Audio Interview


DEFINITION

An audio interview is a digital audio recording, saved in a compressed (like MP3) or uncompressed (like WAV) file format. Audio interviews are sometimes shared in “podcasts” or “Internet radio shows,” which are subscribable channels of pre-recorded audio and/or video files available for on-demand listening. Podcasts usually feature different segments (or spots) combined into a single program, and are released on an episodic basis.

WORKFLOW

Initial Setup

  1. Teacher obtains and tests microphone and software for recording.
  2. Teacher creates website for hosting/sharing audio files.

Ongoing Use

  1. Students prepare a “storyboard” for the show.
  2. Students write essays / scripts for each “corner” or spot in the show.
  3. Students record each show spot, saving each as an audio file.
  4. Student editor combines audio spots into a single program.
  5. Teacher publishes final audio file.

The instructional coaching presentation, “Tips for Student Podcasting Projects with Anchor,” includes helpful recommendations and resources for teachers using audio interview projects for student assessment.

The media literacy lesson, “Family Oral History Interviews” provides examples of how to structure and scaffold skills for an audio interview project in the classroom.

An updated (August 2019) handout for students, as well as video tutorials for using Voice Record Pro or Anchor for audio podcasting on a smartphone is available!

The following graphic, from the July 2015 “Podcasting Options with WordPress” by Wesley Fryer, highlights the five production and post-production steps of a radio show or podcast: Record, Edit, Export, Upload, and Link.

The 5.5 minute video, “How We Make a Podcast” by 3rd and 4th graders in Bob Sprankle’s 2006 elementary classroom provides an excellent summary of their radio show production cycle. Note the availability of apps with free hosting can significantly simply and streamline this process, however. If you are interested in creating conference/event podcasts, see the post, “Conference Podcast Recipe and Workflow.”

CREATION TOOLS

for laptop / desktop computers:

  1. TwistedWave.com Online Editor
  2. Anchor.fm (free hosting, web-based and app-based creation tools, audio bumpers)
  3. Spreaker (free 10 hours of radio shows, browser-based)
  4. Audacity (free, computer-based, Win/Mac/Linux)
  5. GarageBand for Mac
  6. Hipcast (commercial only / monthly subscription required)
  7. Podbean (commercial only / monthly subscription required)

for iOS:

  1. Voice Record Pro (free, unlimited recording length, multiple import/export options)
  2. Anchor for iOS (free, includes free hosting)
  3. Ferrite Recording Studio (free, multiple export/sharing options)
  4. iPadio (free, runs on iPhone,  iPod Touch & iPad)
  5. Spreaker DJ (free, for iPad, free Spreaker.com accounts can include 10 hours of audio)
  6. Spreaker Radio and podcast recorder (free, for all iOS devices, same free hosting limits as above)
  7. Bossjock Studio ($10, 35 audio “carts” of clips to include, multiple import/export options, imports from GoodReader)
  8. GarageBand for iOS ($5, multi-track podcast editing “up to 320 bars,” imports from GoodReader)
  9. DropVox ($2, records directly to DropBox)
  10. Rec Pad ($1)
  11. Mobile Podcaster (free, for WordPress sites)
  12. Hindenburg Field Recorder ($30, too expensive!)
  13. Hipster (app is free, but service requires monthly subscription)
  14. More recommendations in this Appolicious list

For Android :

  1. Anchor (free, includes free hosting)
  2. Spreaker Radio (free, Spreaker.com accounts can include 10 hours of audio)

For Windows Tablets:

  1. Anchor.fm (free hosting, web-based and app-based creation tools, audio bumpers)
  2. Spreaker (free 10 hours of radio shows, browser-based)

Online Utility Apps

  1. Audio Joiner (merge / combine audio)
  2. Auphonic (web-based normalization)

HOSTING OPTIONS

If your podcasting app does not provide free or paid hosting, you will need to use a 3rd party hosting service which will make your podcast files available for download on the Internet. Ideally your podcast host will also generate the RSS feed (subscription feed) for your podcast. Options include:

