iPhoneReporting: NealAugenstein @iphonereporting-blog - Tumblr Blog

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Just wanted to let you know the new URL address for this #iphonereporting blog — we’ll be saying goodbye to Tumblr.

Please change your bookmark to: www.iphonereporting.com

Thanks!

Vine’s got some major competition.

Instagram can now shoot 15 seconds of video, compared with Vine’s 6. You can choose one of 13 filters, select a cover frame, and share easily.

I’ve been pretty outspoken that while Vine and Instagram are capable of easy, fun, and in some cases very artistic videos, there are better alternatives for #iphonereporting.

Unless you’re just shooting and posting, shooting and posting, shooting and posting, editing counts — and you can’t do much of it on Vine or Instagram.

In Instagram you can delete your most recent snippet, Vine has no editing.

In a real news situation, I’d likely shoot with the built-in camera, edit in Voddio, upload to YouTube, and tweet it.

Still, there is something to be said for fun.

#iphonereporting #neal #augenstein #mobile #iphone #vine #instagram

How iOS 7 will improve #iphonereporting

When Apple's new iOS 7 debuts in Fall, two features I believe could mean major improvements for #iphonereporting are FaceTime Audio and AirDrop.

I'm not a developer, and don't have a beta version with which to experiment, so these are just first impressions on how the new operating system could benefit journalists, public relations professionals, and newsmakers.

FaceTime Audio

Forward-thinking Nick Garnett of the BBC has pioneered doing live reports with FaceTime, in its current video configuration.

In my testing, the connection is generally more stable than Skype, in both WiFi and LTE.

During FaceTime video, the microphone used is located in the phone's earpiece (where you listen during a standard phone call), next to the front camera.

Holding that microphone a few inches from your mouth provides good, but slightly tinny audio (and a close-up view of your tonsils to the person on the other end of the video chat.)

With FaceTime Audio I'm hopeful the microphone engaged will be the far-superior microphone located on the bottom of the iPhone, directly to the left of the charging part.

The microphone on the bottom of the phone has much better bass response. I use that built-in bottom mic for the majority of my #iphonereporting.

AirDrop

To this point, it's required some wired connections to transfer videos and photos taken on iPhone to iPad for editing. AirDrop will allow wireless sharing between devices (as long as you have an AirCloud account).

If you're enthusiastic about how other iOS 7 features could help in #iphonereporting, I'd love to hear about them!

#iphonereporting #mobile #neal #augenstein #wtop #reporting #journalism

Guide to tweeting audio for PIOs

The power of #iphonereporting isn’t limited to journalists — public safety and other agency spokespeople can harness the iPhone to get their message out more clearly and quickly.

While PIOs are embracing Twitter and Facebook to quickly disseminate information on breaking news, they’re missing an opportunity to provide good-quality audio that can be aired by radio and TV stations and online news organizations.

Historically, after putting out a tweet on a breaking news situation, PIOs are inundated with calls from news organizations seeking a phone or in-person interview, and asking when a news conference will be held.

The result is poor-sounding audio, and a PIO who’s answering the same questions a dozen times.

Here’s my solution that will make reporters happy, and allow you to gather information and organize a news conference: tweet great-sounding audio using the free SoundCloud app.

SoundCloud is a free service that’s like YouTube for audio.

With the free SoundCloud iPhone (or Android) app, a PIO can record several minutes of near-studio-quality audio into the built-in microphone of the mobile device, and quickly upload it to SoundCloud.

The URL from the uploaded file can be easily tweeted, posted on Facebook, and embedded on your agency’s website.

Anyone who clicks on the hyperlink will hear excellent-quality audio.

In newsrooms, reporters and producers can record the audio on their desktop computers.

Radio stations will get the audio on-air quickly. Television stations will have good audio to run over images provided by their cameramen or the public.

Forward-thinking PIOs ‘get it.’

Pete Piringer, Director of Communications for the city of Laurel, Md., and former spokesperson for local fire departments embraces the idea.

“One component that’s often missing as we get the information out is the audio part — good, quality audio,” says Piringer. “It will make things more efficient and improve our use of time if we’re out on a scene.”

Tweeting audio is an improvement over a tried-and-true, but now outdated method of communicating with reporters, says Alan Etter, former spokesperson for DC’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

“We used to maintain a tape line,” says Etter.

But a recorded tape line has two problems — the sound is phone-quality, and the reporter has to call it repeatedly to check for updates.

“Now with each tweet you’ll get studio-quality audio in a way that’s easy for the PIO and the reporter,” says Etter. “I hope it catches on.”

Julie Parker, a former reporter who is now the Media Relations Director with the Prince George’s County, Md. Police Department appreciates being able to provide air-quality audio “while a lack of time or resources might have otherwise prevented.”

