How can I use audio guide?
Audio Guide is an immersive mode that allows users to learn about the environment through sound. Users can also choose whether to listen to audio POIs individually from the map or from the list view. Audio Wizard supports multiple languages and easy to implement content.
Requirements
- Logged-in to MyBusiness
Good to know
How to implement audio into the Audio Guide?
The Audio Guide is an immersive mode that lets users learn about their surrounding environment via audio. Audio is handled similarly to images in MyBusiness making the implementation of content into the Audio Guide straight-forward.
Let's talk audio
To help improve the user experience, here are a few tips for recording high quality audio. It doesn't necessarily require the use of a professional studio.
- For high quality audio we recommend at minimum using a microphone other than your phone's internal microphone. There are low-cost options available on the market such as the Shure MV88 or Zoom AM7 that can capture high quality audio.
- The Audio Guide currently accepts MP3 format audio (.MP3). We suggest a minimum bit rate of 192kbps to provide high quality audio without using large amounts of data.
- Recording time without talking (dead air) should be removed from the front and the back of the audio file, so that there is spoken content within one second of the audio file beginning to play.
- Plosives (the rushing of air hitting the microphone capsule) should be completely avoided. To fix this issue, please ensure the microphone is not too close to your mouth, or is slightly angled from the side to ensure your breath does not directly impact the microphone capsule when you are speaking.
- Distortion and leveling. Please ensure that your audio files are not clipping or distorted. In some cases it may be necessary to lower the input level of the microphone to ensure a clean recording free of distortion.
- Effects, EQ, and Compression. Please avoid things such as reverb, delay, or exaggerated EQ settings and allow the voice to remain natural in tone and timbre.
Photo: Ryan Gorman
Adding Audio Guide content in MyBusiness
Adding content to the Audio Guide is a simple and straight-forward process.
- Once your audio is recorded, select your POI in MyBusiness and go to the media section
- In the media section choose "Add Media" and upload your audio file here
- Once uploaded, click on the audio file in the media list of the POI, this takes you to the audio media object itself
- In the Description tab please check the box "Include in Audio Guide" to ensure the audio appears visible when the Audio Guide is turned on
- In the Audio tab you can upload files for specific languages
Please keep in mind that when using existing and third-party audio material, the copyrights to that material must be respected and Gema fees may be due. You can find more information about copyrights and licensing requirements on the GEMA website.
Photo: Ryan Gorman
