How to convert teleconference recordings into downloadable mp3 and ipod files

[Ric Willmot]

Each month I do a teleconference which lasts 60 minutes.
The teleconference is recorded and we create CDs which people can buy from our on-line website.
How can we convert these files into the right format with all the smoke and mirrors wizardry to allow people to buy the downloads instead of waiting for the CD in the post?
Very low-tech explanatory advice would be great, please.
I am a 44 year-old luddite; and even though I am now a Mac user and an iPhone owner, retain my Filofax as the #1 tool for managing my life!

I also would like to do a monthly 5-minute video on my blog and website as well; any help there would be appreciated.

Rgds,
Ric

[Adam Randall]

Hi Ric

First have you seen the new mac ibook coming out, amazing features!

secondly, if you are using a Mac to do this, my knowledge is a bit weak but if you do a search on google for an "mac mp3 converter" you will likely find a program that will do what you want.

I am guessing you are trying to convert a wav file to an mp3, is this correct?

Try this program, its Mac and Windows compatible. I would get the paid version ($35 US) but thats just me.

http://www.nch.com.au/switch/

[Ric Willmot]

You're a funny guy, Adam.

[Rachel Reeves]

Hi Ric,

Adam has most certainly pointed you in the right direction re where to find audio file converter software.

I use the free version of Switch Audio File Converter(http://www.nch.com.au/switch/) when I need to convert an audio file to a different format so that I can transcribe it. It is fairly easy to navigate. To date I haven't had a problem with converting an audio to the format that I require.

[Adam Randall]

Originally Posted by Ric Willmot

You're a funny guy, Adam.

He he, it cuts down on entertainment expenses thats for sure...

I made my wife sit through the video (who is an avid Mac fan)
At the end she said "I dont get it, thats going to take heaps longer to do things on" I shook my head and walked off in defeat.

[Rachel Reeves]

Have to say the 'Macbook Wheel Laptop' would absolutely drive me nuts, simplifies things but takes 10 times longer to do anything (or more?). Go the computer nerd...

[peppie]

Rick

Firstly let me apologise if I get too technical, it is unfortunately unavoidable, but I assure you that I am not one of those geeks that so delight in the detailed explanation that leaves you more confused. I am more a technically born again mature gentleman.

How are you recording the teleconferences and how do they get to a CD? Are they recorded on a tape or direct to a computer?? Somewhere in that conversion it would be possible to make another conversion to MP3 that can be used for downloading from your website. The way the sale mechanism is done I will leave to the web site designers. Now, a word about MP3, there are different quality levels depending on the compression settings used in the conversion. It also affects the size of the file. To get the best balance you really need someone who knows what they are doing.

Video on internet, once you have a video it needs to be converted to a format suitable for internet delivery, rather like the MP3 discussion above it needs to be a small file but not too small to be poor quality. Again you really need someone who knows how it works. There are 4 basic options for file types and within those is a myriad of options for compression and quality settings. A web site designer will probably not be able to help you here, you need a specialist in internet video etc..

To get the video in the first place is not that difficult, if you follow some basic guidelines. Ideally though you will need someone to shoot the video who has some sort of understanding of fundamental videoing techniques. Such as, don't try to video a speaker with a window behind on a bright day.

This is one of my areas of expertise and if you have a look at my website (my apologys to all the website designers here, it IS being vastly improved but it has been taking a long time to get there) you will see that as well as copy and restoration of media I also do "production" which covers a vast area of this sort of work. If you would like to contact me direct I am happy to talk though the options. Likewise, if any of you web designers are struggling with media delivery like this I am happy to talk about the options.

I am sorry if this seems like a dig at you Rick, it isn't meant to be, but this is one of those areas when it pays to use a knowledgeable person to get a decent result as effectively and efficiently as possible.

[Ric Willmot]

Thank you, Paul.
I'll be in touch next week.
I appreciate your input.

Adam, you are at the top of my list!
The mental imagery of you and your wife is so vivid, as to be surreal.
Thanks for the laughs.


Rgds,
Ric

[Clint.Davis]

The other good thing about nch software is they have their WavePad Sound Editor, that's what I recommend to my customers.

Our teleconference service @ http://teleconference.greymouse.com.au delivers our recorded teleconference's in MP3 format (to reduce download time and data cost)

Our customers have asked us what's the best way to edit their audio, so we have researched tools that are provided to edit audio and have found that nch software to be the easiest to install and use. (not very technical up front)

There is a free version, and after it expires you cant use the advanced features, but it still allows you to use the free components. (witch are the main ones)

Its easy to edit audio and save again in MP3 format, wav or allowing you to burn directly to CD

[Ric Willmot]

Okay ... so can we come back to my original question?
I obviously confused the issue by adding my comment about the video.

Simply it's this:

I already have the recordings; some are ".wav", some are ".wma", and some are ".mp3".

I am now 100% Mac, and so I'm not able to take advantage of PC solutions.

How do I take these recordings and convert them to a format for easy download from our website?

Thank you.
Rgds,
Ric

PS I do appreciate the other feedback regarding new video and new audio recordings. It's been very helpful.

By the way, I use (much to my chagrin because I hate them with a passion) Telstra for the teleconference facility. For $90 we get the facility and the recording. People pay their own call costs. This doesn't seem to be a problem as I have regular callers tune in each month from New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Dubai and USA.