Tips for students who are producing their first audio slideshow using the Soundslides program (http://soundslides.com/). View some good examples of slideshows made with Soundslides: http://delicious.com/macloo/soundslides+examples

1. Soundslides Storytelling
Mindy McAdams

2. Overview
1. Story idea
2. Photos
3. Captions
4. Audio
5. Story structure
6. Making the story
7. Final assembly

3. 1. Story idea
• Is your story visual?
• Will you be able to get a lot of DIFFERENT
shots with your camera?
• Does your story have a character, an
interesting person?
• Do you have access? Can you complete the
interview and shoot all the photos – and still
make your deadline?

4. 2. Photos
• First, observe the activities or actions.
• Take some time. No hurry.
• Then use the camera.
• Shoot things that are interesting to SEE.
• Get a lot of CLOSE-UP SHOTS!
• Get low, get high, find a unique angle.
• VARIETY. Many different shots.

5. Photos
• The time of a Soundslides = the time of the
edited audio file
• Number of photos in the slide show = time of
audio (in seconds) divided by 5
– 60 seconds = 12 photos (minimum)
– 120 seconds = 24 photos (minimum)
• For 20 good photos, shoot 200 photos!

6. 3. Captions
• Collect all the information you will need for
the captions …
• At the same time when you are shooting the
photos!
– People’s names
– Names of places, buildings, streets, etc.
– Dates
– Other names

7. Caption details!
• People: Be sure to identify ALL significant
people in EACH photo.
• Places: The exact location of the event or
events must be given in the caption on the
first or second photo.
• Dates: The complete date(s) of the event or
events must be given in the caption on the
first or second photo. That includes the YEAR.

8. Caption details! (2)
• Other names: If your story concerns a named
event, a company, a nonprofit organization,
NGO, etc., make sure you include the
complete name of all of those.
• Correct spelling and correct capitalization are
very important! ASK.
• WRITE EVERYTHING – CAREFULLY!

9. 4. Audio
• If there are interesting sounds at the photo
location, RECORD THEM.
• The interview should be done in a QUIET
place.
• You may do the interview on another day.
• It is best to record the interview AFTER you
shoot the photos.

10. The interview should be
about feelings,
experiences,
not about facts.

11. The reporter’s voice
will not be heard
in the edited audio.

12. 5. Story structure
• Strong beginning: Catch the attention!
• Satisfying ending: The viewer should feel
some emotion at the end.
• Decide on the ending BEFORE you start to
work in Soundslides.
• The ending is the “destination.”
• Everything in the story is leading us on a path
toward the ending.

14. (1)
What is my close?
The “climax”?

16. (2)
What is my open?
How do I grab their
attention?

18. (3)
How do I move the story
from my open
to my close?

20. 6. Making the story
• Look at your photos. Listen to your audio.
• Think about the ENDING (ending first).
• Look at your photos. Listen to your audio.
• Choose photo(s) and audio for the ending.
• Think about the opening.
• Choose photo(s) and audio for the opening.
• Be flexible. Maybe you will change it.

21. You must edit
ONE audio file
to use in Soundslides.

22. Make sure you are
looking at your photos
while you make choices
in the audio editing.

23. 7. Final assembly
• Edit the audio and export an MP3 file.
• Select the final photos and edit them (JPG).
• Write a caption for EACH photo.
• Open Soundslides.
• Import the photos and the audio.
• Make adjustments so that the audio and
photos work well together.
• Save and export.

24. http://bit.ly/fikom_ss

25. Final advice
• Before you leave the photo location …
• Be sure you HAVE a STORY!
• While you are interviewing, REMEMBER your
PHOTOS …
• Ask about the activities in your photos, or the
story behind them!
• Make sure it is interesting!

26. Review
1. Story idea
2. Photos
3. Captions
4. Audio
5. Story structure
6. Making the story
7. Final assembly

27. Soundslides Storytelling
Mindy McAdams