Archive for the ‘audio’ Category

Another custom cms web design client has recorded an audio testimonial with feedback after the recent launch of their custom website project. Follow this link to the Atlanta recruiter cms web design project overview, and then listen to the audio recording of the customer’s comments. A text transcript is posted with the audio, also.

Remarkably, within a month of the launch of this custom cms web design and matching blog, their site achieved Google page one listings for some very generic search phrases related to recruiting services in the Atlanta area. I never guarantee any client page one in search engines, yet following the search engine optimization advice for natural seo quality worked quickly for them.

The secret to search engine optimization is still “add original quality content often”. Success begins with a quality web design as the foundation for performing well online. The kind comments from Fidelis Search LLC owner Brian Swaney about the custom cms web design are certainly appreciated.

A new podcast episode entitled Low Budget Podcast Production released earlier includes an interview with pro podcaster Fred Greenhalgh of FinalRune Productions and Radio Drama Revival. FinalRune produces audio theater drama recordings in live settings to recreate the feel of old time radio programs predating television. Listen online. The quality is excellent.

In the interview Fred mentions cost effective products for small business podcasts that he uses for audio field production outside the studio, plus a condenser mic with outstanding quality at an affordable price. The product brands and item numbers were not spelled out in the podcast, so I took a closer look and was very surprised at the high quality and affordable price of the C01U mic and Zoom H2 recorder.

The podcast episode explores FinalRune’s portable recording equipment and suggestions for microphones for small business podcasters. A shoutout was given to one of his favorite suppliers, SweetWater.com, and a closer look shows they carry the two products he mentions during the show. Readers who listen to the podcast, may want to visit Sweetwater.com for a closer look at the Samson C01U USB podcasting mic, and the Zoom H2 4-mic portable hand held digital recorder.

Now I have some podcast equipment “toys” to add to my Christmas wish list.

Email inquiries received this week from two visitors asked for advice about web design audio and video tips including audio or video templates. Advice given on web design for podcasts, audio books, and video tutorials is presented here for all website and blog or podcast owners.

Here’s some advice for do-it-yourself multimedia audio or video production. The steps involve planning, production, and distribution, so understanding more details helps me offer advice for each step. As just one example, if multimedia is informal just for site visitors, or a downloadable video, you most likely won’t need a CD cover or other artwork unless you need something virtual like an online website graphic.

If I had to specify a quality range for production it would be 1) amateur, 2) advanced, and 3) professional and certainly the costs for production would relate to the quality requirements.

My podcast of web design advice is done at home with a usb stereo microphone and then I use Audacity (freeware) to edit out the uhms, ahhs, and mistakes. I then mix the background music and narration tracks into a single mp3 file. The same process is used in website video production for screencast tutorials on my site except I’m adding the audio track to the video during post production edit.

For podcast episodes, audio interviews, or free online video tutorials I’m content with advanced level quality. For multimedia intended for sale my advice would be higher quality equipment beginning with a condenser microphone to achieve the professional level. Booking time in a recording studio would ensure top quality depending on your audience and budget.

For my readers and site visitors interested in web design services and assistance in do-it-yourself projects for audio or video, be prepared by providing details on those key steps: planning, production, and distribution. Custom website design services include html or xhtml code templates plus scripts or flash for audio players or video players to add to a custom web design.

Staying on top of technology is part of my job in custom web design and development, and just when you thought you heard everything something new comes along. Designing sites for accessibility means making it easier for disabled persons to access your content. To my surprise, one site goes beyond simple text, and does it very well.

Here’s what happened just recently. For one of my personal blogs I use FeedBlitz for readers to subscribe to posts, and I get emailed copies of their broadcasts announcing new posts, also. I file the announcements without much thought, but decided to read the latest. WOW! As expected, a story posted on my personal childhood storytelling blog was linked in the announcement email, but it included an icon for a pc speaker. Curious, I followed the link to find that my personal blog posts are being digitized from text to audio as an RSS feed, and available for listeners to hear!

Visit Growin’ Up in Maine with the story of a photo postcard my Grandmother showed me when I was 6. Next, open up another tab in your browser and follow this link to hear the digitized audio of the story told with a female voice and matching the blog post perfectly word for word.

One aspect of web design that deserves more attention is website accessibility making the internet as equal as possible for persons with disabilities. For example, my web designs in xhtml with css are easier for screen readers to extract and present content spoken aloud digitally to blind persons. A very small percentage of web developers design websites for accessibility, and others may not care.

The voice tempo of the digitized version of my post was nearly human, and it was perfectly clear with fewer odd pauses than I would have expected. If you know a blind or vision impaired person who goes online, you may want to introduce them to this audio feed service from talkr.com that will allow them to listen to audio versions of written blog posts.

