Reasons to use audio

• Lectures
• Radio broadcasts and interviews
• Photo slideshow narration
• Video voiceovers
• Background music for multimedia projects
• Recordings of musical performances

Sound recording

• Avoid interviews in unreasonably noisy areas such as:
  • Near a fountain
  • Inside a high traffic building or classroom
  • Near a roadway
  • Near heating or cooling units outdoors
• Avoid spaces with prominent echo, if possible.
• Use lavalieres for most video recording situations.
  • Lavalieres are small microphones that clip on to a subjects tie or shirt.
  • Position the lavaliere on the interviewees to catch sound in the direction they're facing.

Music

• When adding music to an audio project, a video, a photo slideshow or another multimedia undertaking, be sure to choose music that you have the legal right to use.
  • Don’t steal copyrighted music to enhance radio projects or add background sound to videos and photo slideshows. There is no educational exemption for the use of copyrighted music in videos.
• Options for background music include:
  • Original music by an LU student or employee.
  • Short music clips created with the help of music-making software.
  • Stock audio from websites offering music clips and songs.
  • Public domain songs, which are not protected by copyright.
• YouTube Audio Library, which allows YouTube users to add music selected from their free library of songs.

Permissions

• Use the university photo / video release form to obtain written permission from everyone you record. All subjects must complete and sign a release form.
  • Maintain the original release form with your department's files.
• If your project includes copyrighted music, you must comply with all applicable copyright laws.
• Follow all applicable Lamar University legal and liability guidelines.