Play Make Write Think

Latest Posts

Games Podcast: Further Details

Quests

Overview

This post contains lots of additional information that will be useful to you as you work on your podcast episodes, mostly focused on nuts and bolts issues like equipment, editing, and so on.

Check out the assignment prompt for conceptual guidelines and roles and for information about what I am expecting from you.

Equipment

If you are on campus, there is equipment that you can use to record your podcast episodes, including Student Digital Life’s Music and Audio Recording Studio.

The Writing Program has purchased 4 Yeti microphones and placed them on reserve with the Music and Media Library. If you check out one of the Yeti mics, you might want to skim over the manual here. There are a number of other microphones available for checkout as well, so if the Yeti mics are not available check out something else.

Because so many of us are separated from campus and from each other, however, it will be fine for you to record yourselves via Zoom. Make sure that you launch the call using your Emory Zoom account and record the call to the cloud. Whoever is hosting the call will get an email once the recording has finished compiling and from there can download the files from the call — there will be a text file with the contents of your chat, an mp4 with the video from the call, and an mp3 of the audio of your call. You can just download the mp3 and then edit it in Audacity to produce your episode. A short time later, Zoom should also add an additional text file with a transcript of the call. Download that file too and edit it into a transcript of your episode.

 

Audacity

Audacity is a good, free, open-source audio editor (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux). It’s pretty standard software for mixing podcasts, so I recommend you give it a shot.

There is a very good tutorial wiki for Audacity online — this basic page on mixing voice narration with music probably covers 90% of what you’ll need to do for your podcast. It’s not terribly difficult, but there is a learning curve to it and you should definitely make an extra copy of your raw audio files before you start mixing and editing them. Expect for it to take longer than you think it should to do the sound editing and build time for mixing into your plans. There are some students in the class who have a fair amount of experience working with Audacity — make friends with them and ask them for help (make sure to give thanks for their help in your episode credits!).

 

Other Software

If you’re already very comfortable with using GarageBand or another sound editing software, you can use that instead.

Student Digital Life also has lots of resources that should be of use to you with this project. If you want to use more advanced software, the Media Lab has the full Adobe Creative Suite, including Adobe Audition, available and student assistants who can help you in using it. The Tech Lab is also a great space for you to go to get ideas about how to approach these projects. There are also gaming consoles available in Cox Computing, so if you want to explore games as new media you might stop by SDL and see what you can do.

Recording & mixing guidelines

As I say above, Audacity has a very good tutorial wiki. There is tons of information included there, but this single basic page on mixing voice narration with music probably covers 90% of what you’ll need to do for your podcast.

Transom is “a performance space, an open editorial session, an audition stage, a library, and a hangout” that seeks to spread good ideas and practices for public media, especially focused on audio. There’s lots of good stuff there and I encourage you to check them out.

Of special note: “Using Music: Jonathan Menjivar For This American Life.” Menjivar is a producer and music supervisor at This American Life and his essay is a fantastic breakdown of different methods for incorporating music into a podcast episode.

See also, the other pieces in the Transom “Using Music” series.

Podcast hoster Buzzsprout has a pretty good “Podcasting 101 Guide” with some useful tips, including about where to position yourself with regard to the microphone.

Music

You need to be careful when using music to not violate copyright law. Here are 4 really good sites to find Creative Commons licensed music that you are allowed to use (with attribution):

  • Free Music Archive. Mostly more contemporary music types, searchable by genre or by other methods.
  • Musopen. Public domain and creative commons licensed classical music.
  • Incompetech (Film music from Kevin Macleod)
  • ccMixter

COD Reflection Post

Student Posts

The only difference in my approach to this essay compared to the literary narrative I had to write is my excitement. I play games so I was very interested in writing this. My player narrative is basically a comparison of the past and the present and how certain things have changed. From writing my player narrative I’ve learned to analyze myself while I play certain games and keep a tab of it.

Unpacking Myself

Student Posts
Left to Right: Backpack, Jacket, Speaker, Laptop, Spare Mask, Phone, Wallets, Gum + Snacks, Shears, Mouse, Pens, Glasses, Calculator, Headphones, Webcam, Charger, Water Bottle, Tourniquet, Book, Kindle, Flashlight, Keys, Earbuds, Deodorant, Notebook.

“Every man carries with him the world in which he must live.” -Writer Francis Crawford

This quote by Crawford is most likely meant to be a metaphorical statement on how everyone has their own perspective and world view that they bring along, but I believe this quote also works as a literal examination of why we carry around the things we do.

