Protect Your Audio Files

If you’re like me, you probably spend a lot of time getting your audio tracks “just right.” And when it’s time to use your audio file in a project, you want to be able to quickly locate and insert it, right? After all, the reason you work so hard to get reliable audio for your project is so you can actually use it in your project. So, I’d like to share three helpful tips to help you manage your audio, so it’s always there when you need it.

1. Use a consistent folder structure. As often as possible, I try to keep the same general structure for every project: a master project folder that contains subfolders for audio, interactions, images, etc. This way, if I revisit a project for updates, I can find my audio files quickly. This is especially true when I return to a project months, or even years, later.

2. Export your audio. Let’s face it, technical issues happen. Operating systems hiccup, power outages occur … the list goes on. If you plan to record your audio directly into Articulate Studio or Articulate Storyline, I highly recommend that you export all of your audio immediately after your recording session and tuck those files into your project audio folder (see tip #1). This way, you can level your audio using a tool like Levelator, and have backup files. If you need your backups later on, it’s easy to import those audio files. Watch this screencast to see tips on exporting and importing audio:

View this screencast on Screenr.com

3. Back up your files. Even after you export your audio, it’s a good idea to back up your audio files (in fact, back up all your project files). Redundancy is your friend, especially if you’re working in a production environment with many client projects. Don’t just save files to your primary hard drive—save to another drive too, such as a secondary internal drive, an external drive, or a cloud-based service. Some people back up files weekly, but if you’re working intensively on a project, do it at the end of each day. It may sound extreme, but it sure beats going back and redoing the 40 hours of work you did since your last backup.

For more information on backing up your files, check out David Anderson’s tutorial, or visit E-Learning Heroes to ask a question. We’re here to help!