Recording Presentations with iPod and iTunes
- Recording with an iPod
- Downloading to iTunes
- Converting to mp3 format in iTunes
- Adding the Archdiocesan audio tags
- Other software programs
Attachments for the iPod such as Griffin's iTalk voice recorder allow you to capture audio anywhere. Once you have the audio file from the iPod or any other digital voice recorder, you can convert the file to an mp3 file for use on the Archdiocesan Web site. Various manufacturers offer different attachments to record on the iPod. Recording instructions for these other models are similar to those shown here for iTalk.
Recording with iPod and iTalk
- Plug your iTalk into the top of your iPod.
- Add an external microphone to the iTalk if desired.
- Click the center button to begin recording.
- Click pause or stop and save.
To share the recording on the Web, you will need to download your recording from your iPod into iTunes (available for both Windows and Mac) and then you will need to upload the recording to the Archdiocesan site using the Web Admin Panel in the Archdiocesan Intranet.
Downloading Voice Memos to iTunes
- Connect your iPod to your computer. iTunes should start up.
- iTunes may ask you if you wish to copy your Voice Memo to the iTunes Music Library. Click OK to do this.
- Locate your Voice Memo (e.g. your audio recording) in the Voice Memo playlist in iTunes.
- Select your Voice Memo (its default name will be the date and time you did recording).
- Add Metadata (title, presenter, date. etc.)
- Convert the file to mp3 (see following).
Converting Voice Memo to MP3 Format
When you are done adding metadata (optional: click file>get info), you will need to convert the format of your Voice Memo from uncompressed .wav or .aif to .mp3. You can do this as follows:
- Select the Voice Memo you want to convert to .mp3 format
- Choose Advanced > Convert Selection to MP3
Customizing iTunes Import Preferences
To ensure good quality audio when converting Voice Memos to mp3 format, we recommend you customize your iTunes Importing preferences as shown above:
- Choose iTunes > Preferences (or Edit > Preferences in Windows)
- Choose Importing
- Choose to Import using: MP3 Encoder
- Choose Settings > Custom...
- Set the following
- Stereo Bit Rate: 96 kbps
- Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
- Channels: Mono
These settings will ensure good quality audio with a reasonable file size. If you chose to use one of the default settings for iTunes, the file sizes will likely be much larger and the audio quality may actually be inferior since the settings used are optimized for music not speech.
Opening and Closing Tags
In order to identify Archdiocesan podcasts within the audio file, opening and closing tags must be included in the audio file. You will need to open the file in an audio editing program (such as GarageBand on a Mac) and insert them at the beginning and end. If possible, immediately after the opening tag, record a description of the file. Example: "Christmas Homily of Cardinal Roger Mahony, December 25, 2007."
- Archdiocesan podcast opening tag
(548 K mp3 file) - Archdiocesan podcast closing tag
(300 K mp3 file)
Other Programs for Converting and Editing
If you wish to convert an audio file but do not have iTunes (available for Windows and Mac), or if you wish to edit an audio file on a Windows platform, we will be offering some options here shortly.
