The satisfaction of this weeks work comes in the physical form of a smile. As in a huge dorky smile that not only did I accomplish a buttload, I understood a buttload! I actually understood every single concept this week, yeah some of it was fuzzy, sure, I had to rewind but hey, i understood it. Overall, I have few complaints about the week, it could have definitely been worse, but what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger and in ds106, you can only grow from the mistakes you make. The only true issue I have, that I will surely repeat, is getting involved with the ds106radio. My schedule is pretty conflicting but that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to go through that extra effort to be apart of it. I guess I’m looking for more an answer so to what co-hosting really means? I’ve seen other posts about it but haven’t exactly grasped the concept. Either way, audio was definitely a lesson worth learning this week.

Initially, I underestimated audio, I guess I didn’t think it took that much work into doing. Ya know, you record a couple sounds, bang a few pots and bam! You have an audio piece. However, after looking at the technique videos (radio glossary, Foley Sound, etc.), everything is put into perspective. You become much more aware of all the effort that goes into radio and capturing someone’s attention. For example, if you yammer on and on, you can’t expect to get listeners, even if what you’re saying is worth something. No, you have to capture attention, you have to know what not only reels listeners but what allows them to paint a picture with your words. Although video killed the radio star, radio has not  completely died. Radio still entertains, at minimum, during your commute to work. Audio this week has definitely made an impact on me. This week, I found everything much easier. Definitely more work but not necessarily harder? Thankfully, my classmates did an excellent job mapping out their own pathways, so it helped in trying to figure out where most common mistakes were and how to avoid them.

The most interesting was the Sound Effect Story, mostly because I could really creative with only five sounds. I did a baking one (in case I haven’t said it enough, cause a billion isn’t enough, I do love to bake).

I used audacity for this, and then freesound.org, all of which was incredibly helpful. I only made this after my Radio Show Bumper, which was a lot harder but definitely made the first assignment much easier. Anyways, the sounds start with ingredients being poured, followed by scraping the mixed ingredients into the baking pan, then whisking while whistling, and ending with a kitchen timer going off. It’s cheesy but I honestly love it. However, it was Radio Bumper that really got me into it. It was less intimidating than the gif, just because the tutorial made it seem less intimidating and there was creativity involved. I’m really into assignments that don’t just get your feet wet but make you jump into the water, which is exactly what this did, so I did. Anyways, if you want to get more into my experience, or if you want a good laugh at my expense, check out my post! However, full disclosure warning, once you listen to my bumper, you might just be completely amazed.

I also checked out the posted video’s for this week in which we had to watch a couple segments by Ira Glass, who talks about storytelling and what that entails. These videos were very powerful in that he describes how essential storytelling is, and how although many think that they have the right idea with it, they’re all actually wrong — especially those in high school. He goes into the anecdote, which is basically a story in the most basic form. The huge misconception with stories is that many think it involves entire plots but truth be told, it can be very simple, even if that means it’s going to be boring. The anecdote is one of two building blocks, the other is a moment of reflection. That is incredibly essential because if you don’t have it, then you go around wondering why you’re watching it? The two building blocks go hand in hand, as Glass states, and that one must be ruthless to have both the action of the anecdote but ALSO, you mustmustmust have that moment of reflection, otherwise, it’ll just deadpan.

The second video is really just summed up in one essential part for me, which was ”if you’re not failing all the time, you’re not creating a situation where you can get super lucky”. I totally agree. He notes that even video, radio broadcasting companies is all about luck, where you have a set schedule and how it’s all about luck. Although hard work does pay off, sometimes great things just have to happen, and you cannot just force it to come out on its own.

Jad Abumrad has a completely different perspective, but still incredibly enlightening. I especially enjoy when he starts to describe his way back to the office and he says, “I’m painting something, but I’m not holding the paintbrush — you are”. He states the word ‘co-authorship’, which basically involves connecting with someone. All in all, radio has this intimacy.  Television gives you the image, you cannot change it because it is there already but the radio entails so much more, radio allows you to create your own image with its own ‘vibrations of the voice’; just the simple idea of this gives me chills.

I had a lot to say about the radio story’s we had to listen to, so I put it in its own post so I didn’t bombard you with a buttload of content in one message. One thing to note that though is that audio has an incredibly powerful impact on people. You would think that video would send a much greater impact but in listening to The American Life: Getting Away With It, i realized how undervalued something to simple as radio is. Anyways, here is my bit on it, but I would have to say that in order to understand the full concept of it, you would have to go listen to it on your own.

How did my radio experience go? Well, i blogged about it. I’m usually not one to complain, or maybe I am?, either way I have to say that was the biggest struggle for me. I’m the kind of person who loves to the radio. Heck, I even have this portable waterproof one that clings onto the showerhead so that I can be Beyonce in my own shower. However, talk radio is entirely different and while I’m not totally writing it off now, I would like to be there for a live broadcasting to get a better hang of it. It was entertaining at some points, just very random and I guess I expected more talking than I got in an hour and a half of listening. Don’t mind me complaining? Check out the rest of my post.

Daily Create’s, aka the best way to feel accomplished when you’re totally confused. I did not have that much of a problem, if one at all, with this week. In fact, I was quite alright. Although I am generally a visual learner, my favorite DC of this week goes to the humming of your earliest musical memory. I am enjoying this audio lesson way more than I anticipated to, and even though I’m fighting a nasty cold, I managed to sound half-decent. I also retitled a movie poster, and did an ACROSTIC poem, which I haven’t done since middle school. Do yourself me a favor and go see it.

I enjoy looking at other peoples blogs, especially when they have something more to offer…Like knowing what they’re doing? Which is always. My comment group is incredibly helpful, especially in commenting and helping me out along the way. However, I also realized that help is not limited to just my group. Instead, everyone finds a way to help especially on twitter, which only further confirms my belief that twitter was the best thing invented since sliced bread. This week, I think I visited Jennifer’s the most often, and my favorite thing was how she gave a play by play in everything she did. It made completing my own work much easier since, if I had any questions, they were likely resolved through her own work. As always, Amber, Kelsie, and Sarah were incredibly helpful in their comments. Also, back to twitter, I was struggling with fixing the time settings on my blog and fellow classmate Nancy Belle helped out.

@sarahhpark2 @cogdog same! I tried to change it but it won’t let me.

@mmbutlerr @sarahhpark2 check the settings of your blog to see what timezone it is set in. By default it is not set to EST, hence the prob

— Nancy B. (@bellekid) February 4, 2013