voice recorders

just to share something really simple that has made a real difference in our community choir.
Many of the members do not read music, so learning complex songs with 4 parts can be very time consuming, and 3 parts often sit in sessions while the 4th part "note bashes".

This time I've recorded the different parts on the Olympus digital recorder - some sung or hummed, some playing the lines on the piano, using a new file for each - my husband did the bass lines, so a variety of voices! and with some songs we recorded a quartet of us, so the whole effect of the song could be heard!

Once uploaded on the computer each of these files can simply be burnt on to an audio cd as a new track (straight on, no need for any complicated conversion software) the tracks listed, and the resultant CD can be copied. Once the files were ready the Cd took about 20 minutes to compile.
(We sold it to members at 50p a time, with all the term's music on it, which more than covered the cost)

The result has been dramatic! No more sitting around listening to others learning their part, only polishing up and focussing on the hard bits.
The speed of learning has increased not just for the individual but for the whole group, as the song can be put together so much more quickly.

It's not for everyone, but I know several members who have played it over and over at home or on the car cd, and it really offers an alternative learning style. The gain in confidence of the "I can't singers" has been tremendous!

Using sound clips with MS Word

Hi Ad-Ed Glos!

I was very pleased to participate in a hands on demo of interactive multimedia usage in Ad-Ed teaching and RARPA at Wyedean School last Wednesday.

I teach many multi-media based and related subjects (DTP, Photoshop, Web Design with Dreamweaver, photography etc). I had recently run a successful saturday workshop on using portable devices with your PC. This workshop allowed students to bring devices with them. These included:

• Cell phones
• MP3 palyers
• Memory sticks
• Cameras
• An MP2,3 and 4 player

I also demonstrated the olympus voice recorder. I particularly like this device as it can be used as a high quality stereo audio recorder, voice dictation machine and MP3/WMA player.

It is great for adding sound clips to web sites or PPP's. I also explained that it could be used to help writers in recording story lines, plots or even RARPA observations.

So do you just record your notes and listen to them???

No, you can actually include your audio clips as audible notes within MSWord. I haven't produced any screen shots as many of you are using versions from 2005, 2007 and 2008 but they all work the same way.

Having uploaded your audio clips to a file in My Documents (maybe creat a new one "My AVClips") proceed as follows from MS Word.

• On your open page, choose the insertion point (position the cursor) at which you want to insert your clip.
• Choose the Insert Menu.
• Choose Object.
• Select the Tab "Create from File.
• Then choose "Browse for file".
• Find your audio clip and Insert.

You also get the options Link to File: play the file if checked otherwise embed the contents. You can also display an icon (or just the clip title).

Try it, once you have become familiar with the method, you may find you are hooked! Especially good for story-boarding when planning a movie or mini video doco.

Those who have older MS systems can still achieve this but would need to use the OLE Object Linker and packager tool (but that's history)!

All the best: Bill-E

never too old!

In my Foundation English class a couple of weeks ago I recorded a group of ladies (all in their 70's) talking about their Diwali Shopping expedition to Leicester, which was obviously a fantastic day out! One of the ladies looked at the recorder and said "Oh, its an ipod, I'd love one of those!"

they've been learning past tense since then, so after some present/past matching games and practice I replayed the recording, asking them to listen for wrong (or no!) use of past tense. The looks of revelation were a picture! absolutely no coyness about either being recorded or hearing themselves, just concentrating on the job in hand.

motto: 1. you're never too old 2. give every listening task a sharp focus