Understanding Audio Media Types and File Formats

Audio Media

• It is a form of communication that uses audio or voice recordings to deliver information.

Types of Audio Media

• Radio broadcast is a recorded audio sent through radio waves to reach people.
• Some radio shows record their audio ahead of time and play it live during broadcast.
• Music can be vocal or instrumental sounds combined to produce harmony.
• Sound recording is a recorded interview, meeting, or any sounds in the environment.
• Sound clips/effects are sounds artificially reproduced to create a dramatic effect in a presentation.
• Audio podcasts are digital audio or video files that can be downloaded from a website to a media player.

Audio File Formats

• M4A stands for MPEG-4 audio file or audio-compressed file used due to increased quality demand from cloud storage and large hard drives.
• FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is an audio file compressed to a smaller size but not frequently used because it often needs special downloads.
• MP3 is an MPEG audio layer 3 file which is preferred because its compression saves space while maintaining near-flawless quality.
• MP4 is an audio file type and comprehensive media extension capable of holding audio, video, and other media. MP4 contains data in the file instead of code.
• WAV (Waveform Audio File) is a file that stores waveform data, demonstrating strength of volume and sound.
• WMA is a Windows-based alternative to MP3 files, with the advantage of lossless compression and high audio quality.
• AAC is an audio file that delivers high-quality sound and uses advanced coding, proving useful for mobile devices.

Characteristics of a Sound

• Volume refers to a sound's strength.
• Tone is a sound's detectable characteristic.
• Pitch refers to how high or low a sound is.
• Loudness refers to the volume or magnitude of the sound heard.

The Purpose of Sound

• Provides information.
• Provides feedback.
• Customization and personalization.

Elements of Sound Design

• Dialogue refers to speech or conversations.
• Sound effects are sounds other than music and dialogue.
• Music may include vocal or instrumental sounds that are combined in a way to produce harmony.
• Mixing is a combination of multiple sound elements
• Pace is the time control or order of events.
• Stereo imaging refers to the aspect of sound recording.
• Transition is how something moves from one segment to another.

Types of Transition

• Segue occurs when one element stops, and the next one follows.
• Cross-fade occurs when one element fades out, the next fades in, and they overlap.
• V-fade occurs when the first element fades to inaudible before the second element begins.
• Waterfall occurs when the first element fades out and the second one begins at full volume.

Motion Media

• It is a form of media that creates movement through graphics, footage, and videos, and is often combined with audio, text, and interactive content.

Characteristics of Motion Media

• It communicates a message to large, heterogeneous, and anonymous audiences simultaneously in both public and private.
• It embodies messages that are usually impersonal and transitory.
• It is a formal, authoritative channel of communication that controls visual and aural stimuli.
• It confers status upon issues, persons, organizations, or social movement.

Forms of Motion Media

• Formal media is created by professionals who follow industry standards in creating, editing, and producing motion media.
• Informal media is created by individuals often for personal use.

Four Motion Media Forms

• Motion picture in television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with or without accompanying sounds, like reality shows, game shows, talk shows, and television news.
• Interactive video is a technique used to blend interaction and linear film, including clickable "hotspot" areas.
• Video formats/video codecs: Motion media requires extensive resources; codecs compress and decompress video files, such as MP4, DivX, MPG, 3GP, AVI, and MKV.
• Education is a purpose of motion media.
• Entertainment is a purpose of motion media.
• Advertising is a purpose of motion media.
• Personal is a source for motion media.
• Social Media is a source for motion media.
• Media companies are a source for motion media.
• Private or public is a type of audience for motion media.
• Directed is a type of audience for motion media.
• General is a type of audience for motion media.

Types of Motion Media

• Video footage is the raw, unedited material filmed by a movie camera or recorded by a video camera, and is usually edited.
• Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, and broadcasting of moving visual images.

Elements of Motion Media

• Speed includes trajectories, impact on objects, and reactions of the environment.
• Timing: fast movement sends information, and slow movement shows emphasis and lasting recall.
• Transition is used to switch between scenes.
• Sound and color adds depth and meaning to movement.
• Cartooning: graphics and text provide dynamic movement through stretching, rotating, and squashing.
• Blurring provides the illusion of the last movement and is used to censor for security or decency in videos.