The Basics of Scriptwriting

Posted on by sherbul

There are a few simple things to keep in mind when it comes to writing a script for broadcast or radio. Here are seven tips to get you started.

Let’s begin with formatting.

  • Write narration in ALL CAPS
    • Here is one of Michael Barbaro’s scripts for his New York Times podcast, The Daily:
Notice how he bolds and italicizes certain words so they are read with certain emphases?
  • Quotes are written as they would be in regular text:
    • Example: “I really like the Comm Lab!”
  • Titles Come Before Names
    • Example: “SIMMONS UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT LYNN WOOTEN” NOT “LYNN WOOTEN, PRESIDENT OF SIMMONS UNIVERSITY”
  • Give Pronouncers For Names
    • HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI [PEL-O-SI]
    • PROFESSOR ERICA MOURA [MORE-AH]

Now let’s talk about how to write.

  • Write The Way You Speak
    • Nothing sounds worse than a stiff, monotone voice on the air. Be yourself, not a robot–people can hear the difference!
  • Keep It Short and Sweet
    • Listeners want digestible information. Keeping your language clear and simple helps your audience make sense of what you’re telling them. It also keeps your story accessible. Don’t weigh down your script with long, wordy sentences.
      • Pro Tip: If you can’t say the sentence in one breath, make it shorter.
  • Describe The Story
    • There are no pictures in radio, you have to make one with words instead. Precise and descriptive language is key to transporting your audience to the scene and getting them as close to the story as possible.

This is by no means a complete guide on how to write a script but these seven tips should help get you started. Happy scriptwriting!

How To Get Free Sound Effects in Adobe Audition

Posted on by sherbul

Sound effects can easily add life to a dull audio track–finding free, legal, sound effects can be a lot harder. Luckily there is a simple way to access thousands of different sound effect bundles for free from Adobe Audition!

Let’s walk through it.

First open Adobe Audition then hover over the “Help” button at the top of your computer screen.

Next, select the “Download Sound Effects and More…” button.

Your computer will automatically open a new page in your web browser that takes you to Adobe Audition’s download page.

Once on this page, click “View Downloads”

This will take you to the page with all of the available sound bundles. There are thousands of free, downloadable sounds for any of your producing needs–happy hunting!

How to Record Interview Audio in Zoom

Posted on by sherbul

High-quality audio is essential for successful podcasts. Check out this helpful video and blog post from The Podcast Host to learn how to optimize sound quality and record separate audio for you and your guest!

You can find the blog post here

Key Takeaways:

Audio Optimization

  • Zoom has great audio enhancers already built into the software. This helps you get good audio quality even if the place you’re recording at is a bit noisy

  • If you prefer your own set up with a mic and headphones be sure to go: Settings–Audio–Advanced Settings–and enable “original sound” and turn off the audio enhancers under Audio Processing

To Record Separate Audio for Two Speakers/People

  • Record both speakers audio separately by going to Settings — Recording — Local Recording– then click “Record a separate audio file for each person who speaks”

This should leave you with two separate m4a audio files that you can easily upload to iMovie, Garageband, and Adobe Audition!

Recording From Home: The Best Set-Ups

Posted on by sherbul

Over the past year, COVID19 has forced us to get creative when recording at home. Without recording booths and sound-proofed walls, the task can feel daunting–especially for someone just starting out.

Do not fear!

Here are three easy setups that can help you get quality audio recordings right from your bedroom.

Setup 1: The Ol’ Comforter

What you’ll need:

  • A comforter (or blanket) big enough to cover you and your mic.

This is probably the easiest setup for at-home recording. All you need is a comforter and a little patience and you’re good to go.

Step 1: Prepare to record. Whether this means connecting your mic to your laptop or simply plugging your headphones into your phone, make sure you’re ready to go.

Step 2: Throw the comforter over you and the mic. Make sure there’s enough room for you to breathe and your mic is in a good position to record. Sometimes I will prop the comforter up on pillows around me to help create space underneath.

Step 3: Record!

It can take some adjusting and a few tries to perfect but a blanket fort can create a great barrier between you and outside sound. The result is crisp, interruption-free audio.

The outside (no pillow prop) and the inside (pillow prop) of my comforter recording booth!

Setup 2: The Sound Cave

What you’ll need:

  • A comforter or large blanket
  • An ironing board or a desk and chair
  • A bed (optional)

If you want more room to move around or have materials you’d like to have while inside your at-home recording booth (a snack or script, perhaps), the sound cave will be right for you.

Much like is smaller cousin, the comforter booth, the sound cave relies on a blanket to buffer sound. However, the sound cave gives you more room to work. Bonus: your head doesn’t need to be used to prop it up!

Toss your comforter over your ironing board and sneak under it for a hassle-free recording space with a little more elbow room. For addition wiggle room, drape one side of your blanket over your ironing board and the other end over a bed or desk!

Check out this spiffy set up by Howard Bernes, retired NPR Investigations reporter. Peep the ironing board in the back!

Setup 3: The Closet

This final setup is extremely simple and takes seconds to complete!

Step 1: Sit down in your closet and close the door.

Step 2: Record.

Yep. That’s it. Your closet can be an ideal space to record because it has built in buffering from the clothes hanging above you. The material will help absorb sound just like a blanket would and closing the closet door will provide extra sound-blocking.

If you have a light in your closet (lucky you), go ahead and turn it on so you’re not sitting in the dark. If you don’t have a light in your closet (no worries), let the light from your laptop screen illuminate your smiling face and enjoy your new recording booth!

This set up is possible even with a tiny closet like mine!

Check out Comm Lab Agent Katie Cole’s advanced set up! She pinned her old pillow push onto the walls and put a desk in her closet! Go Katie!

Best of luck with your at-home recording booths! Be sure to tag @commlabsu in any of your setup photos, we love to see it!