February 23rd, 2018

Discussion Post #3

After perusing some audio essays and podcasts, I’ve started looking up apps on the Apple Store to learn more about recording essays. From my own quick research, many people advise avoiding using a phone to record audio and recommend a real microphone. However, I’m interested in utilizing background noises consciously in future essays. I think this could be an interesting addition to an essay (or maybe it would just be completely distracting. That’s for a future me to parse through while editing something I’ve recorded). 

I downloaded an app called Story Corps for free on my iPhone. It’s an app that’s used to record up to 45 minutes worth of interviews. The app gives the user the option to create questions and prompts before an interview. During the interview, you can select which question you are asking to make the final recording easy to navigate. After recording, you are required to name the participants, the location where the interview took place, and tag any keywords relevant to the interview. The final product can then be uploaded and shared for the general public to access and learn from or to be downloaded privately. 

I recorded and edited my audio essay using Story Corps, and I’m really impressed with how clear the audio sounds. I recorded in my apartment when I was alone one day, and I was worried that the sounds of the heat or refrigerator might come through, but they couldn’t be heard on my final version of the audio! For a future revision, I’d like to use a different form of audio recording (perhaps a microphone) to record this essay in the places where it takes place. I think it could be fun and challenging to work with the background sounds and echoes that the National Cathedral could potentially lend. Also, at home, the sounds of the river and birds might make a good addition.