Podcasting

Understanding Sound & Audio

Recording Equipment
 Objectives

- Identify key terminology for audio production and

editing purposes

- Understand how to set up the audio recording

equipment to record podcast content

All notes that you make in today's class should go directly

onto your 'Audio Production' page
 Recording Audio with the
Zoom H4n Recorder

Powered by 48V Phantom Power

When phantom power is turned on, DC current
is sent through the XLR cable and delivers the
voltage necessary to power the microphone.
It’s most widely used as a power source for
Condenser Mic with super-
condenser microphones, which have active cardioid polar pattern
electronics.
 Recording Audio with the
Zoom H4n Recorder
Condenser vs. Dynamic
Condenser microphones are best used to
capture vocals and high frequencies. They are
also the preferred type of microphone for
most studio applications.

Dynamic microphones are best used for Condenser Mic with super-
booming sounds and powerful vocals. Because
of their ability to handle loud sounds, they are cardioid polar pattern
the preferred microphone for live music
 Recording Audio with the
Zoom H4n Recorder
XLR Cables
They are used to deliver balanced microphone
and line-level signals over long distances, so an
XLR cable can be simply thought of as a
microphone cable. ... The original audio signal
is preserved, even over long distances and
near other electronic devices
 Recording Audio with the
Zoom H4n Recorder
Internal Microphone
The internal mic on the Zoom recorder is a
condenser microphone with a cardioid or
unidirectional polar pattern
 Your Task Today
In your teams:
Using the audio equipment, record an interview with each of your group members:
1. What topic are you thinking of choosing for your podcast episode?
2. What attracts you to this topic?
3. How did you become interested in this subject?
4. How will you make your podcast interesting to young people that may not
necessarily be interested in this topic?
 What is sound?
Sound is the movement of energy
through substances in longitudinal
(compression/rarefaction)
waves.

Sound is produced when a force

causes an object or substance to
vibrate
— the energy is transferred
through the substance in a wave.

Acoustics: Acoustics has to do with studying sound

and controlling how sound is produced, transmitted
and received.
 What is sound?
Compression =
a region in a longitudinal (sound)
wave where the particles are
closest together

Rarefaction =
a region in a longitudinal (sound)
wave where the particles are
furthest apart.
 What is sound?

The number of molecules displaced

by a vibration creates the
amplitude of a sound. The strength
or level of sound pressure
 A vibration is
a slight shaking movement that goes
back and forth.

Sound is Example: When a person hits a

created by cymbal with a drumstick, it causes

the cymbal to vibrate, which makes

vibrations the
sound!

Cymbal at 1,000 frames per second

 Medium:
the material or substance that carries a sound wave
from one place to another.

Examples:
1.Solids:
When you connect two cups with string, you can

Sounds needs a actually hear each other! How?

2.Liquids:

MEDIUM When you yell underwater at the pool, you can hear
your friend! Sound can travel through different liquids.
3.Gases:
This is hard for us to see with our eyes but with a
special tool you can see it.

Check this out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPswnDcteS4
 Absorb:
To take in or suck up like a sponge.

Just like a sponge takes in water, a

material can take in sound.

Sound can be “If you didn’t hear your brother

calling you because you are playing

ABSORBED a videogame, you could say you

were absorbed in the game.”

The sound then becomes quieter!

SHHHHH.

SOUND ABSORPTION EXAMPLE

 Reflection: when a sound wave bounces back
off a material and back to the person or object
creating the sound.

Sound can be This causes something called an echo.

REFLECTED Think about when you are in sports hall or a

long hallway and you make a noise. It repeats
after you multiple times when the sound waves
are reflected off the material.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=TAliq8lXCZE
 Sound is
measured in
DECIBELS
Key Terms
 Acoustics Freya Ridings - Lost Without You (Live at St. George's Church)
- Live music venues
Freya Ridings - Lost Without You in the Live Lounge
vs. studios
Freya Ridings - Lost Without You (Official Video)

Reverb occurs when a sound hits any hard surface and reflects back to the listener
at varying times and amplitudes to create a complex echo, which carries information
about that physical space. Reverb pedals or effects simulate or exaggerate natural
reverberations
Your Task
You have been tasked with recording a new podcast for BBC
Sounds from your bedroom
You need to design a room that will absorb the most
amount of sound, so that you minimise the amount of
reflection and background noise
Come up with a design, labelling the resources you will
require to successfully record a high quality podcast