“It’s a win for the media outlet, a win for the department, and ultimately a win for the community,” says Parker.

Step right up, PIOs -- glad to answer any questions.

How to turn your iPhone into a microphone

Phone-quality interviews sound lousy.

I detailed for PBS MediaShift how newsmakers can use their iPhone to sound studio-quality during a phone interview.

Here's a new video tutorial:

Let me know if you have any questions.

How to edit a radio wrap with Voddio

Voddio, by VeriCorder, is the multi-track audio and video editing app I use.

It's very similar to older cousins AudioPro and 1stVideo, but Voddio's user interface is cleaner and easier.

The learning curve is fairly steep -- the swipes, hidden menus, and ducking audio are not terribly intuitive.

Still, while I've tried quite several other audio and video editing apps, Voddio remains my clear choice.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

The Ultimate Tweet

Typing 140 characters and adding a link or photo is so 2010.

Too many news organizations merely toss web or broadcast content in a tweet.

Here’s an example of content created on mobile for mobile.

#wtop #neal #augenstein #iphonereporting #mobile #iphone #journalism

Seconds after arriving at an emergency scene, filing and sharing a quick report based on information gathered by the WTOP desk, before going underground into the Metro system. Thanks to Joel Gwadz for capturing this #iphonereporting moment.

#iphonereporting Go-Kit for Inauguration Day

The biggest challenge I anticipate is keeping my iPhone 5 and iPad Mini charged for eight to twelve hours. So, I've pulled together several charging options I can use with both devices.

Stitchway UltraPower 1900 mAh Backup Battery Charger -- each cost $5 on Amazon, so bought three.

Energizer Instant Charger Made for iPod/iPhone -- takes 3 AA batteries, so with a 10-pack of batteries can recharge phone three times. Cost $17 at Target.

Both styles of chargers have the old 30-pin connector, while the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini have the new smaller ports.

Lightning to 30-pin adapter cable. Pay the exorbitant $39 at the Apple Store since knock-off cables rarely work.

Wind is expected to be a problem. The iPhone's built-in microphone is susceptible to a stiff breeze.

Windscreen for standard microphone. $4 at Radio Shack.

With the lack of available AC outlets for recharging, I'll likely limit the use of the Verizon MiFi. Uploading audio reports shouldn't be a problem, because the iPhone 5's LTE is super-quick.

And, at the end of the day, when I finally find a Starbucks, my standard charging cables may come in handy.

Mr. Augenstein's iPhone Goes to Washington (and the Newseum)

It's been a few weeks since Jeff Sonderman at Poynter Institute was kind enough to document my donating my iPhone to the Newseum. I'm indebted.

Facebook Messenger: Not ready for #iphonereporting

I had high hopes when I read Facebook Messenger on iOS devices was updated to include voice messages.

As you see in the first photo, a reporter could choose to Record Voice, in addition to sending a photo to a Facebook page.

In the second photo, by pressing and holding the red button, the reporter could record and automatically upload up to one minute of audio.

In my mind, this would be another, even easier way for an #iphonereporter to deliver studio-quality audio from a mobile device, directly to the WTOP Facebook page.

Even more encouraging, I envisioned this as a one-touch method for listeners/viewers with iOS devices to add studio-quality, rather than phone-quality audio to the conversation, which could be recorded from the WTOP page and used in reporter pieces.

Here are the problems:

1. While the Facebook Messenger mobile app quickly and effortlessly uploads clip to another's page, the audio quality is mediocre -- about as poor as a cell phone.

2. Facebook Messenger only facilitates interaction between an individual user Profile, not a Page, which is geared for businesses (like WTOP) and organizations.

With so many ways to deliver studio-quality audio, including the Vericorder apps and SoundCloud, the ease-of-recording for a reporter is far outweighed by the degradation in sound quality.

And, the inability for listeners with Facebook Messenger to interact with a commercial page, means they'll still have to switch to the station's website, or Facebook page, or make a cell call.

Disappointing.

Visit Original Link

Had the pleasure of speaking with Jolie Lee and Mike O'Connell of It's All Journalism.

I wanted to love Blue Mikey Digital -- but I don't.

After loving and using the analog Blue Mikey, I had high hopes and waited patiently for the oft-delayed Blue Mikey Digital.

Unfortunately, it's not going to work out.

Mikey Digital looks beautiful, fits snugly into my iPhone 4s, even with a case, and has great features including line input and and USB pass-through.

At first listen, Mikey Digital delivered a warm, nice bass response compared with the slightly metallic sound of the built-in microphone.

The problems occur when trying to produce multi-track radio pieces.

Audio recorded in Vericorder AudioPro, SoundCloud, and BlueFiRe all contained an unacceptable amount of digital 'noise.' (Update: As of 6/2013 AudioPro has been replaced by Voddio)

While the 'noise' is often inaudible, it is very apparent when looking at the wav file.

