How To Use The 5 Best Free Audio Tools for Teachers
- Vocaroo
About Vocaroo
Vocaroo is a simple and free online program that requires no sign up for users. It is an audio recording app that allows users to record themselves online and save the recording immediately afterwards for use anywhere. Vocaroo is best used for assignments that measure students’ speaking skills or for activities in which audio directions would be more beneficial than written directions.
How to Use Vocaroo
Click the link above to visit Vocaroo’s site. Once there, find the glowing red button with text that reads “Click to record.” Make sure your computer has a microphone built in, or that you have manually attached one, then click the button. Vocaroo will now request your permission to access your microphone, click “Allow.”Vocaroo will now begin recording. Say what you would like to record, and then press the “Click to Stop” button. Now click the “Listen” button. If you are satisfied with your recording, begin reading the next paragraph. If not, click the “Retry” button and repeat the process.Now click the “Click here to save” link. Vocaroo will provide you with a hyperlink to this recording. You can email this recording to yourself or someone else, or share your recording via social media. - UJAM
About UJAM
UJAM is a free online platform that allows users to create their own songs. UJAM is best used in a music classroom or a classroom full of creative thinkers.
How to Use UJAM
Click the link above to visit UJAM’s site. Get started with the program by scrolling to the bottom of the screen and finding the gray button that reads “Sign up and dive in!” Click this button and complete the sign-up process. Check the inbox of the email you provided, find the email from UJAM and click the verification link within to complete activation of your account. Once your account is activated and you are logged in, you can begin creating your own song!Scroll to the top of the screen and click the “Create tab.” Once there, click the UJAM Studio tab and click “Launch UJAM Studio.” You can begin creating a new song by recording vocals or an instrument, uploading an existing audio file, or choosing from a template provided by UJAM. If you choose to record your voice or an instrument, view this tutorial for further instructions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDgyeMkvBfM. If you choose a template from UJAM to remix, view this tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7RJhjrfsD0. Work on your song until you are happy with the finished product, then click the “Save & Share” button at the top of the screen to save your work. You can choose to save your work only or share it with the world via Facebook, Soundcloud, UJAM, or a downloaded MP3!Create the best Course for your School with the Right VendorFind, choose and compare the top eLearning Content Development Companies for K12! - Incredibox
About Incredibox
Incredibox is a free, no-sign-up required program that allows users to manipulate characters in order to create a song. This is a fun program that works best in a music classroom, but can be used in any classroom provided you can work it into an assignment.
How to Use Incredibox
Click the link above and visit Incredibox. Once there, you may select any version, but this tutorial will focus on V3 2013. After clicking the V3 image, you will be taken to Incredibox’s intro that will provide you with a short preview of what the program does. After this, you will be taken to the platform where you will construct your song!The icons across the bottom of the screen represent (from left to right): beats, effects, melodies, and voices. Drag and drop any combination of these onto the shirtless man in the window. Play around with the combinations until you have a song that you are proud of. To remove a sound effect, click the character that represents that effect and click the “X” button. To share your work, scroll to the top of the screen and click the icon for the site you would like to share to. - Chirbit
About Chirbit
Chirbit is a free program that allows users to create and upload files for storage or sharing. It is best used in a classroom in which you would like to share multiple multimedia files with your students on a consistent basis.
How to Use Chirbit
Click the link above to visit Chirbit. To get started, click the blue “Sign Up” button on the home screen. Complete the sign-up process and then sign in. After signing in, you will be taken to your dashboard. You have a few options here; you may either record yourself speaking, upload a file, or use Chirbit’s “Text 2 Chirbit” or “Video 2 Chirbit” features. To record, click the “Record” tab. Allow Chirbit to access your microphone, then press the red record button to begin. Press the stop button when you are done recording. Use the play and pause button to listen to your recording. Give your recording a title and a tag, choose a Type, then click “Send.” Chirbit will now upload your file to your dashboard. To upload a file, click the “Upload” tab. Give your file a title and a tag, choose a type, then choose a file from your computer to upload. Chirbit will then upload the file to your dashboard. To use the “Video 2 Chirbit” feature click the “Video 2 Chirbit” tab, copy and paste a Youtube URL into the text box, then click “Submit.” Chirbit will now convert the video and upload it to your dashboard.To use the “Text 2 Chirbit” feature click the “Text 2 Chirbit” tab, then either copy and paste or type text into the text box. Now add some tags, choose a Type and click “Send.” Chirbit will then upload the file to your dashboard.To listen to/view your Chirbits, simply click the play button next to them. Share your Chirbits by copying and pasting the link found below them. Or share them to a social media site by clicking the icon for the site you would like to share to below your Chirbit. - Online-ConVert
About Online-ConVert
Online-ConVert is a file-converting website that is free to all users. In addition to converting audio it can convert many other file types as well. It is best used on assignments in which you are requiring students to submit an assignment of a certain file type. Using this program, they are able to quickly and easily provide you with the correct audio format.
How to Use Online-ConVert
Get started with Online-ConVert by clicking the link above to visit the site. Find the Audio Converter box at the top left of the screen. Click the drop-down menu to determine your target format and click “Go.” Click the “Choose File” button on the next page and find your desired file, then click “Open.” (Note: you are also free to enter a URL for this step as well. Now determine your desired bitrate, sampling rate, channels, and then normalize or trim any audio from your file. Then click “Convert file.” Online-ConVert will then allow a window to pop-up prompting you to download your converted file. Find your desired file location and click “Save.”
Free Educational Technology
Introducing audio into the classroom is a very effective way to ensure students are staying engaged. Utilize these 5 Best Free Audio Tools for Teachers in order to make the process of implementing audio into your classroom simple, pain-free, and fun for everyone involved.
