Sound Editing and Podcasting: Sound Starter 

19th Apr 2022 - 10th May 2022 

Places on this course are limited, and in order to take part you should have an interest in recording a podcast for Technecast (the Techne student podcast) and be prepared to do so in future. You may also be interested in attending How To Create An Effective Podcast alongside this one which will focus on the communication and presentation side of podcasting.

 

Have you been thinking of making a podcast of your research but are unsure of how to go about it? Or do you have an idea which you are looking to develop further?

One of the most exciting and accessible new media for PGRs wishing to promote their research to a wider audience is podcasting. For creators and audiences, listening skills are the foundation of any good podcast and good presentation, sound recording and editing techniques are also useful skills in any teaching and learning environment.

Sound Starter is a course for students with no previous experience, or some experience which they want to develop into a podcast. It offers an introductory level of sound recording and editing using Reaper software (free-to-download) and will provide a guide to the possibilities of sound manipulation, restoration and mixing. Through a series of practical and analytical tasks it focusses on the details of how to present one’s research clearly in a short podcast. It will cover how to record interviews, mix music and sound effects with voice; apply processing such as reverberation and compression and heighten listening awareness.

The course will comprise of 4 x 2-hour workshops:

• Week 1: 19^th April 10am-12pm. Tuning the ear: Critical listening and recording. Learn how to hear good quality recording and identify poor edits, through critical analysis of pre-recorded radio and podcasts.
  Tuning the voice: how to deliver a natural-sounding and engaging scripted performance of a research topic.
• Week 2: 26^th April 10am-12pm. Basic Sound Analysis terms: Understanding the basic principles of the physics of sound, and its use in sound editing software
  Developing the ear: Editing and mixing. Learn how to focus listening to achieve the best possible edits.
• Week 3: 3^rd May 10am-12pm. Using basic sound effects and audio processing: adding reverberation and field recordings to extend the perceived environment of the narrative.
• Week 4: 10^th May 10am-12pm. Summary, students’ playback of practical task and discussion of individual podcasts 

Course Tutor: Dr. Jo Hutton is a radio and music BBC sound recordist and editor of twenty+ years’ experience, who has completed her PhD in a history of electroacoustic music technology at University of Surrey.

To register for this workshop please email techne@rhul.ac.uk. If you have any queries about the course please also email Techne and we can put you in touch with Jo.

Please note that we are also planning to run a follow on course Developing Podcasts which would be suitable for students with basic knowledge of Reaper software and sound recording technology who wish to contribute their own podcast to the Technecast. It will focus on more detailed understanding of mixing and production facilities, and simple live music recordings. 

If you are unsure which course would be best for you to attend please contact techne@rhul.ac.uk and we will put you in touch with Jo to give you further advice.