AUDIO MATERIAL

UTILIZATION OF AUDIO MEDIA FOR THE

TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESSES

 Audio is a range of sound waves that can be

heard by human ears.

 The audio media can help students who are poor

in their reading skills to get an overview without
reading the lengthy text.

 The narrative element such as storytelling,

reviews and dialogue between characters makes
the presentation more lively and interesting.
 The integration of human voice, animals, nature,
and other sound effects will be able to stimulate
the students’ sense of hearing which in turn shall
enhance learning.

 The appropriate use of background music and

sound effects makes a scenario appear more
realistic.

 Besides placing emphasis on certain idea and

concepts, it is able to create certain mood, arouse
emotion, and challenges of the students
imagination.
TYPES OF AUDIO EQUIPMENT
There are several categories of audio equipment
based on their respective function:
 Audio recording equipment.

 Output devices which enable us to listen to play

back of the audio production.
 Storage devices which keep the audio production
in the reusable format.
 Equipment or software which enables us to do
audio editing.
EQUIPMENT FOR AUDIO RECORDING
 We may use the audio cassettes and audio tape
recorder to record analog sound, or using the
computer, MP3 recorder, iPod, mobile phones,
and digital camera to record the digital audio.

 All of the above devices need a microphone to

input the audio signal into the audio recorder.
TOOLS FOR AUDIO RECORDING
Audio Format Types of recorder
required
Analogue Magnetic tape recorder

Cassette recorder

Digital computer

Digital voice recorder iPod

MP3 recorder

iPod

Mobile phone

Multifunctional digital
camera
MICROPHONE
Types of microphone Its characteristics
It is useful when the sound source is close and not too
loud.

It is suitable for recording sound which pitch is

predominantly bass or mid-range, for example, the Pop
concert or rock n roll.

It can be used to record sound produced by musical

Dynamic instrument such as the percussion, guitar and used in

microphones video camera.

The output volume is low, it is robust (tough) and its

price is relatively cheaper as compared to the other
types of microphones.
 This type of microphone is quite sensitive
and more fragile.
It is able to pick up high frequency signals
and distant sound.
It is able produces louder output.
Condenser It is suitable to be used for studio
microphones recording and for orchestra performance.

Able to pick up sound from one direction only.

Normally it receives sound signal from the front
part of the microphone.
Its pickup pattern can either be cardioids and
Hyper cardioids.
Unidirectional
It is useful when we need to eliminate the noise
microphones
from the surrounding environment.
 It can pick up sound form the
opposite direction, which is ideal
for dialogue or for meeting.

Bi-directional
microphones

It picks up sound from all direction

and is ideal when there is only one
microphone to be shared by many
speakers.

Omni directional It may also be hang from the ceiling to

microphones
receive sound signals from the singers

and the band.

Types of microphones according to its use.

It is normally used for the video camera.

Shotgun

It is attached to the body or on clothing.

Lavaliere

Ideal for studio recording and on stage

performance whereby the artists need to move
Headset about frequently form place to place.

It enables the speaker to move freely in a wider

Wireless
area.
LOUD SPEAKER
 The loud speaker (speaker) enables the audience
to hear sound playback by the audio recorder.
 There are three types of drivers in a speaker
system:
 Tweeter – The driver which produces the high
frequency sound in the stereo speaker system. It
is the smallest in size.
 Midrange –It reproduces sound in the middle
frequency.
 Woofer – It reproduces sound in low frequency
(bass). It is the biggest driver in the system.
AUDIO MIXER AND AUDIO EDITOR
 The audio mixer helps to depict the scenario and
creates the mood for a story, drama, explanation,
etc.

 For the analogue sound format, the audio mixer

combines and controls the output of various audio
signals in order to achieve the desirable sound
effects.

 Whereas in the case of digital audio, the editor

and mixer is the computer application software
which is able to remix and edit the sound file
according to one’s need and preferences.
AUDIO FILE STORAGE
 The sound file may be saved and edited
repeatedly when need arises.

 The storage devices for analogue audio format

are mainly the magnetic tape and the audio
cassettes.

 The digital audio files may be saved in the

computer hardware such as the hard discs, audio
discs, memory card, optical discs like the CDs
and DVDs.
PLANNING AND THE PREPARATION OF
AUDIO MEDIA

 The planning and preparation phase involves:

i) Identify the objectives and learning outcomes
 By referring to syllabus and standards, we can
identify the objectives and standards, scopes of the
contents, the types of learning activities, and values
which should be included in the audio presentation.
ii) Analyze the learners (or the target audience)
 Bear in mind what could be the prior knowledge,
ability and preferences of the target audience
before we can identify the appropriate approach,
style, the scope, examples and elaboration

 This may effectively capture the students’

attention, arouse their interest and convey the
essential massage successfully.
iii) Obtain the information (The topic, skills,
content)and the relevant resources (sound effects,
background music, CDs, etc.)
iv) Preparing the script
 Clearly define the sequencing of the content, the
relevant sound effects for a particular scenario, when
and how the background music should come in, when
to pause, phrases which needed emphasis and alike.

 The script is a guide for the producer, the talents as

well as the production crews.

 It helps the team to visualize how to act out a scene,

to pin point the appropriate time to dub in the
background music and/ or the sound effects and so on
and so forth.
v) To identify the appropriate talents who will be
able to act out the script skillfully to enliven the
oral presentation.

vi) Preparing the audio recording equipment and

booking the studio if necessary.
RECORDING AND AUDIO EDITING
 The procedures for audio recording include:
i) Prior to the actual recording session, make
sure that all of the equipment is in good
condition.

ii) Find a place which is free from unwanted noise,

preferably a sound studio.

iii) During the actual audio recording session,

ensure that all the sound level of the microphone
input and speaker output are set to the optimum
level, which neither too loud nor too soft.
iv) It is advisable to record the narration without
the sound effects and the background music so as
to save the audio editing and remixing in later
stage from complication.

v) Play back the recording to identify any segment

that needs second take, etc.
AUDIO EDITING
 The digital audio file may be recorded and saved in
various format.

 It may be edited and play back using audio editing

software.

 Example of the commonly used editing softwares

includes Windows Sound Recorder, Soundforge, and
Audacity.

 You may need to find out the meaning of certain

technical terms related to audio editing such as “fade
in”, “fade out”, “cross-fading”, “amplify”, “silence”,
“echo”, “change pitch”, “change tempo”, etc.
 DIGITAL AUDIOFile
Digital audio format Its characteristics
extension

The standard audio format for computers which use

Waveform Audio the Windows operation system. It is uncompressed;
.wav
File Format hence its file size is relatively large.

MPEG Layer- The most popular audio format for downloading and
.mp3
3format saving audio files for Internet.
It is a list of musical notes acts as the standard
commands that allows the electronic musical

Musical Instrument instrument, performance controllers, computers and

.mid
Digital Interface related devices to communicate, and to play back
the sound, very much like the human reading the
music sheet.

Audio Interchange Audio file format which is normally used for Apple
.AIFF
File Format Macintosh.
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