ITEC 715

ITEC 715

The Design of Multimedia Learning

Week 9

Adobe Audition, Part 2

Recall from Last Week

Normalizing

Normalizing is the process of raising the loudest sound in your recording to “digital maximum.” That is, it raises the loudest sound to the loudest possible level; if it were any louder, you’d get clipping.

At the same time, normalizing raises the volume of the rest of the recording by the same number of decibels. This results in a sound whose volume is as high as the bit-depth used will allow, without altering the recording in any other way.

Normalizing and Digital Noise Reduction1. Select the entire wave (cmd-a)2. Choose Effect -> Amplify3. Accept the defaults and hit OK to normalize

the sound (peak normalization)4. Using the Selection Tool, select a passage

that is supposed to be silent5. Choose Effect -> Noise Removal… and

press the Get Noise Profile button6. Select the entire wave (cmd-a)7. Choose Effect -> Noise Removal…8. Adjust the slider (usually toward “less”) and

use Preview until it sounds good. Then press the Noise Removal button.

Selection Tool

Noise R

emoval

Audio Production for Instructional Multimedia

Module 3: Delivering Audio to Flash and the Web

Some Background Info About the Mp3 Format



“Lossless” vs. “Lossy” in Audio EncodingWAV files are generally too big to deliver in an online instructional multimedia product. That’s why you will often want to compress your WAV original into a smaller mp3.

How does the mp3 encoding process manage to squash the size of the sound down so much?

The answer is: it throws some of the sound information away!

44.1 KHz / 16 bit mono WAV file

32 kbps mono mp3 file

5,169 KB 235 KB

The mp3 file is much smaller because it throws away some audio information.

Relative sizes of a 1 minute sound



“Lossless” vs. “Lossy” in Audio EncodingThere are two kinds of data compression: “lossless” and “lossy”.

Compression schemes like Stuffit and Zip are lossless. This means that when you uncompress a file that has been “Zipped”, you get back a file that is identical to the file you originally compressed.

But with mp3s, this is not true. Some information is lost during mp3 compression and cannot be recovered during decompression.

Lossless Compression Lossy Compression

Compress (Unix) Mp3 (audio)

Gzip (Unix) ATRAC (audio)

Stuffit (Macintosh) MPEG-2 (video)

Zip (Windows) MPEG-4 (video)

Popular compression algorithms, classified as lossless or lossy. Lossless algorithms recover an identical copy of the original file. Lossy algorithms do not.



“Lossless” vs. “Lossy” in Audio EncodingThe technical term for algorithms which have both an encoder and decoder part is codec (a somewhat bizarre contraction of “encode / decode”).

Since mp3 is a lossy codec, you do NOT want to convert your sound into the mp3 format until you are completely done editing it! If you edit an mp3 and want to save it back out as an mp3, you’ll have to run it through the mp3 encoder again, and every time you do that, you will degrade the quality of your sound.

Original 44.1 KHz / 16 bit stereo WAV file

48 kbps stereo mp3 file – 1st Generation

48 kbps stereo mp3 file – 10th Generation



Exporting Mp3s Out of Audacity


Module 2: Recording with Audacity

Exporting Mp3s from Audacity1. Choose File -> Preferences to pop up the

preferences dialog, then click on the File Formats tab.

2. Choose a Bit Rate – lower bit rates result in smaller files but worse sound quality.

3. Hit OK to save your settings.4. Choose File -> Export as Mp3… 5. Give the mp3 file a name. Hit Save, then

on the following dialog box, just accept the defaults and hit OK.

Creating Royalty-FreeMusic with GarageBand

Background Music

• Other sources of royalty-free background music include:• Additional GarageBand “Jam Packs”:

http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/jampacks/

• Royalty-free library music (do an Internet search on “royalty free music”)

• Output of other “loop editors” such as Soundtrack (Apple), Sony’s Acid (PC), and Adobe’s Audition (PC)

ITEC 715GarageBand



Audacity, Part 3: Mixing Voice-Over Narration

with Background Music

Mixing Voice and Music



Voice-Over Mixing1. Write a script and rehearse it before

recording!2. Launch Audacity3. Record and edit your voice track4. Save your work!5. With the completed voice track still

loaded, choose Project -> Import Audio to import your music track

6. Next, split your stereo music track into two mono tracks by using the drop-down menu by the track name and choosing Split Stereo Track



Voice-Over Mixing (cont.)7. Next convert each of the 2 split music

tracks into a “mono” track, again using the drop-down menu by the track name.

