Audio 1 Assignment

You will conduct a journalistic interview, record it live, edit it in Audacity, and turn in one correctly formatted MP3 file.

Weeks: 2 and 3

Grade value: 15 points

Assignment Part 1

After the Week 2 class meeting, follow instructions given in class (Week 2) to conduct an interview with a fellow student. Record that interview -- live and unrehearsed -- on your audio recorder. Record the entire interview in ONE FILE on the recorder.

Ensure that your interview subject gives a clear, complete self-ID (for example, "My name is Jennifer Smith, and I'm a sophomore at UF").

Length of interview: About 5 minutes (Use your head -- if someone says "about 5 minutes," do you think she really means 3 minutes? Or 6 minutes? No, she does not.) Do it over again if you mess up the first time.

Due: Week 3 (Bring file to class on your recorder; you will upload the file from your recorder at the beginning of class. If you need a USB cable, bring it.)

Grading (5 points)

About the grading

Length: You will lose 2 points if the interview is too long or too short.

Sound quality: You will lose 1 point if the sound is poor (muddy, noisy, tinny, or otherwise not clear) and 2 points if the sound is very poor (difficult to understand what the interviewee is saying; hard to pay attention to because of distracting noise).

Content: You will lose 1 point if you have not interviewed your subject in a professional manner and/or if the interview is not about an interesting topic (this is discussed during class). You will also lose this point if the answers sound rehearsed or if it sounds like the interviewee is reading his or her answers. In other words, this has to be a real interview.

Submitting the file

When you come to class on the day this assignment is due, follow these instructions.

Assignment Part 2

After the Week 3 class meeting, follow instructions given in class (Week 3) to edit your audio file and export an MP3 file that meets the requirements. Handouts you need to read are linked on Week 3.

Length of MP3: 60–90 seconds

Due: Week 4 (bring file to class on a USB thumb drive)

Example

Below is an example of a completed, edited MP3 file (1 min. 10 sec.) -- note the clear ID and coherent, single topic. (Click the triangle to play it.) This is good content.

Don't worry about the player -- only the edited MP3 file is your concern for this assignment.

Grading (10 points)

If you turn in a file that is not an MP3, you will have missed your deadline and will take penalties (see Grading).

Submitting the file

When you come to class on the day this assignment is due, follow these instructions.