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Ways to Enhance Your Web Site with Audio

On this page I briefly cover the following:

A Myriad of Audio Uses and Experiences
Conference Call Recording
Basement Ventures
Plug a Microphone into Audio Software on Your Computer
Sound File Editing
Digital Recorder
Olympus L-10
Professional Studio
Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?
Sonic Memo Pro
Audio/Video Hosting Service
AudioAcrobat
How I Recorded the Introduction on this Page

Streaming audio can add a considerable amount of depth and texture to your web site.  Used properly in just the right places, streaming audio can instruct, encourage, inform, and/or entertain your visitors.  As a professional consultant or coach, your voice is likely your primary medium of connection with clients. Let your visitors hear your voice.

Used improperly, streaming audio can annoy visitors to make a quick click of the back button. For most people, the most annoying misuse of audio is to play it immediately when a visitor lands at your web site. To be most gracious to your visitors, make your audio optional.

A Myriad of Audio Uses and Experiences

Interviews, guided visualizations, meditations, music, stories, direction or instruction, and reading verbatim from your page can all be effective ways to enhance the web experience for your visitors, whether you use streaming audio of MP3 audio. 

It can also be fun. I started my audio recording experiences over 25 years ago, so the technology has advanced beyond anything I imagined at that time.  It's really exciting.

As with many of the suggestions I make at this web site, I offer what I have direct experience with, usually as a result of a lot of research, trial and error, and willingness to experiment to find something better.  I don't try to explain all the possibilities, as Google and other search engines can do that far better than I can.  I also spare you the recounting of the time and effort that I've put in to finding the products and services that I value the most.  I often spend many hours to research and then synthesize the information so that others only have to spend minutes to apply something.

I want to focus in on some suggestions that I think you, as a professional coach or consultant, will find most helpful to convey your wisdom, knowledge, and experience to the Internet using audio.

The quality of sound recordings varies considerably.  And there are considerable variables, especially on the Internet.  For the recording, variables include the original recording source, file format, equipment, surroundings, software, telephone and Internet connections; for the listener, variables include hearing tolerance, preferences, Internet knowledge, connection speed, and equipment.  With the introduction of MP3 audio files, people have become more accustomed to hearing sound that is different from the quality in person, on analog, or on CD.

Here are a few resources for you to consider if you want to add or already are adding sound to your web site, download products, or services.

Conference Call Recording

There are many different conference call services, some for fees and some for free.  Last year I searched to find one that would provide just the services I needed.  I wanted to be able to record an interview with another person occasionally, as well as a consultation when a client requested a recording.  In addition, I knew that at some time I would do some teleconferences.  I wanted a reasonably good sound and an MP3 audio file that was available within an hour or so.

The one I recommend and use most frequently is Basement Ventures.

If you want to record a telephone consultation, this is an ideal way to do it.  Just be certain that you practice on your own before you use the service with a client or multiple callers. In addition to conference calls, podcasting is easy to do at Basement Ventures.

It's also ideal for interviewing someone. Hint: It's very important that you get a hard-copy signed release from anyone you interview before posting or distributing the sound file.

This is a free service, so it's worth a try if it seems to meet your needs.  It's a great starting place -- a great place to practice. You can download the MP3 sound file, then edit it, and even provide audio streaming at your web site. Be certain that you're pleased with the quality of sound on multiple settings.

Plug a Microphone into Audio Software on Your Computer

You may find that you received a microphone with a high enough quality packaged with your computer.  If so, you're all set for this option.  Or you can purchase one from a large selection of microphones.  In addition, your computer may have the software you need to make a recording -- for sure if you have a reasonably new Mac, you have a variety of options.

Usually, these microphones have usb connections.  I have several such microphones, and have yet to find one I really like.  When needed, the one I use is from MacMice to which I added a make-shift windscreen with a nylon netting.  If you find your p's and b's pop, you may want to do something similar. Another solution to the p and b popping is to place the microphone just below chin level.

If you are purchasing one, take a look at one that is designed as a headset, as that will give you greater mobility. I've been recording for so many years, that a stationary mic is not a problem, but you might prefer such a design.

The type of sound file that you create will be dependent on the software you use to make your recording.

Sound File Editing

After you have a sound file, you might need to edit it before you want others to listen to it.  For example, if you use a conference call service, there will be a sound when you turn on and again when you turn off the recording feature.  At the very least you'll want to remove those sounds. 

Audacity is the software I use to edit my MP3 audio files.  I also record directly into Audacity when I use a microphone at my computer.  Audacity is a free, cross-platform sound editor.  You can open sound files already stored on your computer and edit them in Audacity.  Editing is done essentially as you edit any other file on your computer.  You can cut and paste, delete, and move stuff -- all with the added advantage of sound. 

I've spent many hours in sound studios watching professionals edit sound files on high-end software.  Audacity uses the same approach.  You'll have to learn it as any other software program, or simply outsource this task.  If you only need to delete the sounds at the beginning and end of a recording, you can learn that in five minutes. And if you plan to have multiple short clips, learning to do this yourself is like learning and using any software on your computer.

