Remix · Book Trailer

Book Trailer

Create a compelling audio preview of a written work.

Releasing a video trailer is a key tool for building interest in an upcoming film. Movie studios have done it for decades and book publishers are beginning to follow suit. This audio-only project is a variation on that theme. The idea is to introduce a novel without providing visuals, so potential readers can begin to form their own mental pictures. In this project, instead of images you’ll use an engaging script, an expressive voice, a great soundtrack, and well-chosen sound effects, finally sharing your creation to the cloud.

Audacity

Literature
Sound
Marketing

Learning Goals

After you finish this activity you will be able to:

Describe a novel concisely in conversational language
Identify the characters, setting, theme, and conflict of a novel
Produce an edited, high-quality audio recording

Assignment Rubric

Instructions

Follow these steps to complete the project.

To track your progress, click each step as you finish.

Get inspired

An excellent first step in creating any media work is to examine exemplary works of the same type. Make a list for yourself of what makes these examples strong and inspiring.

Don't skip this step!

1	Get inspired by visiting the links in the Get Inspired box.
2	Select a novel which lends itself best to a dramatic audio treatment and read it closely.

If pressed for time,

You might consider selecting a novella or short story—perhaps something dramatic or action-oriented, such as Jack London's "To Build a Fire."

Tame your tools

By growing your skills in the tools used in any project, you save yourself time and produce stronger work.

3	Peruse any or all of the tutorials in the Tame Your Tools box.

Create a folder to store project resources

When beginning a new media project, it's best to organize your resources in a single location.

4	Create a folder on your Desktop named something memorable, such as my-media-project. In this folder you'll organize all your resources for this project.

Alternate File Storage
You may also organize your documents in cloud storage, such as Box or Google Drive.

Research your subject

The research phase will help you clearly focus your book trailer.

Once you've read your novel, you will need general background information about the setting of the work—geography, history, life at that time and place, etc. A simple internet search may produce enough information. You might also consider consulting a subject librarian for a more thorough approach to researching the novel and author.

6	Create a subfolder in your project folder called Notes. Use this for storing any notes or links you capture during your research.

Write your book trailer script

As you structure your book trailer, delineate clearly—down to the second—what is said (dialogue) and heard (music and sound effects).

7	Before writing your book trailer, review the book trailer checklist.
8	As you write your book trailer, use this book trailer script template.

Choose your actors

Arrange for actors to read your script, if you can.

9	Decide who will read the various parts of your book trailer. We recommend you find an actor/storyteller—perhaps several—with radio experience to do your narration.
10	Discuss remuneration with your actors beforehand.
11	Have your actors sign a talent release form.
12	Have your actors do a read-through of the script before taping. Consider editing your draft according to their feedback.

Choose (and use) your recording equipment

There are several options for recording your book trailer, from using professional equipment to using your own mobile device or computer.

13	Choose a recording method/equipment.

The Hesburgh Libraries offers a sound-dampening Sound Booth with fabric walls in which you can record high-quality audio using your own laptop. For the best audio, we recommend you borrow a USB microphone.

Book the Sound Booth

Bookings do not include assistance with using the studio. For assistance, contact the Media Corps.

Faculty, staff and students may reserve audio recording equipment from OIT, such as the Tascam audio recorder.

Equipment used for class assignments may often be reserved for free for brief periods. For more information, or to borrow equipment visit the OIT:

DeBartolo 115
(574) 631-6423
eventrentals@nd.edu

While the sound will be of higher quality using professional equipment, you may record your book trailer with your own computer or mobile device. Audacity is a free, cross-platform application for recording and editing sound on a computer. There are also many apps available for recording your voice on a mobile device. One good option is the free app VoiceRecord Pro:

VoiceRecord Pro (iOS)
VoiceRecord Pro (Android)

For instructions on using VoiceRecord Pro to record audio, see Tame Your Tools. Note that you will need an adapter if you intend to connect a professional quality microphone to you phone or mobile device.

