Editors' Guide: Audio Slideshow
These are instructions for creating an uploadable audio slideshow. To create a silent image gallery with Flash transitions, using a CMS plug-in, see slideshows.
Create
Optional resources:
- Figuring Out When, and How, Journalists Should Use Audio Slideshows (Poynter)
- Example: New milk jug leads to cost savings and spills (New York Times)
For your sound, use a program like Audacity or Amadeus Pro. You need to save your sound file as an MP3.
Create a Soundslides presentation. Remember to write captions (Slide Info tab) for each side and list yourself in the credits (Project Info tab).
Under the Template tab->Display, ensure these options are selected:
- Show captions
- Show credits
- Show captions by default
- Play automatically
- Scrubber preview (allows you to click on an exact slide)
- Show volume
Prepare
Click Export at the bottom right of the main window. Soundslides will create a "publish_to_web" folder inside your Soundslides project folder.
- Create a new folder
- Select all of the files INSIDE the "publish_to_web" folder (Edit menu-> Select All). Drag all of the files into the new folder.
Create a still JPG preview for the slideshow:
- Take one of your original photos. Resize it to 300 pixels wide. (The CMS will use it at only about 150 pixels wide.)
- Export it as a JPG. Call it "yourlastname_projectpreview.jpg" (or something similar that identifies you and your presentation.)
Add to CMS
- Because we're uploading a whole folder and not just a file, we have to manually upload using FTP. Get your instructor to do this ... or do it yourself.
- First, rename the folder with the ID number of your story. You can find the ID number by finding it in the list of stories in Expression Engine. i.e.: click "Edit" in EE. The ID is on the left of each article title. So your folder should be named something like: "3593".
- Get an FTP client. CyberDuck is free and should be on the lab computers. Connect to UNews by choosing "Open Connection" and use this login info.
- Drag the numbered folder to this window to upload your slideshow to the "slideshow_audio" folder.
- Finally, in your EE story, type this in the "Audio Slideshow" field:
/images/uploads/slideshow_audio/xxxx/ (where xxxx is the number corresponding to your folder) - Add a description in the field "Audio Description" (required)
- Add the preview image in the field "Audio Preview" (required)