Laying out my bag, I see a pretty basic layout for a student in the era of virtual education, multiple chargers, books and notebooks, earbuds, a Laptop, jacket, and my phone.

These key items are not very interesting or unique, but it is the ‘mini-motifs’ that you can see in my bag that really can shed some light on what I value in the world in which I live.

The first theme that is prevalent in my bag is that of music. I carry around multiple audio devices just so I can always have a music during the day. Whether it be earbuds while exercising or just walking around, noise cancelling headphones for working, or a speaker to share the music – I love having my day filled with music as it really makes the tedium of the day so much better.

Next, I have a couple survivalist / first aid tools that are at the ready for a scenario in which I might have the opportunity to help myself or others during an emergency. As an EMT, I know just how valuable something so basic as a tourniquet or shears can be in a life-saving environment. Bad things happen all the time, and having something that can get you or others out of a pinch can be very valuable for no cost of space or convenience.

Finally, I have a tech undertone throughout my items. Although it may not carry the “gamery aesthetic” of hard contrasts, RGB lighting, and big logos around it, my laptop is a very powerful productivity and gaming machine. So, in the very off chance that I do have free time to boot up Doom or Cuphead, I am always ready with a mouse and a detachable webcam + mic. My phone doubles as a notebook I can write in with a stylus, and my kindle is a personal library condensed into my palm.

Overall, I think this really does say a fair bit about me. I am someone who fills his life with music and games in order to stay sane in crazy times, and am also someone who is ready to help others in a time of need. This little exercise of just examining items in my bag really does expose a slice of the cake that is my passions and personality – while, interestingly, it seemed that it was not the large things that said much, rather the little quirks that I carry that set me apart from every other person’s baggage.

What’s In Your Bag?

Student Posts

Side Quest 4

Here is a picture of what I carry with my bag on a usual day.

  • My Laptop – I use it for schoolwork, music production, and most of my entertainment purposes.
  • Phone & Laptop Chargers – I own an old iPhone that runs out of battery quickly
  • Headphones/Earphones – headphones for music production, earphones for everyday use/ working out
  • Water – for hydration
  • Pen x1 – I always carry one pen with me just in case I need it
  • Chewing Gums – I chew gums to concentrate
  • Book/Magazine x1 – I always keep one in this bag for better back support
  • Keys – to enter my house

Since I am studying remotely in a completely different time zone, the set up of this bag is completely abstract and made-up. Attending university on zoom.us does not require me to carry a bag. My daily routine would be to go out with an iPhone and my keys which both fit in my pockets and come home at night to a desk full of notes and worksheet assignments. I intentionally placed those items in the picture because I would agree that they represent and hold some value to my interests and the way I live. It might have revealed that I am a music lover and is not organized enough to carry notebooks, folders or a pencil case. Representing myself in a catalog of the stuff in my bag is definitely a type of writing. However, I do not think that it could fully represent a person as a self-portrait since we all carry various things for different occasions. I intentionally removed some objects (tissues, money, a calculator, etc.) from my bag because I believed that they held little representation values to who I am.

What’s in Your Bag?

Student Posts
What’s in My Bag Photo by Ryan Song

Below are the items in the photo listed in order from left to right top to bottom with some comments.

Notebooks, Binders, Folders

These are notebooks, binders, and “folders” I use to take notes or complete schoolwork. Aside from notebooks for classes, I usually keep a personal notebook to write down reminders, ideas, or even doodle. The large white “folders” stacked on the bottom are actually mail packages. I write folders with quotation marks because I use them to sort loose leaf papers. I care little about the form objects are in as long as they get the job done.

Earphones

There are two Apple earbuds in the photo. I have two in my bag because I need one for my phone and another for my computer. The newer iPhones use the charging port for earbuds instead of the little round ones, and I prefer wired headphones over wireless, so I need to bring 2 around with me (I lost the converter).

Ethernet cable converter

Converts the ethernet cable plug to a USB plug so I can use it for my MacBook. The internet in my house in China basically isn’t usable when it’s wireless. I need the internet to be as fast and stable as it could get for me to connect to oversees webpages (most homework we have) or to use VPN.

Wallet

The usual. I have money, driver’s license, different cards, and bandages inside.

Laptop

2015 251GB MacBook pro. This computer has served me well ever since I was in seventh grade. It has gone through replacement of battery once so far and the current battery seems to be dying as well. It wasn’t included in the picture because I didn’t have it in my bag at the time, but I always bring my phone and computer charger with me.

