Transcript CD Production in Your School - Fayette County Public Schools

CD Production
in Your School
Some tools, some lessons,
some ideas . . .
The agenda . . .
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Some thoughts about projects
Recording – the first tier
Converting to digital
Editing your project
Burning to CD
Your jewel case – packaging
Equipment costs
Production costs
The projects
• Music events:
– Performances by your music ensembles
– Individual student projects
– Teachers/others – enhancing the classroom
• Sound effects:
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Drama productions
Video projects
Announcements
PowerPoint and Web
• The spoken word
– Speech and Drama
– Poetry/Prose
The projects (continued)
• Be wary of initial enthusiasm, followed
by follow-through failure!
– Projects tend to be abandoned if results are
marginal and production isn’t fast!
– Get a good example success.
• CD production as fund raiser
– The potential mark-up is wonderful, but . . .
– Don’t depend on student sales
– If at all possible, market directly to parents –
sell at open houses, PTSA meetings
Recording – First Tier
• Microphones:
– Use dictates quality and design
– For music: buy first quality, and don’t tell
anyone!
– Consider lavalieres for speech
• Sound Mixers
– Necessary if you ever want to use more than one
mike!
– Serves as a level matcher for recording devices
Converting to Digital
(in reverse order of preference)
• Recording to tape, and re-recording to computer
– Tape is noisy, computer sound is second-generation –
you’ll not be very happy with music recorded this way . . .
• Recording direct to computer:
– Fine for speech, OK for music, but you’ll need a mixer if
you want to use a decent microphone!
• The real-time CD-R recorder
– Excellent for convenience, CDs can be used instantly,
good digital conversion.
• Digital converters for your computer:
– The best for quality, but the least convenient for use –
another piece of hardware!
Converting to Digital
(continued . . . )
• Use the highest quality your recording
medium (real-time burner, computer) offers
– 44,100 Hz Stereo at 16 bits is standard for CD
quality
– It’s always possible to “dumb down” a
recording, but you can’t add back quality and
fidelity that has been lost!
– Don’t assume the default settings will cover
you! Check them!
Converting to Digital (continued . . . )
Editing your project
• It’s all about software!
– Get one that converts CD sound files especially if you’re using a CD-R real-time
burner.
– Should convert file formats (MP3/WAV/CD)
– Should provide some elementary effects
• Some suggestions:
– Cool Edit – shareware version is free!
– MusicMatch – gives elementary recording and
file conversion, but very little else.
– Cakewalk – full MIDI support as well as sound
recording, but effects are not as high-quality as
Cool Edit.
Editing your project
• What to do:
– Chop beginning and ending noise and
blank space.
– Check for clips (volume going beyond
acceptable range) . . . Compress if the
levels are too extreme
– Don’t overdo the “sweetening” (reverb)!
– Normalize!
– Listen! Undo if it doesn’t sound good!
Experiment!
Burning to CD
• Again – you’ll need software!
• Use only CD-R disks, not CD-RW’s – the
latter won’t play on your CD player!
• WAV’s and MP3’s also will not play on CD
players. Burn a music CD – your software
will tell you how.
• If your project won’t end up on CD –
choose your format for your end product:
– MP3’s for the Web and PowerPoint
– WAVs for on-computer use of short clips.
The Package
• Software comes with jewel case insert and
label blanks (not refills).
• You’ll need digital pictures! The more the
merrier!
• Make sure you purchase blanks for your
printer: Ink-jet (glossy) blanks will not
work in laser printers, and laser blanks will
not print well in ink-jets.
• Include your group name, a list of the CD
contents, a list of “Thanks to . . .,” contact
information including your school phone
number and email address.
Costs - Hardware
• Microphones:
– From $20 to $2,000. Expect to pay $100 for a mike that
records music reasonably well.
• Mixers:
– From $250. If you’re using a mixer remotely, the smaller
the better! Cheap is fine here, since mixers are rarely the
limiting factor.
• Real-time CD-R Recorders:
– Between $350 and $600 for a decent CD-R.
• Digital Converters for your computer:
– $200 up for internal cards
– $400 up for external converters (preferred)
– Sound Blaster Live ($99) will do reasonably well, but will
not handle balanced inputs (better mikes)
• CD-R’s:
Costs - Production
– Blank spindles are $0.25/CD or less
– Blanks with jewel cases cost $0.80 or less
• Labels:
– Label and jewel case insert blanks run $1.00 each or less.
– Printing costs for labels and inserts will vary widely – expect
$0.20 total for a color laser you have, triple that for an ink-jet
(the labels will drink ink), and up to $3.00 per CD if you outsource your color printing costs.
• Total cost of production:
– Between $1.50 and $4.00 per CD,depending on printing costs.
– Remember you will be burning each CD separately, which is a
time-consuming process.
• The pros:
– Professional duplication and packaging will cost between $4.00
and $7.00 per CD, depending on how many you order. Most
have a minimum 1000 units, though some will do short runs.
Do it!
Your students, parents,
CATS humanities scores,
Arts programs, music and
drama teachers will thank
you!