8. Select the two music tracks by clicking on track control area (use shift-click to select the second track).

9. Now mix these two music tracks together into a single mono track by choosing Project -> Quick Mix.

NOTE: If we were mixing two tracks that weren’t already part of a clean stereo mix, we’d want to make sure there was no clipping in the newly combined mono track.



Voice-Over Mixing (cont.)11. Use the Time Shift Tool to move the

tracks forward or backward in time.12. You can also use the Selection Tool

to highlight sections of the music track you don’t want – such as introductory passages from the beginning – and delete them using Edit -> Cut or the equivalent keyboard shortcut: cmd-x

13. While testing out ideas, you can adjust the relative levels of each track using the volume slider on the track’s left

Track Volume

Time Shift Tool



Voice-Over Mixing (cont.)14. With the voice and music track lined

up as you want them, you’re ready to start adjusting the relative volumes of the tracks by using the Envelope Tool

15. Click with the Envelope Tool to create new pivot points for the envelope curve. Drag the line to adjust volumes up or down as desired.

16. Let the music run for 5-10 seconds past the end of the narration. Use the selection tool to create a fade-out (Effects -> Fade Out) over the last 5-10 seconds. Fade the same section out twice to get a smoother curve.



Voice-Over Mixing (cont.)

17. Select everything after the fade-out on the music track and delete it

18. Save the Project file at this stage with a name ending in “-u”, then save it again with the same name, but ending in “-m” instead of “-u”. That way we’ll save our “unmixed” and “mixed” versions. If we discover problems later, we can remix without having to do all Time Shift and Envelope work again.



Voice-Over Mixing (cont.)

20. Select both tracks, then choose Project -> Quick Mix to mix the VO and music tracks into a single monophonic track.

21. Listen to the track to make sure that combining these tracks didn’t cause any clipping. If it did, undo the Quick Mix, take each track down 3 dB, and do the Mix again. You should re-normalize this final track as well.

22. Save the Project file at this stage over the file name ending in “-m”.

23. Choose File -> Export as WAV to save the WAV file.

Video in E-learning

This Week

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

•Conveying emotion

•Establishing a human connection

•Showing a visual demonstration

Weaknesses

•Difficult to edit

•Expensive to change or update

•Expensive to shoot and edit

• Digital Coach/Feedback

• Expert Perspective

• Customer Testimonial

• Demonstration

• Lecture

• Vignette

• Branched Conversation/Virtual Interaction

ITEC 715Some Common Uses

ITEC 715Digital Coach / Feedback

The Company Business ProcessThere are four major steps to the company business process. Click each step to learn more about it:

1.Research the competitive landscape

2.Estimate costs required to “beat the best”

3.Estimate the return on investment (ROI)

4.Make a “build vs. buy” decision

Back Menu NextClick each process step. Then click Next to continue.








Research the Competitive Landscape

In this step, you must determine if there are any competitors who are already engaged in the new business opportunity you see for your company. If so, you need to identify which competitor is doing the best in this market.

“Best” can be a tricky concept. Sometimes it means earning the largest gross margins. Sometimes is means capturing the largest share of the market. Be careful how you define “best” at this stage!








Estimate Costs Required to “Beat the Best”

Having identified the competitor who is doing best in this market, you next need to figure out how much it will cost your company to enter the market and beat the best player.

Some factors to consider:

•Existing brand loyalties you may have to overcome•Marketing costs•Any import duties on parts or subcomponents•Taxes and other fees








Estimate the Return on Investment (ROI)

To compute the ROI, <blah blah blah etc. etc. etc.>








Make a “Build vs. Buy” Decision

Factors to consider in making this decision include:

•Blah•Blah•Blah•Yadda•Yadda•Yadda








In this step, you must determine if there are any competitors...








Having identified the competitor who is doing best in this market, …








To compute the ROI, <blah blah blah etc. etc. etc.>…








The right way to make a build vs. buy decision is to…

ITEC 715Expert Perspective

Seeing the Solution in Different Ways

Back Menu NextClick each character to hear his perspective. Then click Next to continue.