Choose a soundtrack

Now, you'll choose a soundtrack to layer behind your book trailer. Make sure to choose music that matches the theme and tone of the essay.

14	Visit the YouTube Audio Library.
15	Select the `Free Music` tab.

16	Search and filter for music by any combination of Genre, Mood, Instrument, or Duration.
17	Choose an `Attribution` option. We recommend "Attribution not required."

Giving Proper Attribution
If you choose the "Attribution required" option, you must credit the composer of any music you use in your project.

18	Click the download icon to download the track (MP3) you choose. Save this soundtrack file to your project folder.

Choose sound effects

Layering sound effects into your book trailer will certainly enhance the storytelling.

19	Visit the YouTube Audio Library.
20	Select the Sound effects tab.

21	Search or filter sound effects by Category.

22	Click the download icon to download the track (MP3) you choose. Save any sound effects files you like to your project folder. All Audio Library sound effects are free and require no attribution.

Create an Audacity project

Now, you'll create an audacity project for layering together all the audio you've found and created.

Launch Audacity on the computer you are working on. If you are working on your own computer, you will want to download Audacity if you have not already done so.

Save your Audacity project file (.aup) in your my-media-project folder. Audacity will also add a resources folder called where-from-audacity-project_data, which you may safely ignore. Your project folder should now contain:

Your research notes folder
Your talent release form
Any soundtrack you chose
Any sound effects you chose
Any takes you made of the book trailer (MP3s)
Your audacity project file and its resources folder

Import your audio tracks

Next, we'll import your recorded book trailer file(s) and your soundtrack and any sound effects into your new Audacity project.

25	With your Audacity project open, select File > Import > Audio to import the MP3 of the book trailer take(s) you intend to use.

26	Repeat step 23 to import the MP3 of your soundtrack and any sound effects you may be using. When you are finished, your project window should show these tracks stacked on top of each other.

Edit and sync your tracks

In this step, you will edit each of your tracks, layering and syncing them so that they sound like one polished audio track, beginning to end. Remember that the volume level of the soundtrack should be low enough that it underscores your book trailer rather than dominating it.

27	If you haven't already done so, watch How To Record and Edit Audio In Audacity. We highly recommend the Learning Audacity course on LinkedIn Learning if you intend to do advanced editing, such as layering in sound effects.
28	You may use the selection tool () to cut unwanted parts from your audio track, and cut-and-paste audio within and between tracks.
29	You may use the time slider tool () to sync tracks, shifting each track forward or back in relation to each other.
30	Finally, select the audio you wish to fade out and select Effects > Fade Out from the application menu. Feel free to experiment, applying various effects and filters to your audio which seem appropriate.
31	Make sure to save regularly as you edit your project file (.aup).

Export your finished project to an MP3

Now, you'll need to export your book trailer to a format which can be shared on the web, such as MP3.

32	Select File > Export Audio from the application menu to export your project to an MP3 file.

33	Navigate to your project folder to save your polished book trailer file as an MP3. Name the file "book-trailer-final-mp3" (or anything memorable which will distinguish it from the rough audio files you used to make it). Select Format and choose "MP3 Files".

34	Select the Options button to open the Specify MP3 Options window, where you'll set the Bit Rate Mode to 'Constant', the Quality to '320 kbps', and Channel Mode to 'Joint Stereo'.

35	Click OK to close the Specify MP3 Options window. Then click the Save button to export your MP3.
36	The last step before saving asks you to provide metadata in the Edit Metadata window. This step is optional, but recommended. Click OK to continue.

Share your work to the cloud

In this last step, you'll upload your book trailer to Soundcloud, to share with others.

37	Login to Soundcloud, a cloud-based platform for sharing audio. You may create your own account or sign in using your Notre Dame Google Account.
38	Select Upload from the application menu. Click the Choose a File to Upload button and navigate to your project folder. Select your finished project MP3 and click OK.

39	Add information as desired in the Basic Info, Metadata, and Permissions window and click Save. Remember to set the project to Public in order for others to find and listen to it online.