  1. Anchor.fm (free hosting)
  2. Podiant (free, subscriptions available for support access)
  3. Fireside (1 unlimited plan, $15/month)
  4. Libysyn (several commercial plans available)
  5. AmazonS3 (Relatively low cost but not optimized for podcasters, requires creation of an RSS feed separately using a WordPress plugin like PodLove or a separate software program like FeedForAll. Can get download statistics with S3Stat.)
  6. Podbean
  7. PodOmatic
  8. Anchor
  9. Ruby.fm
  10. SoundCloud
  11. Buzzsprout
  12. AudioBoom

VIDEO TUTORIALS

Basic

  1. Record a Podcast on an iPhone with Voice Record Pro (5 min, 5 sec)
  2. Record a Podcast on a Smartphone with Anchor (9 min, 6 sec)
  3. What is a Podcast? (8 min, 35 sec)
  4. Get on Air in 60 seconds | Spreaker Intro Tutorial (2 min, 20 sec)
  5. Include Audio in KidBlog Post (2 min, 13 sec)

Intermediate / Advanced

  1. Edit a Multi-Part Podcast in Audacity (27 min, 50 sec – Feb 2021)
  2. Create a Multi-Track Radio Show (Podcast) with Audacity (20 min, 27 sec – April 2013)
  3. All-iPad Class Radio Show with AudioBoo, Bossjock, GoodReader, & SoundCloud  (14 min, 38 sec)
  4. How to copy & paste podcast audio from BossJack on iOS into GarageBand for iOS (3 min, 8 sec) – from “How to Create a Course Podcast with Dropbox in 5 Easy Steps” by Jason Rhode
  5. Audio Technica ATR 2100 USB mic into Bossjock podcast app for iOS (3 min, 49 sec) by Ray Ortega
  6. Music Radio Creative Podcast about Adobe Audition by Mike Russell
  7. Auphonic Introduction Video (2 min)

Mission ‘Pod’sible by Rachelle Wooten (free iBooks eBook for iPad)

EXAMPLES

  1. Family Oral History Interviews by 6th Graders at Casady School in Oklahoma City (2020-21)
  2. Wegovox- Wildcat podcast: West Chicago High School Podcast (by @wegotwits)
  3. Immigration in Mamaroneck, New York (High school journalism podcast via @mikesammartanomore on Medium)
  4. Evan, Madison & Andrew on the String Phone (4th graders, Yukon, Oklahoma)
  5. Room 208 Podcast: 3rd Graders in Bob Sprankle’s 2006 class in Wells, Maine, USA
  6. Math Out Loud: 10 math definition podcasts by Julie McLeod‘s students (2011)

Older links I still need to check / verify:

  1. Portable Radio: Mr. Toft’s Grade 4/5 class at Berrigan Elementary School in Ottawa, Canada (more info)
  2. Berwick Lodge Primary School Podcasts (Warragul, Australia)
  3. Podcasting Library of the Allen Brook School, a K-2 school in Williston, Vermont
  4. History Now on Cub Radio: Podcasts by elementary students taught by Linda Yolis in California
  5. Write Out Loud: 4 audio podcasts by Canadian students (2008)
  6. Radio WillowWeb: Elementary students at Willowdale Elementary in Omaha, Nebraska, USA
  7. Oak Lawn Hometown School Podcasts (Illinois, USA)
  8. How and Why to Pray Radio Show (5th graders at FPCE in Edmond, Oklahoma, USA  in Nov 2011 – podcast no longer available because cinch.fm is offline)

MICROPHONE OPTIONS

  1. iRig Microphone ($60 – works with iOS and Android, also Apple laptops)
  2. iRig Mic Cast ($40 – works with iOS and Android, also Apple laptops)
  3. Plantronics 655 Audio Headset ($30)
  4. Audio Technica ATR 2100 USB mic ($44)
  5. Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit ($30 – for supported USB mics)

Mobile Digital Recorders

  1. Sony ICD PX312 – digital voice recorder ($50)
  2. RCA VR5330 2GB Digital Voice Recorder ($35)

Online services supporting “live” radio shows:

  1. StreamYard
  2. Spreaker
  3. iPadio
  4. BlogTalkRadio

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Radio Show

View more lists from Wesley Fryer

Permanent link to this article: https://showwithmedia.com/audio-interview/

1 comment

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    • Shirley R. on October 15, 2012 at 8:56 am
    • Reply

    My students would like to try the Radio Show. They would like to change appearances but then add voice.

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