SoundCloud Voices
SoundCloud Voices is a weekly Community feature focusing on new spoken word creators found on SoundCloud. It might be a podcast, radio show, audio book, interview, audio messages, a poem, anything! Keep an eye out every Thursday for a new post.
You’ve probably noticed that here at SoundCloud we’re all about building community. Not only is our amazing community growing every day, but we’re also thrilled to be a part of the larger global audio-community.
As avid listeners ourselves, it brings us a great amount of pride to be working with some of the biggest and most popular audio producers in the world. We’re very proud to be working with highly respected networks such as The BBC, Radio France, NPR, PRI, and APM.
When it comes to working with our partners, we strive to be more than a simple audio-player. We’re constantly collaborating with them, working together to spread amazing listening-experiences across the web.
As much fun as we have working with these established networks, we also place a great deal of importance on supporting the next generation of audio producers. That’s why we get especially excited when working with folks like National Public Radio’s Intern Edition!
Not only do NPR’s interns play an important role in the production of the network’s major programs, but they also hone their skills by producing their own content. All that hard work gets published on their site, as well as presented to the NPR staff during a premier presentation at the end of each semester.
Listen to one of their recent pieces here:
These young producers are inheriting quite a different industry than the generation before them. The line between producer and listener is quickly disappearing, allowing anyone passionate about voice, sound, and storytelling to broadcast their experience to the entire world.
In fact, this week National Public Radio is encouraging audiophiles everywhere to submit the sounds of their cities using SoundCloud!
You can record your sounds using SoundCloud’s mobile app. Here’s some instructions:
1. Go to a place where you can hear your favorite sound and start recording.
2. Say your full name slowly and clearly. Then: “The sound of (YOUR CITY NAME) is (NAME OF SOUND).”
For example: “My name is John Smith. The sound of Columbus, Ohio, is the lunch-time crowd at the deli on my street.”
If you stumble, just pause, take a take breath, and try again.
3. Record the sound for at least 60 seconds.
4. Give it a listen (with headphones if possible) and make sure it came out clearly. Feel free to try it out a few times and then choose your best take.
5. Upload the file to Soundcloud and put the tag #nprcities in the title!
Here an example of one sound that was just submitted yesterday!
If you are interested in trying out SoundCloud as a spoken word podcast platform, you can sign up for via this form. Successful candidates will be emailed with further details.