Writing and Production of Aural Media Materials

voice, music, sound effects

Nature of aural media

Utilize _______________ as key elements and tools

electricity

Nature of aural media

Dependent on _________

Portable

Nature of aural media

Aural media materials can be stored in flash drives or portable hard drives and can be brought anywhere. Aural media productions can be disseminated through radio broadcast that is greatly accessible to all sorts of people through cellular phones or transistor radios.

direct

Strengths of aural media

Communication is “__” and personal. One edge that aural media has over print materials such as the newspaper or magazine is the sound of the human voice.

inexpensive

Strengths of aural media

It is relatively ______. Its production cost is relatively cheaper compared with that of the visual and audi-visual media matrials.

immediate

Strengths of aural media

It is ______. Dissemination of information is fast because it does not require a complicated equipment set-up.

companion medium

Strengths of aural media

It is a __________. Because of its portability, a person can take it with him/her anywhere s/he goes and can listen to it anytime s/he likes.

understood

Strengths of aural media

It is easily ______. Information aired over the aural media is easy to understand because what we hear is spoken language. It is as if someone were talking to us. And when we talk, we do not use highfalutin words, we use words that we use in normal conversation. When we talk, we say what we want in short sentences, not in long, winding, complex ones.

large number of people

Strengths of aural media

It reaches a ________ at one time. Because of this, dissemination of information is fast.

illiteracy

Strengths of aural media

It transcends ______. A person who could not read and write could understand the information presented to him/her through the aural media.

Human voice (NARR, ANNCR)

covers all audio components read by hosts/announcers and talents/characters in the media material. It’s main functions are to convey meanings and stimulate the audience’s visual imagination.

ON MIKE

The performer speaks from a position right in front of the microphone. It creates an impression that the radio character is at the center of the scene. This direction is usually not indicated in the script, except when the performer has been in another position and suddenly speaks from an “on-mike” position.

OFF MIKE

The performer is some distance away from the microphone. This conveys to the listeners the impression that the sound or voice is at a proportionate distance away from the physical orientation point of the listeners, which is usually at the center of the scene.

FADING IN

The performer slowly moves towards the microphone while speaking. It indicates the entrance/coming of a radio character into the scene.

FADING OUT

The performer slowly moves away from the

microphone while speaking. It creates an impression that the

radio character had left the scene.

BEHIND OBSTRUCTION

The performer speaks while there is a barrier between him and the microphone. It creates an impression that the radio character is behind a door, outside a window, etc.

Music (MSC) serves as:

● signature or theme

● background to the narration

● bridge or transition in between narration or scenes/segments

● symbolic effect

● as tab/sting

● sound effect

Sound effects (SFX) help:

● establish time

● establish the locale or setting,

● establish mood or atmosphere

● signify entrances and exits

● direct the attention of the audience

FADE IN/UP

Slowly bringing up the volume of the sound.

ESTABLISH

Also indicated as HOLD or UP. This means to hold

music or sound effect at a normal level for a period number of

seconds.

FADE UNDER

Usually used to fade the music under dialogue.

FADE OUT

Slowly putting off the volume of the sound.

SEGUE(seg-way)

The smooth movement of one sound into

the next. This is particularly applicable to the transition

between music numbers, in which one number is immediately

faded out while another music is immediately faded in.

CROSSFADE

the dissolving from one sound into another. One sound slowly fades in as the other slowly fades out.

MONTAGE

A rapid succession of voices, music, or sound effects relating to a connected idea.

Silence

______is used to add dramatic effect to the production and to elicit emotional response from the audience.

most common types of aural media

1. plug,

2. drama,

3. news and

4. magazine program.

talk

Write the way you ______

simpler

Big words can be substituted with ______ words.

phonetic spellings

Provide ________ for hard to pronounce words including names, technical terms, foreign terms, among others.

context

Provide _____ in presenting statistics and figures to help the listeners better visualize or understand the value of the numbers presented.

homonyms

Be wary of _____ in your script.

geographical barriers

Importance of aural media in development communication

The aural media overcomes ___________.

disadvantaged group

Importance of aural media in development communication

It appeals to the _______________.

entertainment value

Importance of aural media in development communication

it offers ________ as it conveys important messages. Music and sound effects add life to the audio production.

Plug

also referred to as spot, is a 20 to 60-second message periodically played between segments, acting as breaks from the program content. Plugs are short, flexible and (relatively) inexpensive.

drama

presents stories of people grounded on reality and is mostly inspirational. It can tackle action or crime, be adaptation, docudrama, fantasy, etc.

news

is a straightforward current/real time report on significant events taking place in the community.

Feature

is a presentation of a factual record of real people, events, things in exploration of a subject matter or a social issue.

magazine program

is produced to entertain and inform while generating interest and

awareness.

continuity script

presents how the segments will be connected/linked into one coherent program.

The narrative script

is written based on the rundown sheet. It contains everything that will be heard in the aural media material. It also presents the instructions for technical staff (sound/audio technician, sound editor), as well as the voice talents/hosts.