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Assignment guidelines

Speaking prompts and assignments

You have several options of how you can record your audio journal entries as MP3 files to be submitted periodically via email.

Option #1 Odeo Studio

Odeo Studio is a web-based audio recording tool, basically intended for those interested in creating podcasts or recording audio for blogs. You need to have a microphone or headset (the kind with a pink plug that fits into any computer) and you need to have Macromedia Flash installed on the computer you are using. You also need to create an Odeo log-in with an email address and an Odeo password of your choosing. You will also need speakers, headphones, or a headset in order to hear what you have recorded.

Getting started:

1. Go to Odeo Studio
2. Click on the large green button ‘SIGN UP NOW’
3. Create a user name, type in your email address, and create a password for Odeo (not your email password) and click ‘SIGN UP NOW’ again
4. Click on the pink words or record button ‘RECORD NEW AUDIO’
5. If you see this puzzle piece, you need to install Macromedia Flash (don’t worry, it’s free)
6. You may have to give permission for camera/microphone access on this pop-up
7. Click on RECORD to record your voice. Click on STOP when you are finished. Click on PLAY to hear what you have recorded. It’s easy!
8. Click on the pink button SAVE RECORDING
9. I can’t deal with a .flv file, so click on TRY ODEO/PLAY (circled on the right)
10. From the bottom of this screen, you can easily save the file as an MP3 and then you can send it as an email attachment.

Option #2 Audacity

Audacity is free open source software for recording and editing audio using Windows, Mac, or Linux. To use Audacity you need to have the program downloaded onto the computer you are using. In order to save your Audacity files as MP3s, you also need to have LAME installed on the machine. This has already been done in many of the computer labs on campus, including K127, K322, and B203. You will also need to have a microphone or a headset in order to record your voice. You will also need speakers, headphones, or a headset in order to hear what you have recorded.

1. Download Audacity if you don't already have it.
2. If you need to, download LAME.
3. The first time you save an Audacity file as an MP3, you will need to show Audacity where the LAME file is saved (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&item=lame-mp3).
4. ALL OF THIS IS EASIER THAN IT MIGHT LOOK!!
5. Once Audacity and LAME are installed on the machine you are using, it’s very straightforward.
6. Just like on a tape recorder or VCR, the red circle is for RECORD, the green triangle for PLAY, the square for STOP, and the two vertical lines for PAUSE.
7. Be sure that you have MICROPHONE selected as the input source. (Note: you can also use Audacity to record streaming audio from the internet or to digitize audio from other formats by connecting them to your computer.)
8. Once you have recorded something, you need to save it as an MP3 file. Under the FILE menu in the upper left hand corner of the screen (shown here with a blue arrow), select EXPORT AS MP3. Save your file, then you can send it as an attachment in an email.

Option #3 iPod or other digital audio devices

Many MP3 players have a microphone jack. For an Apple iPod, you need to have a special microphone with two pins. There are also hand held digital audio recorders intended for journalists to conduct interviews or business people to dictate or record memos. PLEASE don’t feel you need to purchase any of this kind of equipment for this course. This information is just in case you already own or can borrow such equipment.

Option #4 Other

Perhaps you know of another (better?) way to record your audio journal entries for the course? If so, I’m all ears. Please send me your ideas so I can post them!