Recording Sound Files with your iBook.

 

You may follow these steps to record a sound with your ibook and then save it into iTunes and even burn a CD if you wish.

At the bottom of these instructions is a VIDEO which walks you through all these steps. Watch it after reading through them.

If you don't have a copy of Sound Studio on your computer, log onto the docs1 server and the CO Shared Folder and copy the Sound Studio folder to your applications folder on your computer.

 

Record the Sound with Sound Studio

 

In your applications folder is an application called Sound Studio.  It is very simple to operate.  Double click the application to start it.   Two windows should open up.  If only one does, select Show Input Levels from the window menu.

 

 

As you talk (or sing) you should be able to see the input levels move. They should go over toward the right but never get to the full red position.  If they do, the sound will be distorted. 

 

Tip: Log out of Quickmail so your computer doesnŐt gong during the recording.

 

Have the person read into the microphone on your ibook.  That is the little hole on the right side of the screen.  Have them read the loudest part and set the input levels to where they donŐt peak out. (go red)  They should be about 12Ó away from the mic for a good sound.  Not too close or too far.  Have them practice recording before making a long recording.

 

When you are satisfied with the input levels, click the record button in the top window and record.

 

You can delete the file and start again.

You can edit out parts.

If the whole recording is too soft you can amplify it.

 

When you are satisfied with the final product, save it to your desktop.

If you are recording a long file, like a 45 minute class lecture, you may want to decrease the sound quality to make the resulting file smaller. Here is a short video on how to decrease the sound quality. Experiment with different setting to see what is best for your situation.

 

Next you will import the sound into iTunes which will compress it and make it into an mp3 file.  You can also burn a cd of recordings from itunes.

 

Change iTunes preferences

 

You need to make a one-time change to the preferences in iTunes.

 

Start iTunes and open the preferences.

 

Click the Advanced button.  Click the Importing tab.

Change the Import Using encoder from ACC encoder to MP3 encoder.

 

Open in iTunes

 

With iTunes open, drag the audio file you just recorded into the main Library part of the itunes window.

 

iTunes imports the file but DOES NOT automitically convert it to mp3 as I stated in the accompanying video. Select the file by clicking once on it, then select Convert Selection to mp3 from the Advanced menu in iTunes. This converts the file and compresses it. The sample file I used was 5.8 Megs in Sound Studio or 5800K. When I converted it in iTunes it compressed to 672K. Or about an 85% savings on size. Drag many files into iTunes if you desire.

 

Now you can playback the sounds with iTunes.

 

Create an album of files and burn them to a CD.

Play movie that demonstrates this technique - Playing time is 8:15.