Sound files have a variety of formats, including MP3, WAV, and WMA.  If you're recording spoken voice to play at your web site, you'll likely be using MP3 -- the same file format that's in your iPod.  It's more compressed, so it loads more quickly than other formats.  Audacity can convert from one file format to another.

Digital Recorder

Four years ago I was looking for a portable digital recorder, but the one I wanted wasn't on the market then, so I purchased a different piece of equipment.  Recently when I went shopping again, I found that finally Olympus has created the piece of equipment I had envisioned.  And wow, did they get it right! Is it a beauty. It is Olympus L-10.

It weighs in at 6.5 ounces with dimensions of 5" x 2" x 3/4". The quality is awesome in high-fidelity stereo. I can plug it into a phone to record interviews or consultations, secure it to my camera tripod to create a mic stand, carry it in my purse in its case, and connect it to my computer with a USB cable.  It also has a slot for a sound card, so that it has, in effect, unlimited capacity when you cannot upload the files immediately. It runs for 14 hours on two AA batteries or through an optional power pack.

I purchased mine at Amazon.com, which is a great place to start because you can get the gist of the customer reviews if you care about such opinions.  If you shop around, I think you'll find that Amazon has the best price, also.

You may need one of these aids in reading the small Olympus manual and the settings on the recorder: either near sightedness or reading glasses.

This is my new favorite toy. Expect to see much more optional streaming audio as well as MP3 audio downloads at all my web sites.

If you are serious about making your own digital recordings that are of professional quality, you owe it to yourself to look at this. It's perfect to take on the road to do speaking engagements and make high quality digital recordings without heavy equipment.

Professional Studio

Generally, when you use a professional studio, you engage both a sound engineer and the studio equipment for a large enough block of time to make it worthwhile.  Pricing differs widely by locale and by studio.  I suggest that you do your homework by asking really good questions of several studios, unless you know of one that is highly recommended by a trusted friend.  You still need to ask good questions so that you properly prepare yourself for the experience.  You also must be well organized to make good use of your time.

I love working with my sound engineer. He's a powerful partner in the recordings that I make for my web site and my CD albums. When I want to make a three minute recording, thought, I only want it to take me three minutes, so I use all the other options mentioned here as well.

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

You know those little player buttons that are displayed at web sites so visitors can play and stop the playback (like mine above)? That's controlled by software and html. I believe there are a number of such programs available. Several years ago, I went to Jay Jennings who develops software for both Mac and PC. Specifically, I purchased Sonic Memo Pro. It's a nifty piece of software that I use at several of my sites.

While I recommend this software in most situations, I came up against some limitations at a new web site I'm developing, so I now subscribe to a service that solves the multiple problems (see the next section).  

If you use Site Build It! by SiteSell, which I recommend, Sonic Memo Pro is not for the right software for you.  If you have a traditional web host, you'll find it works easily.  It's cross platform, uses javascript, and is modestly priced.

One thing to keep in mind: Regardless of the software or service you use, if you use only the audio streaming player buttons at your web site, your visitors cannot download the MP3 audio file. If that's what you want, you're done. If, however, you want your visitors to also be able to download, be certain to also provide a link to the MP3 audio file . You can see what I mean on Easy Meditation for a Quick Tune-up. On that page, I do not use Sonic Memo Pro, but AudioAcrobat, which I discuss next.

Audio/Video Hosting Service

AudioAcrobat is an extraordinary service.  I turned here when I was unable to make Sonic Memo Pro work at my SiteSell site. It has a very user friendly web interface and an even friendlier staff.  They have services beyond what I can adequately describe here, so I recommend you get the particulars directly from AudioAcrobat. 

If you want to have professional looking audio displayed at your web site and a hassle free experience with recording and hosting, this is for you.  With this service, you can record radio shows, podcasts, client consultations, teleconferences, videos, and so much more.  They offer a one month free service to try it out. If you're not "hooked" within a week or so, it probably isn't for you, and you can close your account within 30 days with no further obligation.

You can use any of the three most common file formats:  MP3, WAV, and WMA.  They host your sound files, which you either record at their site by phone or your computer microphone, or you upload from your computer.  To create the player buttons, you simply select the shapes and colors and paste some html code into your web page.  Even if you've never done this before, you can have a sound file on your web site very quickly. Hint: Definitely take their classes, either live or one that was previously recorded.

How I Recorded the Introduction on this Page

The one minute clip above I recorded on my Olympus L-10, lightly edited on Audacity, and stored at AudioAcrobat. I recorded in the middle of my house on a warm Saturday afternoon with no special sound proofing except closing the outside doors. I was aware of neighborhood noises and a plane flying overhead.

It's a one minute recording. It took me under five minutes to attach the recorder to the tripod, make the recording, walk across the patio to my office to download it onto my computer.

I opened the MP3 in Audacity and spent a few more minutes doing some light editing. Uploading it to Audio Acrobat was under a minute and then I waited a few minutes to do what they call "transcoding" to make it available for me to generate the player buttons. I chose a color scheme for this site and the shape and the size of the buttons I wanted. Then I copied and pasted the html to the page.

Putting it All Together

Perhaps one or two of the above suggestions will be the perfect place for you to start. Or perhaps you'll try a variety to find just the perfect fit. Many other options, services, products, and options are out there. I hope this is a helpful start for you.