Audio > Audio recording

Classroom applications

You can use the audio recording feature of iPods in a variety of ways. If you're an instructor, you might take advantage of this feature to provide detailed feedback to students or to provide examples, models or short lectures.  You can use the iPod to comment on written assignments, exams, performances or oral exercises.  You might also use the device to record model interviews, oral tests, pronunciation exercises or accompaniment tracks the students can use to practice.  If you have a concept that is difficult for students to understand or unanswered questions after a lecture session, you can record material that can supplement the students' classroom experience.  The iPod can also be used to record field interviews with experts or colleagues that might not otherwise be able to attend or present at a class session.

If you're a student, you might use the iPod's recording feature to record primary materials for a research project or complete a spoken assignment in classes in many different disciplines. You may also use your iPod to take notes during a class, record a speaker or a group discussion or brainstorming session. Instructors and students alike may also use the iPod to record sound files that can be inserted as audio commentary or narration in files created by many different software packages.

Getting your computer and iPod ready

  • Make sure you have the right equipment: you can make a recording using your iPod and a microphone attachment. To transfer or edit your sound files, you will also need the iPod cable and a computer.
  • Fully charge your iPod battery and make sure you have enough space available for the recording you intend to do.
  • Verify that your computer has the latest version of iTunes installed, plus Audacity if you intend to do further digital audio editing after the recording is complete.
  • Set up external computer speakers or plug in headphones so you can hear audio files during playback and editing (internal computer speakers are often unsatisfactory for this purpose).

Step by step instructions

If you don't have an iPod

Many recording activities can be completed using a desktop or laptop computer and a computer microphone. In this case, you will need to have audio editing software installed on your computer to be able to capture and edit sound. Duke Digital Initiative projects currently receive support for use of the free, open source program Audacity for this purpose. Consult our Audacity section for more information.

While Duke has standardized its support for portable audio recording around the iPod, there are also many consumer electronic devices and cell phones on the market that are capable of recording sound files; the quality and file type of the recording and the length of time one can record vary widely. Please consult the product manuals for the device in question for more specific information and instructions.