[etni] Digital Audio Formats for Bagrut (and just practice)

From: James Backer <drjamesbacker@xxxxxxxxx>
To: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:45:00 -0800 (PST)
Greetings, all!

Yes, Linda is correct in saying that "Audacity" will allow you to input from a 
tape play-back machine and create an output in various digital 
formats. Audacity is free from Source Forge at: 
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

But Adele was referring to an additional problem: kids having machines that 
play one audio format, but not necessarily another. Audacity limits the output 
possibilities to wav, mp3, and ogg - and does so one at a time, for each file 
that is processed in Audacity.

A good way to handle this problem is to use a format converter. (Audacity is an 
audio *editor.*)

I use "Quick Media Converter" which is offered, for free, by Cocoon Software 
at: http://www.cocoonsoftware.com/

QMC (Quick Media Converter) offers the following digital audio output formats: 
mp3, mp4 audio, wma, Zune audio, wav, and ogg. 

QMC allows for batch jobs, moving a number of files from one format to another 
format in the same short process. (Actually, I think the input batch can be 
mixed formats, but the output will always be the one you choose and be save in 
the same folder.) Audacity can't do this.

QMC doesn't demand opening the file like Audacity does because it is not an 
*editor,* it just converts the format. In addition, Audacity is a fine *audio* 
editor, but cannot handle digital video, which QMC can.

To sum up, you can take an anolog file from a tape and turn it into a digital 
format with Audacity and then convert it into a range of different digital 
formats using QMC. Then save all the audio formats on your computer, a thumb 
drive, or burn them on a CD (depending how your technology works at school). 
The kids' machines will play the appropriate file.

It's a lot easier than it sounds. With a little bit of practice you can do it 
chick-chack and listen to a good podcast at the same time.

Too bad I'm not making a commission from Cocoon Software.

Jimmy 

------------------------------

From: "Ask_Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: [etni] Fw: re: A Last Gasp for Audio Cassettes
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:17:27 +0200


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "English With Linda" <englishwithlinda@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: A Last Gasp for Audio Cassettes


Absolutely, and i have done it!
You download the program "audacity" and hook up your cassette player through
the input jack of your computer. Perhaps the sound quality you get isn't
concert-grade, but it is certainly fine for speaking and even music in the
classroom.

For full instructions, I had to google a bit....google "audacity cassettes
how to" and you will find lots of sites...i can't remember which i used.

Linda


Linda wrote:
> There is a way to do it without buying that machine. A friend of mine
> explained what to get (an inexpensive cable) and how to do it, but I have
> never had the chance to try it out.  I will ask him again and get back to
> the list!


      
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[etni] Digital Audio Formats for Bagrut (and just practice)

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