Information
Resources
Members' Corner
Upcoming
Projects (currently not in use)
Sending MP3 files
If you have a Windows PC, keep reading. If you have a Macintosh, I don't have a tool that I know will work. If you know any other Macintosh users, maybe they can help you.
If you have a Windows PC, you will need to have a sound card or built-in sound capability, with a microphone jack. You'll also need a microphone. If you don't have these, you probably won't be able to record on your PC.
Assuming you've gotten this far, what you would do is record what you want to say, using the Sound Recorder or any other audio recording software you may have. If you have Windows, you probably have the Sound Recorder installed, but it can be somewhat tedious to use. It usually stops recording after a certain amount of time. This can be extended, so if you run into that problem, let me know, and I will help you extend it.
If you don't know where Sound Recorder is, try clicking "Start", then "Programs", then "Accessories". It might be there, or it might be in a folder called "Entertainment" or "Multimedia" under "Accessories". After starting Sound Recorder, click "Edit" on the Sound Recorder menu bar, then click "Audio Properties". Select "CD Quality" in the "Preferred quality" list box, then click OK.
If you use some other program to record your narration, try to make sure the sampling is 16-bit, not 8-bit, and that the sample rate is 22 KHz, 44.1KHz, or 48KHz. (Note: I haven't tested the MP3 conversion utility with 48KHz files. If you need to use that sample rate, try recording and converting a short test message first.)
After recording your narration, save it as an MP3 file if your recording software allows this. If not, save it as a WAV file. It is also a good idea to play it back, either before or after saving it. Probably the best way to play it back is to find the WAV file using Windows Explorer (or whatever else you prefer to find files with), and double-click on the WAV file.
You don't have to get "perfect" takes in your files because I can edit them. You may want to record your narration in several pieces. I can put them together.
If you're able to save your recordings directly as MP3 files, you're ready to send them to me. If you had to save them as WAV files, you'll need to use the "BladeEnc" MP3 conversion utility to convert them to MP3 files. These should be of email-able size. If you don't already have the "BladeEnc.exe" file onto your computer, you may download it from here:
http://www.onr.com/user/ldedear/wmmm/tools/bladeenc.exe
Copy the link and paste it into your browser's "Go to" or "Address" area, then press the "Enter" key. If you're not sure how to copy, try highlighting the entire link with our mouse, then pressing Ctrl-C. To paste, click where you want it to go, then press Ctrl-P.
After clicking or pasting, a dialog box should come up asking you what you want to do with the file. Netscape should give you a "Save As" box. Microsoft Internet Explorer will probably give you a "File Download" box where you will have to click "Save this program to disk" and then click "OK". The "Save As" box should then come up.
In either case, when you see the "Save As" dialog box, click the "Up One Level" icon (it isn't labeled unless you hold the mouse pointer over it, but it looks like a yellow file folder with a bent arrow pointing left, then up). Keep clicking it until the "Save In" box says "Desktop", then click "OK".
Once you've done that, you should have an icon labeled "bladeenc.exe" on your desktop (you may have to move or shrink other windows before you can see it).
To use the program, you first need to find your WAV files using the Windows Explorer or through the "My Computer" icon. You'll need to make your file-finding window small enough so it doesn't cover up the "bladeenc.exe" icon on your desktop. What you will do is use the mouse to drag your WAV files from the file-finding window and drop them on top of the "bladeenc.exe" icon.
A black window will open up after you drop your file on the "bladeenc.exe" icon, it should say "Press ENTER to exit" or something like that. Press the "Enter" key to close that box.
Your WAV files won't actually move anywhere, but after closing the black box, you should see new MP3 files in the same place where the WAV files are. Email the MP3 files.