Audio Recording Tips

Do You Need High Quality Audio?

The simple answer is yes! Quality audio will help ensure that your students stay attentive to your course. It also helps to keep them from being distracted, which happens when low-quality audio is presented. Surveys have shown that more than 75 percent of those taking online courses feel that video and audio quality are critical to a satisfactory experience.

Tips for Getting the Best Audio

You can use whatever recording equipment you want (see recommendations here), but there are a few things you should be aware of in order to get the best results.

Here are some quick tips:

• Make and submit a short 2 to 3 minute test video and send it to us for feedback before you record all of your course lessons. This will save you a ton of time and work should you need to make adjustments.
• When planning your own recording area, find a place that is quiet and well lit. Check for anything that might cause unwanted noise such as street noise, fans, phones, etc.
• Ensure that your recording gear is plugged in correctly and that your recording software is working properly.
• When you begin, speak clearly and not too fast. Speak directly at your microphone and not from the sides. It is always a good idea to practice your spoken lesson a time or two before you sit down to record.
• Ensure that your audio is matched to the video and that it is coming from both channels.
• Keep in mind that all of your course lessons must have help files or quizzes to help your students. We check on this before accepting each course.
• Each lesson must contain a counterpart video to walk students through your course. However, a course cannot be made up only of video. Courses must include support and practice material, if necessary. 

More Information on How To Get the Best Audio Quality:

Test Video: Before you record all of your course lessons or presentations, first record only one short 2 to 3 minute lesson and submit it to our team. We can look at your video and offer important feedback on its video and audio quality. We will also check to ensure that all settings such as file format and size are correct.

Your Recording Area: It is important that you have a dedicated area in which you can work and record your classes. A few tips will help you get started on this important task:

• Set up your recording area away from noises, including people noise
• Make sure you can turn off phones, televisions, etc.
• When recording, turn off HVAC systems and fans that make noise
• If recording in a large, open room, you will get an echo effect that makes it sound as if you are talking from inside a barrel. Use soundproofing materials to baffle the echo or place the camera closer to you.
• Speak clearly and do not rush your words. If using a microphone, test to find the optimal distance between your mouth and the microphone.
• Lastly, before you begin recording, check your plugs to ensure everything is working, and also check your recording software.

Our Review Process Will:

• Make sure there are no extraneous background noises
• Ensure audio is coming from both channels and that it is matched or synced to your video.
  

Need help? Check out these helpful articles:

Ready to get started? Create your first lesson or watch "How to Create a Course Tutorial"