By the time audio is edited and amplified, and run through the radio station's audio chain, several of my reports sounded distorted to the end user.

And that's a fatal flaw.

My testing was done with both Airplane Mode On, and off, with similar results.

The digital noise problem is not Blue Microphone's alone -- I experienced the same phenomenon with Tascam iM2.

So, as of now, I have not found a plug-in microphone that improves the sound of iPhone's built-in mic, without adding other complications.

I'm open to suggestions.

How to turn your iPhone into a microphone -- a guide for newsmakers and public relations professionals.

TIP: My first interview question

"Do you own or have access to an iPhone, iPad, or iPodTouch?"

That's one of the first questions I now ask in setting-up a phone interview. In almost all cases, the answer is yes.

Most public information and public relations professionals are surprised to hear there are several ways the Apple products can make a newsmaker's answers sound studio-quality, rather than inferior phone-quality.

I explain the iPhone, iPad, or iTouch essentially replaces a tape recorder.

While the newsmaker hears and answers my questions on a landline or other cellphone, they simultaneously record their answers on the iOs device.

At the end, they email or otherwise share the raw interview, which I edit for air or online posting.

I instruct them to hold the device 6-8 inches from their mouth.

On an iPhone, the microphone is directly to the left of the charging port on the bottom of the phone.

On an iPad, the microphone is a small hole along the top edge of the device.

An iPodTouch requires a plug-in microphone.

With an iPhone, the simplest way to accomplish this is with the built-in VoiceMemo app.

iPad and iTouch don't have VoiceMemo, so I walk them through setting up a free SoundCloud account, and how to download the free app. UPDATE: For a short interview, the Voice Recorder HDapp ($1.99) is even easier and more intuitive, for iPad and iTouch.

If the public relations pro balks at the "inconvenience," I remind this will help their client communicate as clearly as possible. If it's still too much of a bother, I pass on the interview.

Every newsmaker I've ever talked through the process has been delighted with the results, and is now equipped to use the technique in future interviews.

Simple, easy, effective.

Why I WON'T be using my new iPhone microphone I had high hopes for the new Tascam iM2 microphone -- $79, compatible with iPhone 4s, iPads, iPods, looks cool, easy to operate out of the box. But after two days of field testing it, I'm not feeling it. Unfortunately, at least when used with my standard audio and video editing apps (VeriCorder AudioPro and1stVideo) the audio file has too much "digital noise." While the noise is almost indiscernible with headphones or a speaker, by the time it's multiplied by the radio station's audio processing chain, the end user is bombarded with a fluttering or motorboating sound that obscures the desired audio. Outdoors, the iM2 (like many iPhone mics) is susceptible to wind noise. However, with its digital noise problems, a juryrigged windscreen isn't going to help enough. Even in the best possible recording conditions, several coworkers agree it doesn't have the range of response that the built-in microphone does. It sounds flat. Since my job in the field is to bring listeners to the scene, losing the ambience is a problem. So, for now I'm back to the built-in microphone and the ongoing search for something better. (Update: As of 6/2013, AudioPro and 1stVideo have been replaced by Voddio)

Tips for tweeting audio with photos

For mobile journalists producing content on smartphones, part of the challenge is knowing the limitations of your hardware and software, and working around them.

In news gathering and digital reporting, there are times when a full web story is needed, but there are also other ways of sharing stories with your mobile audience.

The goal: A tweet of on-scene audio, supplemented by a photo can transport your audience to where the news is happening.

SoundCloud's mobile app has a nice feature that lets your audience click on a Twitter or Facebook link, and simultaneously hear the audio and see the photo in the background.

The problem: One drawback with the current SoundCloud app -- it only allows you to add a photo to a new, unedited sound, recorded within the app.

In other words, you can't fully produce an audio package (in VeriCorder 1stVideo for instance) and upload it to SoundCloud, which is my standard method for tweeting audio. (Update: As of 6/2013, 1stVideo has been replaced by Voddio)

The workaround: Here's a clumsy, and time-consuming solution for now (hint, hint, SoundCloud) to include a photo with a fully-produced audio report:

Before uploading your audio report to SoundCloud, temporarily change your profile photo to the news photo you want to incorporate.

Granted, the end user won't see your smiling puss, in a thumbnail, but will see a full-screen news photo in the background while hearing the audio.

(Update: As of 6/2013 SoundCloud now allows you to tweet a photo with audio, making the workaround described above unnecessary)

Other applications, including Twitter's iPhone app, allow you to tweet an audio link and a photo link, but that requires two clicks, and doesn't allow for simultaneous viewing/listening.

Does anyone know of an app other than SoundCloud that lets the viewer look at the picture and hear the audio with a single click?

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