DS4OERS NUS/Audiographic/Case study

Overview of the Learning challenge

We created this short audiographic to provide an overview of this learning challenge. The audiographic was made using the same open source tools we recommend in the study materials.

Note that the audiographic includes:

1. A title slide with a music track that fades-in and then fades-out before the main body commences;
2. A process diagram, providing information on the four phases of the learning challenge, with an audio track providing more information; and
3. An acknowledgement slide to show attributions and the open licence for the audiographic, with a music track that fades-in and then fades-out at the end.

Case study

In this short case study, we provide background information on how this audiographic was created. We encourage you to visit the linked websites below to see the original resources used. Open the links in a new tab so you don't lose your place in the course materials. You can also use the "Back" option in your browser if you forget to open the link up in a new tab.

This case study provides details on the process used to produce the following elements:

• Three separate image files in PNG format, with a resolution of width: 1280px, and height: 720px. This is the resolution needed for standard HD in a 16:9 aspect ratio (We provide more information on this in the course materials)
• Three separate audio files in .MP3 format
  
  

Setting image properties

1. The first task was to set the page properties to a 'Screen 16:9' format. In this way, all content mirrors the screen dimensions for exporting individual page images in the correct ratio and resolution when creating the final video. Keeping all content aligned with the border grid-lines also means that images were the correct size for video production
   
2. The page was set to 'Landscape' orientation

Title slide image

1. The Title slide was created as the first page in LibreOffice Draw
2. This colour image of a Microphone was imported from the WikimediaCommons (originally dedicated to the public domain using CC0)
3. Background image edits:
   • The image was changed to a 'grayscale' colour, to improve contrast with the overlay text
   • The 'brightness' of the image was reduced by 20% to improve contrast with the overlay text
   • The image was enlarged to fit the page size, and then moved to improve the position of the microphone in relation to the text
   • The image was originally in a 4:3 ratio, so the top and sides were cropped to fit the screen display
   • Finally, using the "Modify" --> "Arrange" option from the main menu, we selected "Send to back" so that we could overlay text on the image
4. To improve the visual appeal and balance of the title slide, icons of the Open Source Software tools were added, in the sequence that you will be using them. These are the:
   • Audacity icon
   • LibreOffice Draw icon
   • LibreOffice Writer icon
   • OpenShot icon
5. All the software icons were selected - using the 'select' arrow combined with 'shift' plus 'select' in LibreOffice Draw - to create a temporary group. Then, using 'Modify' --> 'Align' --> Center, the icons were aligned on the centre axis
6. The title text and sub-headings were added using a different colour (yellow) for the main 'Overview' title
7. A dark grey rectangle was added at the bottom of the image to improve the contrast between the background image and the sub-titles, to make them easier to read
8. The whole page (in LibreOffice Draw) was exported as a PNG file with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels
   

Title slide audio

1. We searched dig.CCmixter for a suitable instrumental audio track and downloaded Trillium Line by Admiral Bob, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) licence
2. We imported the music track into Audacity, and then made the following edits:
   • Shortened the music track to about 12 seconds
   • Created a quick fade-in to maximum volume over approximately 2 seconds
   • At the 8-second mark, we started a gradual fade-out to silence (so that our voice-over can then introduce the audiographic)
   • Recorded the introductory sentence with the music playing in the background. Because the music track was fading-out, it did not interfere with the voice track
3. Exported the audio file for the 'Intro' track in MP3 format
   

Process diagram

1. In LibreOffice Draw, we added a new page (using the 'Insert' Menu) for our second graphic
2. Image edits:
   • The software icons were copied from page one, and pasted into page two (to continue the same visual theme)
   • 8 rectangles were added (for different phases in the process), then colour-coded for easy referencing in the script, and to direct the viewer's attention. For example, the script says: "In the first green phase ..."
   • Large numbers were inserted using LibreOffice Draw's 'Fontwork' feature
   • Large green arrows were copied and re-sized from the LibreOffice Draw gallery
   • Smaller horizontal grey arrows were created using the 'Line' draw tool, adding an arrow-head as the end point of each line
   • The four phases were introduced first by listing them, then by providing details in the corresponding rectangles
   • Minimum text was used in the graphic, knowing that more information would be provided in the audio narration
3. The second page (in LibreOffice Draw) was exported as a PNG file with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels
   

Process diagram audio

1. The audio script, written in LibreOffice Writer, was based on the diagram and refers to the colours of the rectangles in the text
2. After reviewing the text and reading it out loud, the audio was recorded in Audacity - in this case without music in the background, to make sure the voice is clear
3. The script text was converted into a .vtt file. This is a standardised markup for Web Video Text Tracks (WEbVTT) for uploading captions. (We do not include the creation of .VTT files in this course, but you can search online for more information on how to do this, if you are interested)
4. The audio file was exported from Audacity in MP3 format
   

Acknowledgement slide

1. Another page was added (in the LibreOffice Draw document) for the acknowledgement slide
2. Each image used in our audiographic is attributed with the title, author, source URL, and open licence
3. The audiographic was licensed under a CC-BY-SA licence, and this is included on the slide
4. The third page (in LibreOffice Draw) was exported as a PNG file with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels
   

Acknowledgment slide audio

1. The closing audio includes a copy of the music track created in Audacity, which fades-in quickly and then slowly fades-out to silence
2. The audio file was exported as a MP3 audio file