diane Slaouti
Geoff Taylor
Dede Teeler
truna aka j. turner
Eric Baber

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Paul's Group

1b: Producing your own material

Producing your own material is actually quite straightforward. All you need is some simple tools - software and hardware - and you're set. Please note that all the instructions here are for PC users only - that's purely because I don't know enough about Macs! If someone wants to buy me one I'd be delighted to learn all about them :-) I know for a fact that you can create recordings on a Mac, I just don't know how - sorry....

We'll stay with the two types of materials we were looking at before: files you need to download and those that can be streamed. Jumping ahead slightly, in both cases you can send these files to others via e-mail as well, so if you haven't got a clue about making a website don't worry - you don't need to.

Type 1: Downloadable files.

To create a downloadable file you will need:

  • A computer with a sound card (if you were able to hear sound in the previous task you're all set)

  • A microphone

And that's it.

Here's what you need to do:

  1. Plug your microphone into the mic-in socket on the back of your computer. Make sure it's switched on, if it's got a switch on the microphone itself or on the lead.
  2. Start the sound recorder. Here's how: Click on the Start button (bottom left of your screen), go to Programs, Accessories and then Multimedia. You should find the sound recorder there. Click on that to start it.
  3. Click on the record button and speak into your microphone - that should do it!
  4. Press the Stop button to stop the recording, and click Play to play it back.

You can save the recording by clicking on File and Save As, or if you want to erase that one and do another one, click on File and New.

If it's not receiving any input from your microphone, try this:

  • Double-click on the gold speaker-symbol in your system tray (the bottom right-hand corner of your screen, near the clock)
  • Click on Options, then Properties
  • Select Recording, and make sure "Line In" in the lower pane is ticked
  • Click OK

You'll now see the recording panel. You may need to select the Line-In box there, adjust volumes or try de-selecting other recording options; play around a bit and keep trying until it works. Sorry to be so vague, but each computer's setting is likely to be slightly different, so there's no way of giving clear instructions!

Once you have created and saved a sound recording you can listen to it again from your hard-drive or e-mail it as an attachment to other people.

If you feel the file is quite big and you want to reduce it, you can change its properties. In the sound recorder, open the file again if you've closed it, then click on File and Properties. In the area where it says "File Conversion" you can convert the file - in particular, it's the Attributes you'll want to change. For voice only, 8.000 kHz, 8 Bit, Mono is fine.

After changing the properties save it again and listen to it; you'll find the quality won't be as good anymore, but the file size will be noticeably smaller.

One limitation of the Sound Recorder is that you can only record files up to 1 minute in length. If you want to record longer files you'll need a different program - a good one which you can use for free for a limited length of time is Goldwave ( http://www.goldwave.com ).

Of course you can be more daring and experimental: if you have an audio mixing desk you can plug that into your mic-in socket on your computer, then plug all kinds of stuff into the mixer - several mics, CD players, tape players, whatever, to make for more elaborate recordings. One thing to watch out for is copyright, of course - more on that in "Distributing  Material".

Type 2: Streaming files

Again, creating streaming files is relatively straightforward, although you need an additional tool. You can send these files by e-mail as well if you're not au-fait with website design, with the advantage that files produced for streaming are generally smaller than ones produced by the Sound Recorder or Goldwave, for instance. However, to play them back the recipient also needs the relevant tool - in our example the RealPlayer - whereas if you send them a file recorded on the Sound Recorder they'll have everything they need already.

What we'll be looking at now is how to create RealAudio and RealVideo files. The main tool you'll need is the RealProducer, which, at the moment, you can download from http://www.realnetworks.com/products/producer/info.html . They keep moving it and hiding it in order to try to sell you the RealProducer Plus, but the basic, free version does exist. If that link is out of date have a hunt around the site; it's likely to be there somewhere.

Once you've downloaded and installed the RealProducer you're ready to go. Start it from Start - Programs - RealProducer, then follow the detailed Wizard. If you've got a video/webcamera attached to your computer you'll be given the option to record live video as well as audio, otherwise you'll only be able to record audio. Once you've recorded a clip you can play it back and save it, or delete it and try again. Once you're happy, save your masterpiece and e-mail it to someone!

When you've made audio and/or videofiles using both methods, why not take the quiz to see how much you remember, or go on to the next unit - Distributing material.

 

This site is maintained by Eric Baber of NetLearn Languages and Web Solutions. Please e-mail me with any comments about this site.