Dr. McCoy Mr. Spock

Captain Kirk has asked Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock for advice. Each has a different perspective. Dr. McCoy offers a human, emotional point of view. Mr. Spock offers a logical, rational point of view.

Click each character to hear what he has to say. If you were in Captain Kirk’s position, who’s advice would you take?




Dr. McCoy Mr. Spock



Dr. McCoy’s Perspective




Dr. McCoy Mr. Spock



Mr. Spock’s Perspective

ITEC 715Customer Testimonial

ITEC 715Demonstration

ITEC 715Lecture

ITEC 715Vignette

ITEC 715Virtual Interaction/Branched Conversation

I can book your flight, accommodations, and rental car. Do you have a profile on file with us?

How do you respond to Hank?Yes, I have a profile on file with you.

No, I do not have a profile on file with you.

Approaches

ITEC 715Humor

ITEC 715The Genius and the Fool

Genius

Fool

Shooting Instructional Video

Top 10 Tips

1. Don’t use the built-in mic; use an external mic.

ITEC 715Tips

Microphone is far from subject Microphone is near to subject

A few feet

A few inches

2. Keep in mind the “rule of thirds” when framing your subjects.

ITEC 715Tips

3. Don’t backlight your subject.

ITEC 715Tips

Backlit Not backlit

NOTE: Using a back light (aka “hair and shoulder light”) in a three point lighting setup is fine; the “Don’t backlight” tip applies when the backlight is the only light source.

4. Watch out for shadowy eye-sockets (a frequent problem when the only source of light is directly overhead).

ITEC 715Tips

Image source: http://video.about.com/desktopvideo/Lighting--Effect-of-Direction.htm

5. You can use a cookie sheet, a windshield sun-screen, or a white posterboard to reflect light onto your subject.

ITEC 715Tips

Camera Operator

Subject

Assistant with reflective sheet: “Fill” Light

Window: “Key”

Light

6. Watch out for distracting backgrounds.

ITEC 715Tips

Are pine needles growing out of your subject’s head?

7. Arrive at the shoot with a script and a plan.

Depending on the complexity of the material you are shooting, you may need:

•A script•A shot list•A set of storyboards•A scene-by-scene list of locations, actors, and props

You may need to take continuity notes if you shoot scenes out of order or across multiple days.

ITEC 715Tips

8. Use a teleprompter (if you have access to one) if your subject needs to read from the script.

ITEC 715Tips

9. Use a tripod (unless you’re specifically aiming for a “raw news-footage” look)

ITEC 715Tips

10. Keep a log during the shoot so that you will know which takes to keep and which to “leave on the cutting room floor.”

ITEC 715Tips

In this course, you will learn how to mow your lawn using only a nail clipper and a flashlight, open your garage door while trapped in interdimensional space, and carry 500 lbs of chicken feed in an empty Coca-cola can.

To aid you in your studies, this course will include loud, random noises and…

Editing

• Overview• Editing clips• Adding titles• Exporting in the QuickTime MOV format

ITEC 715iMovie Demo

• Remove everything that’s not directly relevant to your instructional point.

• Don’t worry about jumps or discontinuities in the video (see Fog of War)—you can do a short cross-fade between clips, or place a flash of light at the edit points if you want.

ITEC 715Editing Strategies

Context and Use

ITEC 715What Else Should Be on the Page?

Dr. James Hughes is the executive director of the Institute for Emerging Ethics and Technologies (IEET). As you listen to Dr. Hughes, see if you can find the answers to the following question:

Why does Dr. Hughes think that advances in AI will require society to devise a new social contract with humanity?

When you’re ready, click to begin the video.

Click to begin the video.

• Shoot and edit a 30 second (or more) video of an expert speaking to a topic of relevance to your course.

• Turn in the edited video in either the QuickTime MOV or Flash FLV format. Also turn in the scripted page of your course on which this video would be placed. You do not have to create any media controls or actually import the video clip onto the slide yet. Just turn in the video and the slide(s) as separate entities for next week.

ITEC 715For Next Week

ITEC 715

Documents

Transcript of ITEC 715