Audio Information and Media
for its time.
Hearing vs. Listening
Hearing is the act of perceiving sound by the ear
while Listening requires concentration so that your brain
processes meaning from words and sentences. Listening
leads to learning.
What is Audio?
Audio is hearing a sound that comes from a
broadcasted sound (either live or recorded).
The reproduction of a certain sound (let it be
music, tutorial programs) into hi fidelity quality to
be heard again and available for playback
What is Audio Media?
An audio media is a form of media communication
that uses audio or voice recording as a medium in the
delivery of information.
These are teaching-learning devices that appeal to
the auditory sense.
Audio Formats
There are two types of audio and this pertains to:
Analog
Computer Files
Audio Format: Analog
Analog is probably the oldest type of recording
audio when it comes to actually recording audio
as it involved heavy machines recording an Analog
signal.
The Audio was literally implanted into the discs
(more specifically the plastic)
There are many types of analog recording/playback
machines. These include but are not limited to:
Phonograph Machine
-Invented by Thomas Edison
-It is used to record the audio via a
distinct cylinder
Gramaphone
-Uses large black discs in which where
the audio was stored into
Cassette Tape Player
-Made popular by Sony with their
product The Walkman.
-The Sony Walkman revolutionized what
portable music meant back in the
1980s as it was compact and advanced
Audio Format: Computer Files
Computer files audio instead of imbedding the
audio clip onto a disc, the audio is converted into
1s and 0s (binary) in a process called PCM (Phase
Change Memory).
The audio files are then saved on the
computers hard drive in which the files are to be
used in the future, with a simple click of a mouse
instead of inserting a cassette tape just to hear
the recording.
Computer Files: Format
PCM- PCM is the most common audio format
used in CDs and DVDs. There is a subtype of
PCM called Linear Pulse-Code Modulation,
where samples are taken at linear intervals.
WAV- WAV stands for Waveform Audio File
Format (also called Audio for Windows at some
point but not anymore). Its a standard that was
developed by Microsoft and IBM back in 1991.
MP3- MP3 stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3. It
was released back in 1993 and quickly exploded
in popularity, eventually becoming the most
popular audio format in the world for music
files.
WMA- WMA stands for Windows Media Audio.
It was first released in 1999 and has gone
through several evolutions since then, all while
keeping the same WMA name and extension.
M4A / AAC (MPEG4 Audio / Advanced Audio
Coding) - an audio coding standard for lossy
digital audio compression. Designed to be the
successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally
achieves better sound quality than MP3 at
similar bit rate
Difference between Analog and Digital
Analog literally means replication of the sound
waves as accurate as possible while in the Digital
sense, the sound waves are rather recreated by
taking samples of the original sound then
recreating it through specific soundwaves.

Ways to Store Audio
Tape - magnetic tape on which sound can be 4. Appropriate length
recorded
CD (Compact Disc) - a plastic-fabricated, circular 6. Unbiased
medium for recording, storing, and playing back
audio, video, and computer data
USB Drive - an external flash drive, small
enough to carry on a key ring, that can be used
with any computer that has a USB Port
Memory Card (aka Flash Memory Card or
Storage Card) - is a small storage medium used
to store data such as text, pictures, audio, and
video, for use on small, portable, or remote
computing devices.
Computer Hard Drive - secondary storage
devices for storing audio file
Internet / Cloud - websites or file repositories
for retrieving audio files, and more precisely the
files are stored in some datacenter full of
servers that is connected to the Internet.
Units of Sound
Decibel-(or simply dB) noise of sound
measurement
Hertz- (or simply Hz) unit of sound frequency
Phon- unit of subjective loudness
Characteristics of Sound
Volume intensity of a sound
Tone the audible characteristic of a sound
Pitch - is how high or low a sound is Disadvantages
Loudness - refers to the magnitude of the sound
heard
Types of Audio Media
Radio Broadcasted (live)-A radio broadcaster
speaks into a microphone live.
Recording Played Live- Some radio shows
record their audio already and play it live via
radio.
Music - vocal or instrumental sounds combined Selection Criteria
in such a way as to produce beauty of form,
harmony, and expression of emotion
Sound Clips / Effects - any sound artificially
reproduced to create an effect in a dramatic
presentation (ex. sound of a storm, or a door)
Audio Podcast - a digital audio or video file or
recording, usually part of a themed series, that
can be downloaded from a website to a media
player or a computer
Demonstration Characteristics of Audio Media
1. Clarity of voice
2. Relevant to the topic
3. Clear pitch of the audio
5. Appropriate language
Advantages/Pros
Designed for the audible type of person (Less-
literate or not able to read)
The simulation of users imaginations is active
when listening to an audio media clip.
Audio recordings are less expensive than video
Ideal for music artists aiming to share their
music to the world
Easy to use
Audio clips are easily duplicated for sale or
educational purposes.
Examples of the Pros of Audio Media
Telephone/Voicemail- Used with ease
and relatively cheap, easy to use by less
literate people.
A retreat program- in which a person says
to close your eyes and the audio clip
plays.
Audio conference amongst a company in
which people are not constrained by
distance or place and can do it with little
cost
Extended use may bore students
Costly compared to actual presentations
Power failure issues can disturb the learning
environment
Strong lesson planning is to be done
Trained teachers are needed who can manage it
effectively
Relevance
Authority
Timeless/Currency
Validity/Accuracy
Argument
Coverage
Bias
Purpose of Sound
Give instruction or information.
 Provide feedback. remembered that can definitely help enhance
To personalize or customize presentations. These are the following:

-Use the highest quality audio possible.

-The audio must complement, not compete,
with the information on the screen.

Design Principles and Elements REMEMBER!

With these in mind, the use of audio clips in enhancing
Elements of Sound Design presentation can be helpful and beneficial
Dialogue - speech, conversation, voice- because it adds other learning perspectives which
over are not provided by other kinds of information.
Sound Effects any sound other than
music or dialogue
Music vocal or instrumental sounds (or
both) combined in such a way as to
produce beauty of form, harmony, and
expression of emotion

Principles of Sound Design

Mixing the combination, balance and
control of multiple sound elements
Pace time control, editing, order of
events (linear, non-linear or multi-linear)
Stereo Imaging Using left and right
channel for depth. This refers to the
aspect of sound recording and
reproduction.
Recordings sent from one person to
another in a video or audio form from one
person to another across the country
Transition how you get from one
segment or element to another

Types of Transitions
Segue one element stops, the next
begins (cut in film)
Cross-fade one element fades out, the
next fades in, and they overlap on the way
V-Fade first element fades to inaudible
before the second elements begins
Waterfall As first element fades out, the
second element begins at full volume.
Better for voice transitions, than for
effects

Design Principles and Elements

Principles are limited in the context of audio
files, but there are some important reminders to