Class Report

Audio Storytelling

By Greg Giles (5 March 2015)

Teacher: Peter Timko, far right, library associate at MLK Digital Commons
Location: MLK Digital Commons
Dates: Feb. 5, 12, and 19, 2015

What was the take-home message of the class?
Interesting audio stories can be created using equipment you probably already have, such as a smartphone. There are a variety of free tools and resources online that can help you color your work with tones and sound effects. Try the PCM Recorder app (iDevice) or Smart Voice Recorder app (Android) to capture sound using your phone. Or record directly onto your computer using Audacity, then export your work using LAME Encoder.

What was the most surprising thing you learned?
These basic tools are sufficient for creating a piece that you could actually sell to an organization like NPR.

What did you learn that you can put into practice immediately?
Our days are filled with sounds that our mind will typically ignore because they are so routine. These seemingly mundane situations can bring a lot of life to an audio piece and can be captured with simple equipment at the very spur of the moment. Keeping this in mind can help give a fresh perspective on the details of your day while you build a library of supporting sounds.

What can people read/watch for more information on this topic?
Transom is packed with guides and discussions about audio storytelling.

You can download sounds and music from online libraries, such as:
Internet Archive
Freesound
Free Music Archive