Pencil and Pen

Pen and mechanical pencil. I only bring two of each usually. I have been using the same brand for all my years in high school.

Backpack

School bag. I would bring this around with me all the time if I were at school, but I only bring my phone and wallet when going out normally.

Digital Pen & Tablet

The Digital pen and Tablet are pretty useful for photo editing and playing games. I found this extra helpful now with online classes since I can use it to take notes or handwrite on documents.

            I feel like this photograph gives a nice but vague representation about who I am as a person. Through the items I have in my bag, people can infer some habits or thoughts I might usually have. For example, there are a lot of electronic devices and its “add ons” in my bag compared to paperback books and notes. People would probably know that I complete most of my work using my computer and/or my phone (it’s used to take the photo).  Another thing people may learn about me thorough this “portrait” is that I don’t like to play any sound from my devices out load for whatever reason from the two different earphones I bring. I say this is only a vague representation because people would not know why I don’t like to play sounds out loud or what specifically I use my devices for if I didn’t give an explanation.

            I think representing myself in a catalog of what’s in my bag is definitely a type of writing. In general, I feel like all forms of putting words together to express ideas are writing. While there are many ways people may decide to go complete this assignment, in the end it’s still putting words down to convey ideas and information.

My bag is light, NGL

Student Posts
The bag stays light because I hate weight.

BackPack List: -Oakley Sink BackPack. -Ti-84 Calculator. -Asus ROG Strix Laptop -IPad Pro. -Big Notebook. -Small Notebook. -Scratch Paper. -Whiteboard Marker. -Pen. -Adidas Slides -Wallet. -Keys. -Laptop Charger

Reflecting on My Pokémon Player Narrative

Student Posts

The idea of being thrown into a new environment without any idea of what you need to can always be troublesome. Through my journey into videogames, I started by playing games without help from the game itself until I get trapped by a ten year old girl. Within trying to pass through my rival’s obstacle in Pokémon Sapphire, I started to learn about balance, problem-solving, determination, applying information, and strategy. In my player narrative, I discuss how I went about beating May on route 110.

Check it out: https://dangerdolan801811591.wordpress.com/stepping-into-the-path-of-gaming/

It’s Basically All My Hobbies in a Bag, (+ Imagine My Xbox is There)

Student Posts

Items that you see above:

⁃ Black Backpack

⁃ Cleats

⁃ Goalie Gloves

⁃ Water bottle

⁃ Slides

⁃ Apparently Glowsticks

Uno Cards (because why not)

Not surprisingly, this image is a reflection of who I am as a person and the qualities I embody. I don’t have a favorite color (well maybe I do who knows) but my favorite shade is black because it’s so dark and deep. Everytime I have something on that’s black I just feel powerful. Which is why it isn’t surprising when I try looking into my closet and all I see is black. I chose to grab this bag because it’s a bag I use very often. One, because it’s black, two because it’s the perfect size for anything. Representing myself through the items of my bag should count as a type of writing because the items you carry with you really do represent the type of person you are most times. It’s like The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. If you’ve ever read that book then you’d know what I’m talking about.

What’s in my bag

Student Posts
“What’s in my bag?” photo taken by Jimmy

iPad: NotesPad

Macbook: handles all the mess

Mask: Mr. if you don’t have one you ain’t going nowhere

Lipstick/Vaseline: Fall is real dry

Cash: It just stays in my bag.

ID: always always

Airpods: Makes life better

Glasses: Backup pair

Pen: Imma writer. Period.

Well, this is the go-to bag and the go-to setup for any occasion that I would carry a bag. However, most of the time I don’t carry a bag with me. I feel like the picture above displays the common items I would take, and therefore I would agree that it represents me. The image itself is a very forefront and straightforward presentation of the items. And I’m a person of that kind of personality. I try to show all the parts clearly and separately in the photo. I want this image to be clean and concise, leaving its story and the interpretation work to its audiences. I choose to line up the two big pieces: the Mac and the iPad to the left. And then I balance the whole picture by putting my big backpack on the right, so neither the left nor the right both will be overpowering in size. In the middle, I have some classic small pieces for me, for examples, lipstick and vaseline, something I would definitely bring with me in this windy, dry fall season in Shanghai.

What’s challenging about this project is the photoshopping. It really took me a while to put these words on them. The photography needs to improve a little bit too, I believe. I totally agree that representing me in a catalog of the stuff in my bag is a kind of writing. It requires certain creativity and boldness for people show their personal items but not in an boring way. In fact, the curation of items is a really artsy way of writing.

css.php