Audio 2 Part 2: Instructions

The Audio 2 assignment has two parts:

  1. Unedited interview file, and at least two different natural sound files, also unedited
  2. Edited MP3 file (below is an example of an EDITED file)

For technical work in Audacity, follow the instructions given in Modules 3 and 4 in Sakai (video tutorials, handouts, other materials).

Here are the instructions for editing the audio for Part 2 of this assignment:

Content requirements

  1. You must edit the interview file you submitted unedited for Audio 2 Part 1.
  2. The reporter's voice (your voice) must not be heard.
  3. Nat sound must be integrated smoothly into the story. At least two different nat sounds must be included. (You may use additional nat sound that you did not submit for Audio 2 Part 1.)
  4. All the nat sound must be sound you gathered yourself in conjunction with this story.
  5. Tell an interesting story.
  6. The story must make perfect sense AS IS, without any explanation accompanying it.
  7. The file must include a clear, complete self-ID (for example, "My name is Jennifer Mays, and I'm a sophomore at UF").
  8. Commit no violations of journalism ethics.

Technical requirements

  1. The only acceptable file format for this assignment is MP3.
  2. Length of MP3: 60–90 seconds
  3. The MP3 file must be mono (NOT stereo), 44.1 kHz, 128 kbps and 16-bit. These things are covered in the two handouts in Module 3.
  4. The file must contain NO distracting background noises, such as loud traffic. No noise that intereferes with the story.
  5. The file must have acceptable volume and sound clarity. No distortions.

Advice and tips

Start the story with EITHER an interesting or intriguing statement by your subject OR some evocative nat sound. (The most boring way to start is with the ID. Avoid that.)

Use the story arc as a pattern to follow. Think about the climax FIRST. What will your story build up to? When you know how you want to conclude, THEN think about how to begin.

Make sure you don't confuse the listeners at the beginning, but at the same time, you should start with something that piques their interest or arouses their curiosity.

Integrate your nat sound in ways that help keep the story moving forward. Be careful about how long you're making people listen to nat sound: A little goes a long way. Don't let listeners feel bored.

End the story with a resolution that sounds like a real ending. This includes both the story and the sound editing. A sudden cut does not sound like professional editing. A story that ends with a random comment does not sound like a professional story.

Fade-ins and fadeouts are great for nat sound (including room tone) -- but NOT for someone speaking in an interview!

Do not try to cram everything in. Edit, edit, edit -- that means cut things out!

Naming your file

The filename for this assignment must match this style:

Your last name, your first initial, an underscore, and audio2p2

For example, if your name is Maria Jones, the name of your file would be:

jonesm_audio2p2.mp3

PLEASE NOTE that it is VERY IMPORTANT in this course that you name files EXACTLY as instructed for every assignment. Failure to do so will result in zero points for assignments, because a misnamed file is a file that will be LOST.

Questions?

If you have questions about any part of this assignment, post them in the Course Questions discussion in Sakai.