LAB 6: INTRO TO AUDIO


Audio stories:

http://storycorps.org/listen/annie-perasa-update/
https://soundcloud.com/jay-brunson-1/of-iceland-things


How to get good, clean sound

1. Choose a quiet space to record your audio/interview, preferably with no hum or consistent noise like an AC or generator.
2. Choose a space that does not echo like an open staircase. A classroom may work well.
3. Listen with your headphones! This will help you determine the quality of the space.
4. Determine your subject's audio levels. This requires you to "test" their levels by asking them to say something in their natural voice while you look at your Zoom recorder to see if they are too loud or too soft (peaking past -20dB or lower than -20dB). Based on their loudness, you can then set the Zoom record levels.
5. Test record! Do this to ensure you are recording properly and getting sound when you play back.
6. Record your interview!
7. Don't forget to record room tone!


Types of Questions (adapted from Laura Hadden)
OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS 
 *elicit more detailed, nuanced responses [Tell me about your favorite sound...]. 

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
*help you to get more information about a previous answer [Why do you like this sound in particular? OR What is it about the sound that makes it so appealing for you?].
*help to clarify or explain an answer that isn’t clear. 

CLOSED QUESTIONS
*elicit yes or no responses, or one word answers [What's your favorite color?...Green.].
*ask the subject of the interview to remember something specific, but don’t usually help us to get full, complete answers.

LEADING QUESTIONS
*contain the opinion or assumption of the interviewer within the question.
*may sway the answer of the interviewee, because they think you want to hear a certain answer.
*an example of a leading question is: “You were in Boston last week, weren't you?” As opposed to, "Can you tell me if you traveled to Boston last week?" 

LOADED QUESTIONS
*assume or imply some fact
*like leading questions, they may not elicit a neutral answer
*a loaded question can be "So, you still don't like eating apples?"
*a better alternative would be "How do you feel about eating apples?" 

DOUBLE BARRELED QUESTIONS
*contain two questions in one and may confuse the interviewee.
*an example of a double barreled question is: “When did you move to New York and where do you live now?
*it’s better to ask two separate questions: First ask, “Can you tell me when you moved to NYC?” After that question is answered, you can ask, “Where do you live now?” 

EITHER/OR QUESTIONS
*allow the interviewee only two options for answering a question.
*an example of an Either-Or question is: “Which is your favorite kind of music, Hip Hop or Rock?”
*it’s better to ask, “What is your favorite kind of music?” because the answer might be Classical!

Other audio resources:
NPR.org and PRI.org - Radio news outlets that often contains great, documentary type stories and interviews 
Transom.org – Great technical & creative resources for producers of audio/radio
Interviewers on Interviewing – A YouTube Playlist curated by Transom
PRX – Great library of public radio projects
Cowbird.com - Great, community generated multi-media stories
StoryCorps.org - Check out their great questions list!



Next week in lab: We will record project 2. Please come prepared with your question list and headphones for your interviews.