AUDIO SOFTWARE
The software programs listed here are just a few of many available audio software programs that are designed to help you listen to, download, organize, record, edit, add special effects to and share digital audio.
Software |
Description |
License |
Platform |
| Audacity | Multi-track audio editor and recorder | Free | Mac, PC |
| iTunes | Organize, share & listen to music | Free | Mac, PC |
| PearLyrics | Look up song lyrics & chords from iTunes | Free | Mac |
| Audio Hijack Pro | Record, enhance any audio from any source | Free | Mac |
| Audion | Encode, edit, mix, sort & manage audio | Free | Mac |
| Sound Studio | Record, edit & add effects to audio | Commercial, Trial | Platform |
| AudioGalaxy/Sputnix | Unlimited music downloads | Free | Mac, PC |
| Text to MP3 | Can read text files and save to speech to MP3 | Commercial, Trial | Mac, PC |
| GarageBand | Record, edit & add effects to audio | Commercial | Mac |
The varied capabilities of an audio tool include, but are not limited to the following: record live from microphone, line input or other sources, dub over existing tracts to create multi-track recordings, monitor volume levels before, during and after recording, import, edit, and combine sound files with other files or new recordings, export your recordings in several file formats, edit with cut, copy, paste and delete features, edit and mix a number of tracks, fade the volume up or down, change pitch, tempo, remove static, hiss, hum or other background noises, add special sound effects, organize, play, and share your music files. The audio tools can be used across the curriculum and in varied grade levels.
- Applied Technology: Audio software in applied technology can help students communicate community and environmental issues through recording for example; a speech, instructions, or advertisement and sharing their audio files with community members and workplace personnel.
- Art: Audio software in the arts is a tool for students to express themselves through creating their own music, lyrics, or spoken performance. They can record new audio files or import existing digital sound files, edit them and add special effects. The audio files can be exported into a movie or MP3 player.
- Foreign Language: Audio software in foreign language can help students improve their listening and reading skills as they hear text files converted into speech and read along. Their speaking skills are developed as they record, playback, get feedback and edit their own speech in the target language. Lyrics from songs in the target language can further develop their vocabulary and grammar.
- Health and Physical Education: Audio software in health and physical education is a tool for students to communicate by recording and sharing audio files that advocate for issues related to health and fitness.
- Language Arts: Audio software in the language arts helps students to develop their reading and listening skills as they hear and read along with text files that are converted into speech. They can also record their own speech as they read something they have written. Their speaking and writing skills are developed as they repeat the text and as they play it back, get feedback and edit their own speech and text. Students can analyze the language and literary techniques in the lyrics of their favorite songs. They can add their voice tracks to presentations and slideshow projects.
- Mathematics: Audio software in math is a tool for students to learn about fractions, meters and measures while editing and mixing music. Audio software can help students to record their spoken words describing an abstract concept or how to perform a computation.
- Science: Audio software in science can help students to understand, communicate and share their description of a procedure or an abstract concept. These digital audio files can be imported into a movie. Audio also can be used to capture sounds from nature for replay and learning (ie bird calls).
- Social Studies: Audio software in social studies helps students to understand, communicate and share their research of a historical time period, culture, important historical person or current event. These digital audio files can be imported into a movie.
Sample Lesson Plans
The following sample lesson plans provide a general idea on how the audio software tool can be integrated in a content area and grade level. Although there may not be an example for every content area or at every grade level, the lessons from one content area or grade level can often be adapted to another due to its open-ended approach.
Grade Level k-2
Language Arts
- Talking Books: Student will develop their reading skills by reading along with the movie.
Science
- Testing Dissolved Oxygen: Students will collaborate to test for dissolved oxygen.
Grade Levels 3-5
Arts: Visual
- Animated Cartoons: Students will create an animated iMovie out of pictures created in art class.
- Gettysburg Movie: Students will know the causes and important events of the Civil War by reading and depicting the Gettysburg Address.
- Interactive Journeys: Students will use technology to enhance their field trip.
- Poem Movies: Students will develop a sense of imagery by choosing appropriate pictures to go with the poem.
- Procedure Movies: Students will use details to describe classroom procedures.
Arts: Theatre
- Gettysburg Movie: Students will know the causes and important events of the Civil War by reading and depicting the Gettysburg Address.
Language Arts
- Animated Cartoons: Students will create an animated iMovie out of pictures created in art class.
- Gettysburg Movie: Students will know the causes and important events of the Civil War by reading and depicting the Gettysburg Address.
Social Studies
- Gettysburg Movie: Students will know the causes and important events of the Civil War by reading and depicting the Gettysburg Address.
Grade Levels 6-8
Arts: Music
- Learning Abstract Concepts: Students will create a movie with photos, graphics and music that depicts an abstract concept.
Arts: Visual
- Learning Abstract Concepts: Students will create a movie depicting an abstract concept.
- Must Love Animals: Students will research an animal they are interested in and present their findings in a AppleWorks slideshow.
Grade Levels 9-12
Arts: Theatre
- Creating an Animated Film: Students will develop an understanding of the animation process by working collaboratively to create an animated film.
Arts: Visual
- Creating an Animated Film: Students will develop an understanding of the animation process by working collaboratively to create an animated film.
Language Arts
- Poetry Movies: Students will use a variety of technology applications to learn about the origin of selected poems including the poet, the poem's poetic devices, and analyze/describe poem's meaning.