Reading From Home
Current & Former Volunteers
New Volunteers
Returning after some time away? Hoping to save yourself a drive and start recording at home instead of journeying to our studio?
Please send a five-minute recording to let us hear how your at home set up is working. We can tweak sound quality, troubleshoot any issues, and give you feedback. Please send this recording to [email protected].
Ready to be a volunteer, but find the drive to Midtown Atlanta to be a bit daunting? Get set up to read at home!
Start by filling out the volunteer application. You’ll receive audition materials after submitting your application. All new volunteers will complete a short audition.
What equipment do I need?
You can use either a Mac or PC to record your program. You will need access to strong WiFi if you are using a cloud-based recording platform.
You don’t need a fancy microphone unless you are setting up a permanent studio. A gaming mic or simple USB microphone will be adequate. Here are some microphones we have worked with or have been suggested. You can find these at your local Best Buy or on Amazon.
A small room with lots of insulation works well, such as a closet or small bedroom with a lot of furnishings. If you record in your dining room with high ceilings, it will sound like you are in a cave. A room without a lot of outside noise is best.
What program should I use to record?
Audacity is a free, professional-level software with exceptional editing controls and great sound quality.
Click here to see a video to begin using Audacity or here to view a pdf.
Spreaker Studio is specifically made for podcasting, has robust editing tools, and desktop and app versions. However, there is a large learning curve and you must send audio file through Dropbox or another file share service.
Click here for an introductory video.
Garage Band comes standard on Macs, has plenty of editing controls, and amazing and fun features. However, it is not available on Windows, requires knowledge of multi-track editing, and has a large learning curve.
Click here to start with Garage Band.
I finished recording. How do I send you my file?
If the file is small (25MB or less), please send directly to [email protected].
- Download Dropbox for desktop.
- Save your files to your Dropbox. Video: How to save stuff in Dropbox
- Share the file with Vocal Point. Our Dropbox email address is [email protected] Video: Sharing from the Desktop app
- Upload your file to Google Drive. You will likely need a Google (gmail) account to do this.
- Share the files with Vocal Point, to [email protected].
Regardless of how you submit your program, you should receive a short reply letting you know we received your file. If you don’t get a reply, we may not have received it!
Tips & Troubleshooting
Check your sound settings.
Be sure and check your sound settings. The following settings make a smaller file which is easier for you to send and easier for our producers to download and edit.
- Be sure that you are saving your file in mono not stereo.
- Export your file at 16000 Hz (16 bit) rather than 44,100 Hz. This results in a smaller file which is easier to transfer.
- Although you can send us either .wav or .mp3 files, we prefer .mp3 files as they are easier to download. If you save as you go, save it as a .wav file and then download it as an .mp3 at the end. Saving as an .mp3 as you go tends to make the recording distorted.
Create an at-home portable sound booth.
Have a lot of background noise in your recordings?
Here is a website that helps identify common audio issues when recording from home (i.e. hiss, hum, distortion.) It gives audio examples of each and then ideas to try to eliminate the noises.
Placing your mic in a sound-proofed box significantly helps your recording sound at home. Here is a video showing how to build a box, with examples of sound before and after.
Troubleshooting Microphone Issues
Solution: Move the microphone a little further from your mouth. Each microphone is different, so it may take some effort to find the right spot.
Solution: Move the microphone a little closer to your mouth. Each microphone is different, so it may take some effort to find the right spot.
Solution: Check to see if your recording software is taking audio from the external microphone. Sometimes computers can randomly switch to the internal mic, even if you always use the external mic when recording.
Troubleshooting Sound Tests
You can test your microphones from your computer’s control panel and adjust volume settings there. Please check this setting to make sure volumes are at optimum level.
How to Run a Sound Test
- Make sure your microphone is connected to your PC.
- Select Start > Settings > System > Sound.
- In Sound settings, go to Input > Test your microphone and look for the blue bar that rises and falls as you speak into your microphone. If the bar is moving, your microphone is working properly. Check to be sure your volume settings are not too high or too low. This may cause distortion.
- If you aren’t seeing the bar move, select Troubleshoot to fix your microphone.
- Click the Apple logo in the upper left corner, and then click System Preferences.
- Click Sound.
- Click the Input tab.
- Click your headset.
- Speak into the microphone. The input level should fluctuate as you speak. Check to be sure your input and output volume settings are not too high or too low. This may cause distortion.
If you are unable to perform a sound test, try...
- Checking if your headset is muted.
- Tip: For some corded headsets, the mute switch is located on the cord.
- Adjusting the volume settings in the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties
- Tip: Find this setting in the Windows Control Panel or the Output Tab (MacOS)
- Replacing your headset or microphone: you may have a loose USB connector.
- Refreshing the browser or restarting your computer.
- Clearing your cache and cookies.
- Using a different browser or device.
- Tip: Google Chrome seems to work the best with recording.
Still need help?
Email [email protected] or [email protected], or call a producer on duty at 404-685-2825.