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People often ask for research on how to make quality podcasts.  Its as if they just doesn’t seem to grasp the notion that podcasting is AUDIO!  I have to admit that differences in the mechanics of delivery (cassette vs digital recording vs streaming audio) may create a difference the impact, but essential qualities are the same and these are the issues that need to be attended to regardless of the media of distribution. 

Some important things to consider when making audio recordings

• Electrical noise -   quality of the signal, starting from microphone, amplification, the analog-to-digital conversion process, and storage and playback.  Typically, there is a hiss or roaring background noise that you hear when the volume is turned up to an excessively high level in order to hear a weak sound. Some of this is normal, but if it gets so loud as to be distracting then there is a an “engineering” problem. (Poor connections or lack of grounding in the equipment setup may also create 60 or 120 cycle hum)  

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• Mechanical noise - wind rustling in the back ground, rubbing against clothing, or just poor quality microphones that require that the volume be turned up too high. Surprisingly, many novices don’t hear these noises! 

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• Semantic-communication noise - poor quality of encoding meaning into speech ( words, sentences, etc. )

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• Sound levels - while not exactly a noise problem voice levels can be either too low, too high or both. Keep voice levels moderately stable - voice levels should be high compared to back ground ambient sound noise level, but not so high that the voice is distorted and sounds muffled.  Nor should the volume levels change drastically from one speaker to another when multiple speakers are involved. And last, keep background music in the BACKGROUND where it belongs. Music should not interfere with your message!

  And don’t forget that research has shown that the use of non-essential audio and visuals can be counterproductive to perception or learning…more on that later.  

My goal here is to collect notes and share ideas about what goes on between the teaching point…and the learning event.  Sometimes the journey from teaching to learning is simple enough, but at other times it gets really confusing when we try to explain interaction processes or someone wants to interpret events related to the philosophy of technology. 

J