New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of … Continue reading “New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:”

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. There is no fee for these workshops and no RSVP is necessary. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.


Sunday, 3/4 at 3pm – Intro to Pro Tools
Sunday, 3/4 at 5pm – Basic Website Development
Monday 3/5 at 2pm – Get Started with Photoshop
Tuesday 3/6 at 12pm – Sound Design in Final Cut Pro X
Tuesday 3/6 at 8pm – NMC Equipment Training
Wednesday 3/7 at 8pm – Matte Painting in Photoshop
Thursday 3/8 at 4pm – Intermediate Photoshop
Friday 3/9 at 12pm – Basic Motion Graphics for Video in After Effects
Saturday 3/10 at 4pm – Final Cut Pro X: Intermediate

See the complete Spring Training Schedule by date or by topic.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training at Lynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.

New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of … Continue reading “New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:”

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. There is no fee for these workshops and no RSVP is necessary. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.


Sunday, 2/20 at 5pm – Intro to Photoshop 3D
Monday 2/20 at 2pm – How to Make a Video
Tuesday 2/21 at 12pm – Podcasting with Garageband
Tuesday 2/21 at 8pm – NMC Equipment Training
Wednesday 2/22 at 8pm – Get Started with Photoshop
Thursday 2/23 at 4pm – Final Cut Pro 7: Intermediate
Friday 2/24 at 12pm – Basic Motion Graphics for Video
Saturday 2/25 at 5:30pm – Final Cut Pro X: Beginner

See the complete Spring Training Schedule by date or by topic.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training at Lynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.

New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of … Continue reading “New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:”

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. There is no fee for these workshops and no RSVP is necessary. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.

Sunday, 2/12 at 5pm – Podcasting 101: Audacity
Sunday, 2/12 at 5pm – Intermediate Photoshop
Monday 2/13 at 2pm – Final Cut Pro X: Beginner
Tuesday 2/14 at 12pm –Sound Design in Final Cut Pro X
Wednesday 2/15 at 8pm – Basic Motion Graphics for Video
Thursday 2/16 at 4pm – Final Cut Pro 7: Beginner
Thursday 2/16 at 4pm – NMC Equipment Training

Friday 2/17 at 12pm – Advanced Photoshop
Saturday 2/18 at 5:30pm – Get Started with Photoshop

See the complete Spring Training Schedule by date or by topic.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training at Lynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.

How to lengthen your sound effects by looping in Audacity

Here’s a short tutorial that show you how to lengthen a sound effect by looping it in Audacity. Audacity is free Mac, PC, and Linux compatible audio editing software you can download from here.

Here’s a short tutorial that show you how to lengthen a sound effect by looping it in Audacity.

Audacity is free Mac, PC, and Linux compatible audio editing software you can download from here.

Noise Reduction in Soundtrack Pro

Are you finding that there is unwanted noise in a portion of your Final Cut Pro video project? This is a problem that’s been popping in the New Media Center during this busy time when final project deadlines are approaching. Depending on the depth of your noise problem, here’s one method that may work well … Continue reading “Noise Reduction in Soundtrack Pro”

Are you finding that there is unwanted noise in a portion of your Final Cut Pro video project? This is a problem that’s been popping in the New Media Center during this busy time when final project deadlines are approaching. Depending on the depth of your noise problem, here’s one method that may work well for you. Check out the video below:

What kind of sound does a 1,500-sound-effect donation make?

Sound recorder Greg Smith catalogued his recordings as part of a master’s thesis. “It was a tedious process,” Smith says. “After I finished this project, I thought, ‘It doesn’t make sense to me to return it to a shelf. . . . A sound effect is a living thing. It runs, pops, squeaks, rumbles, roars. For it … Continue reading “What kind of sound does a 1,500-sound-effect donation make?”

Sound recorder Greg Smith catalogued his recordings as part of a master’s thesis. “It was a tedious process,” Smith says. “After I finished this project, I thought, ‘It doesn’t make sense to me to return it to a shelf. ... A sound effect is a living thing. It runs, pops, squeaks, rumbles, roars. For it to sit on a shelf in CDs and collect dust doesn’t make sense.’ ”

The Washington Post published a great piece about Greg Smith and the donation of his sound effects collection to the American University Library. The article even includes cool sample clips of a jack hammer, panda cub, Nascar race, buffalo, and a toucan.

Here’s a taste of the Washington Post article:

Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection

A baby panda in the wild sounds like the high-pitched bark of “Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua.”

Humpback whales mating off the coast of Maui moan amidst the distinct sounds of air bubbles popping underwater.

The futuristic grunts of aliens you might have heard in “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” were not created in the studio but were actually made by buffalo grazing in South Dakota.
These sound clips and more than 1,500 others were donated last week to the library at American University by sound producer Greg Smith, who spent more than 30 years traveling the world for film and radio, working for major production companies including NPR, National Geographic and Imax.