Quite often professional voice talent creating video or audio production use a teleprompter. For small business website multimedia production, there’s a low cost alternative to expensive dedicated teleprompter solutions when adding video or audio to your web design or podcast.

After considerable research of teleprompter software reviews, the Prompt! software from DataWay Multimedia Canada, Inc for $44 USD is my recommended choice. A free lite version may be downloaded, also. Here’s the list of features from their website, MovieClip.biz:

• Text can be imported and exported
• Simple text editing is available
• Native files can be saved
• User customizable controls
• Macintosh or Windows playback
• Control over font size
• Mirrors text display on screen
• Mouse or keyboard control
• Lite version available
• Multiple resolutions
• Works with most remotes (not included)
• Cheap!

Prompt! version7.0 is a standalone application that allows keeping multiple windows open during recording. My advice is preparing your audio script in NotePad and then load it into Prompt! with copy and paste. The scrolling text may be adjusted by size, color and background, and scroll speed. The Lite version is limited to 2500 characters, so you may want to do a test drive with Lite before making a purchase.

Using a teleprompter for short clips or full presentations allows readers to focus on content to eliminate gasps, oohs, or aahs during recording. Speaking extemporaneously is very difficult for most small business owners, and a prepared message is more likely to enhance the multimedia production. Reading from an audio script will be faster and more professional when adding audio or video to your website, blog, or podcast. Download Prompt! here.

From a chance encounter with a reader of my personal blog, Growin’ Up in Maine, I recently completed and uploaded a custom audio production to allow readers to listen to this guest storyteller. The narration is by Larry Hall, 91 years old, and he agreed to having me record his story rather than just post it as text.

Visit the blog to hear this humorous tale Roping the Grammar School Bell in 1928, and a bonus story about the local sheriff’s brand new Model T Ford. This is a unique piece about growing up in a small town nearly 80 years ago. Listeners are welcome to inquire about custom audio or video production for their small business blog or website, as well.

For clients interested in adding audio to their small business website, custom audio player color schemes can be designed to match your site. The graphic below shows 6 players slightly smaller than actual size, and the code used to generate these meets xhtml 1.1 standards per W3C to easily integrate into your website design.

Colors shown are two tone versions with light and dark each of silver, green, and blue. The choices for custom color schemes to match your site are practically unlimited with up to 16 million colors. The top view of each audio player is how it displays closed and ready to play on your site, and each bottom view shows the view during play.

Audio can be used for introductions, customer testimonials, a small business blog, or even regular shows similar to my Small Business Website Mailbag podcast. The latest podcast episode comparing dynamic and static websites was released earlier today if you want to listen and view a tan version of this player.

With the release of episode 002 of the Small Business Website Mailbag podcast, feedback and customer reviews from listeners has been positive and encouraging. USA and international email comments were received from two professional web designers and existing clients which included the following:

Just listened to your podcast. I found it to be excellent, clear and informative; your voice inflection is awesome. I’ll be tuning in regularly.

Excellent job, precise, direct to the point and informative. Who could ask for more?

Enjoyed the podcast very much. Actually I think it’s a much better idea than video in a way because it can be totally scripted and read. You just can’t do that with video.

Looks like a home run Jim!! I would like to set up something for people that have questions, too.

The podcast show topics cover websites for small business owners and each episode features a tip of the day, plus a catchy opening and closing theme song. One reply included a tutorial request for a new custom video production as featured on this blog, also.

Feedback is certainly appreciated, and I’ll be sure to give serious consideration to listener requests taken from the website mailbag. Thanks.

Here’s another example custom video production to demo combining still photos, narration, and background music for small business website designs. This uses a set of original photographs that I took in 1989 when my wife and I had the pleasure of a ride on the Goodyear blimp Columbia that I won in a drawing.

The video may be viewed as entitled Goodyear Blimp Photo Slideshow on YouTube also.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khTVDZnzyrE]

The background music is my theme for videos as well as audio productions used on my small business advice podcast. Note the transition between slides and the effect used for the sequential appearance of titles in the intro and exit credits. If you are interested in a custom audio or video for your small business website, contact me with what you have in mind.

Today’s announcement is the launch of the Small Business Website Mailbag podcast, a new feature with an audio version of small business advice so you can hear me rather than reading it. The first podcast Episode 001 is entitled Small Business Podcast Intro and includes the following outline in the show notes:

• My reason for starting this show
• The podcast content and outline
• Options for listener interaction
• My qualifications for offering advice
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Small Business Podcast Introduction
0:09:38 Tip of the Day – Writing for Blogs versus Websites
0:11:01 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:11:32 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 001

For those who have viewed my custom website video productions, the podcast includes the same theme song which reinforces my market branding.

All podcast shows focus on websites for small business owners with expert advice that you may now hear online instead of tolerating my (sometimes) long-winded phone calls. Please visit this new advice podcast for small business and post a comment or email me with feedback or suggested topics.