Enhance Your Guide With Audio

When you think about a digital guide to arts and culture, you probably think "audio guide." The same is true for visitors; they're often eager for voices and perspectives to round out their experience.

Review the resources in this article to learn about what goes into creating audio experiences for your visitors. Content experts will provide step-by-step assistance throughout the guide building process so you can create compelling and polished audio with confidence—and in time for your guide's launch date.

As you consider how to augment your guide with multimedia content, watch our brief Self-Paced Tutorial Videos.

Review Your Audio Kit

You should have received, or will soon receive, a Bloomberg Connects Audio Recording Kit. If your kit has not arrived, reach out to your Bloomberg Connects contact. We'll get one out to you as soon as possible.

Your audio kit includes:

• 1 snowball microphone
• 1 pair of headphones
• 1 pop filter
• 1 lavalier microphone
• 2 adapters (1 Android and 1 iPhone)

Open the kit and take some time to get comfortable with the equipment.

A short guide to using this equipment is included with the kit.

Brainstorm the Role of Audio in Your Guide

As you start thinking about how interesting and insightful audio can enhance your visitors’ experience, use the following questions to spark ideas.

Connecting Audio to On-Site Programming

• How might your audio support the themes in your current or upcoming exhibitions, installation, gallery hang, collection works on view, or high season?
• While mapping your visitor journey, consider the items or artworks you are spotlighting. How might you gather a diversity of voices and stories about those items (e.g., curatorial, conservation, preservation, community, interesting storytellers or subjects, artists reflecting on other artists' works)?
• What audio do you already have available in your archive or past projects that might be useful for new or repeat visitors? 

Understanding Visitors’ Needs

• What are their expectations for the visit?
• Why have they come, and what do they want to know or learn?
• Who would they like to hear from?
• Do you want to focus on developing content for specific audiences or use cases (e.g., families, multilingual visitors, accessibility)?

Considering the Physical Space

• Where are they listening? What is the environment like?
• Are they standing or walking while using the guide? 
• Can they clearly view the object while engaging with the audio?

Encouraging Visitor Engagement

• How many pieces of audio make for a realistic, satisfying, and successful visit?
• How do you maintain their interest?
• Would layers of audio content allow visitors to explore an object more deeply?

For more insights, sign up for a virtual Audio Training & Best Practices call. These calls are open for partners at any stage of their guide development.

Record Test Content

Creating audio can feel intimidating at first! But sometimes, the best way to learn is by doing. 

To help your team get comfortable using the Bloomberg Connects Audio Kit equipment and speaking into a microphone, consider recording informal test "interviews" with your team.

Start by asking open-ended questions like:

• How would you describe our collection to a friend?
• What’s one cool fact about your role that a visitor might not know?
• What do you love the most about our space?
• What are you most excited to show family and friends when they visit?

You will learn a lot by recording and editing these informal clips, even if you don't end up using them in your guide.

Transcripts and Captions

Your partnership with Bloomberg Connects includes complementary transcription and captioning services through our collaboration with Rev.com.

All audio and video files in your guide require transcripts. Videos also need to have captions or subtitles. This helps make your content accessible to the widest possible audience.

For complete details on using Rev, see:

• Creating a Transcript with Rev.com
• Creating Captions/Subtitles with Rev.com