The collection includes Smith’s best hits and are immediately accessible to film students, other aspiring filmmakers and “anybody with access to the library,” says Robin Chin Roemer, communications librarian at American. “We are really happy to have this collection. Not all of us are jumping outside to record sounds around us, but Greg did.” Read more of the Washington Post article here.

Read more about the Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection and check out the

Greg Smith SFX Collection Index by category.

Sound notes taken in the field by Greg Smith who has worked for more than 30 years recording sound effects for film.

Check out some more background about Greg and his production company.

Here’s a link to Greg Smith’s personal site.

With Logic Pro X on the way, Apple works to avoid Final Cut Pro X backlash

Apple is reportedly finishing an update to Logic Pro 9, its professional digital audio and music sequencing program, taking care not to rile existing users with significant changes. The new update is reportedly called Logic Pro X to maintain the same branding as Apple’s recent Final Cut X. However, according to a report by Japanese … Continue reading “With Logic Pro X on the way, Apple works to avoid Final Cut Pro X backlash”


Apple is reportedly finishing an update to Logic Pro 9, its professional digital audio and music sequencing program, taking care not to rile existing users with significant changes.

The new update is reportedly called Logic Pro X to maintain the same branding as Apple’s recent Final Cut X. However, according to a report by Japanese blog Macotakara, Apple’s Logic team is making great efforts to stress that it will not shift toward a GarageBand interface, heading off fears that Logic Pro might lose its professional edge. Read more at AppleInsider.

Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection Presentation & Reception Thursday, September 15, 2011 – 2:35–3:15 PM in Ward 2

Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection Presentation & Reception Hosted by: University Library & School of CommunicationSeptember 15, 2011, 2:35–3:15 PMWard 2 On Thursday, September 15, the Library and SOC will come together to introduce and celebrate the Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection, a resource comprised of 1450 sound effect tracks recorded by SOC adjunct professor … Continue reading “Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection Presentation & Reception Thursday, September 15, 2011 – 2:35–3:15 PM in Ward 2”

Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection Presentation & Reception

Hosted by: University Library & School of Communication
September 15, 2011, 2:35–3:15 PM
Ward 2

On Thursday, September 15, the Library and SOC will come together to introduce and celebrate the Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection, a resource comprised of 1450 sound effect tracks recorded by SOC adjunct professor Greg Smith over the course of his career in film and television.

Greg Smith has over 25 years of experience making films, and has traveled the world extensively as a location sound recordist, among other roles. While working on set for major studios such as Lucasfilm, he eventually amassed a large private library of sound effects, which he later used as part of his thesis project as an MFA student at AU.

The Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection is derived from the highlights of this thesis project, and includes unique sound effects of wildlife, vehicles, ambiences, and a wide variety of other things that go “bump” in both the day and night.

In providing this collection to the University Library, Smith has requested that his sound effects be shared openly for the benefit of filmmakers and video and audio producers around the world.

For more information about the Greg Smith Sound Effects Collection and to access its tracks, please visit the Media Services webpage.

Join members of the SOC’s Film and Media Arts division for the formal presentation of faculty member Greg Smith’s sound effects collection to the University Library. The presentation will include a sampling of key sound effects from the collection and a short Q&A session with Professor Smith. Refreshments provided.

Here’s some more background about Greg and his production company.

Here’s a link to Greg Smith’s personal site.

This image of recording a mountain lion can be found on his website.

DMS Help – Broadcast Yourself and Podcast with Audacity

Need to create a podcast for a class? Think your opinion on something (or everything) needs to be heard by the masses? Well, here’s how… This series of free videos will show you how to use Audacity to record, edit and export your podcast. It’s never been as easy as this to learn how to … Continue reading “DMS Help – Broadcast Yourself and Podcast with Audacity”


Need to create a podcast for a class? Think your opinion on something (or everything) needs to be heard by the masses? Well, here’s how…

This series of free videos will show you how to use Audacity to record, edit and export your podcast. It’s never been as easy as this to learn how to edit digital audio.
Files edited in Audacity and then exported as .wav or .mp3 can be used in iMovie or Final Cut Pro. This means you can easily create a voice-over track or custom music track for your video.

DMS Help – Record and Edit Audio with Audacity

Ever wanted to make you own podcast? Have all this amazing stuff on your computer that you’ve recorded, but have no idea how to edit it? Well, here’s your chance. Download the free audio editing software Audacity (for Mac and PC) and start broadcasting yourself. Got it already and don’t know how to use it? … Continue reading “DMS Help – Record and Edit Audio with Audacity”

Ever wanted to make you own podcast? Have all this amazing stuff on your computer that you’ve recorded, but have no idea how to edit it?

Well, here’s your chance. Download the free audio editing software Audacity (for Mac and PC) and start broadcasting yourself.
Got it already and don’t know how to use it? This easy-to-follow tutorial manual, written by the Audacity folks, can help you understand digitized sound and how you can use Audacity to edit sound.