A new piece of AV gear is now available for check out from the New Media Center!

Pearstone OLM-10 Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone The Pearstone OLM-10 lav mic is a really great sounding mic that may be perfect for one of your upcoming audio or video projects. It clips on and it has no problem picking up sound from a distance. When we tested this mic in the New Media Center, it managed … Continue reading “A new piece of AV gear is now available for check out from the New Media Center!”


Pearstone OLM-10 Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone

The Pearstone OLM-10 lav mic is a really great sounding mic that may be perfect for one of your upcoming audio or video projects. It clips on and it has no problem picking up sound from a distance. When we tested this mic in the New Media Center, it managed to pick up voices from up to 15 feet away with no problem. Of course ideally you will only be attempting to record the voice of the individual that the mic is attached to. This mic will be great for audio interviews or “talking head” style video shoots where you want to be sure you’re recording solid primary audio or even secondary audio using the Pearstone lav mic along with an audio recorder. The one thing to be aware of is that this mic is not wireless, but instead comes with 20 feet of thin, lightweight cable. Luckily, the cable is black so with a little creativity, you can easily conceal it from your shot. The Pearstone OLM-10 lav mic circulates for 3 days to any current AU student, faculty, or staff member. It can also be reserved by stopping into the New Media Center or by calling us at 202.885.2560. Come by the New Media Center and check it out for your next project!

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.

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.

The Three Keys to Great Audio for Video

Do you want better audio for your video? This might help… This video shows the three keys to great audio for video. They are: Equipment Placement Monitoring Excerpted from Izzy Video.

Do you want better audio for your video? This might help…

This video shows the three keys to great audio for video. They are:

  1. Equipment
  2. Placement
  3. Monitoring

Excerpted from Izzy Video.

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:

Source for original music for projects: Pump Audio

Are you shopping around for some good music for a video project, or are you an independent musician interested in making your music available to others for their projects? You might want to check out Pump Audio. This site allows you to search through thousands of original music cues and tracks by independent artists. You … Continue reading “Source for original music for projects: Pump Audio”

Are you shopping around for some good music for a video project, or are you an independent musician interested in making your music available to others for their projects? You might want to check out Pump Audio.

This site allows you to search through thousands of original music cues and tracks by independent artists. You can choose from lyric or instrumental compositions, in addition to searching by tempo, mood and genre. For a fee, you can license these tracks in perpetuity for your video or audio project.

Founded in 2001, Pump Audio is a new kind of agent for independent musicians, digitally connecting them with buyers in the mainstream media. With Pump Audio, artists can license their music into productions without giving up any ownership, while TV and advertising producers can discover new music ready for use.

With a growing catalog of tens of thousands of songs, all by independent artists from around the world, customers access music through Pump’s innovative search software and delivery services, the Soundtrack Service online, and the PumpBox™, which is currently on the desktops of thousands of creative professionals worldwide.

Pump Audio is based in New York’s Hudson Valley.

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.