PortablePD.ca

Time to put on your troubleshooting gloves.  Or put it off and find something really strong to drink.  It all depends on how your day is going.

If you are using a USB headset microphone we suggest that you first plug them in and wait a few seconds so that the computer recognizes them. Then start up Audacity.

On some OCDSB computers, you will get a password prompt when anything USB is plugged in. The board has put out an installer called “USB Thumbdrive…”. Install that and reboot. Jane says the computer freezes after installation. Of course that never happened to me – so either way you have to restart.

If that doesn’t work or you are using a “regular” non-USB microphone go to edit/preferences in the Audacity menu. You’ll be in the Audio I/O tab automatically. Click on playback and record menus and select a different device. In the case of USB headsets, the name of that particular headset should show up in the menu. In the “regular” microphones just try picking a different one and cross your fingers.

Perhaps this doesn’t need to be said, but check that the microphone is plugged in to the microphone jack. It is often in both the front and back of the computer. Try both if you have the patience.

Another thing about USB headsets: they often come with an on/off button that is not so obvious to those of us, like me, who don’t read instruction manuals. A solid red (or blue or whatever) light means the mike is operating. If it is blinking it is not recording.

We hope there was something there that did the trick.

^credit

Elementary classrooms have very little budget for audio equipment so our primary concern is cost and ease of use. We need our equipment to be kid friendly and simple enough for even a teacher to understand! For that reason we aren’t getting into technical discussions about mixers, soundcards, microphone types and the like.

Portable Recorders

Nathan’s class uses an Olympus VN-960PC Recorder. It’s very easy to use and the sound quality is OK. It cost around $60, although it appears the model is no longer available.

Jane’s class uses a Sony Voice Recorder. It’s very easy to use (kid friendly) and the sound quality is better than Nathan’s recorder – not that he’s envious or anything. It’s around $100.

The downside for both of these recorders is the fact that software has to be installed in order to get the sound onto a computer. This is problematic in our school board as we do not have privileges to install software.

Keep in mind these specific models may no longer be available.

Nathan has read rave reviews about the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder for around $220. It has far superior sound to the voice recorder and easier to upload to computer because it doesn’t require any software to be installed.

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USB Microphone/Headset

We use Logitech USB headsets (we actually won ours in a door prize, but they cost around $40) to record students on their own. Most of our podcast introductions are recorded this way. The sound is much better than voice recorders and students are far less likely record themselves bumping the mike.