Photographic Technology

Free tools like Audacity, Ocenaudio, and TwistedWave are perfect for beginners. They help you record, layer sounds, cut unwanted parts, and apply effects like fade-in/out. Being able to export your project as an MP3 is essential.

Your voice is the main instrument, so use it with intention! Practice tone, pace, and expression to keep your podcast interesting. Write a clear script or outline with a beginning, middle, and end to stay organized and hit your key points.

Sound effects and background audio create atmosphere. Learn how to find and use royalty-free or public domain sounds, and use them sparingly to boost your story without overwhelming it. Make sure everything used is credited in your portfolio.

You’ll submit a PDF portfolio alongside your audio. This includes your timeline, tools used, sources, and reflections. Keep notes during your process to make this step easier later.

Format: MP3 (uploaded via public URL—no logins or downloads required)

Length: Between 1 and 5 minutes

• 5-point penalty for every 15 seconds over or under

Content: Must be your team’s original work, created during the school year

• Allowed to use first names only (no last names, school, or state)

• External sounds must be royalty-free and cited

1. Title Page (podcast name, TSA event, Chapter ID, city/state, year)

2. Table of Contents

3. Podcast Cover Art

JPEG or PNG

1400 x 1400 px, square ratio

4. Work Log

5. Self-Evaluation (based on official judging criteria)

6. Audio Composition Timeline (graphical layout of sounds and voice clips)

7. Source List for Non-Original Audio (where it came from, how it was used)

8. List of Tools Used (software, hardware, microphones, etc.)

9. References Page (for any external resources)

10. Student Copyright Checklist

Clipchamp – Microsoft’s free in-browser video/audio editor (easy to use for cutting and layering audio clips)

Audacity – Industry-standard free audio editor

Ocenaudio – Simpler alternative to Audacity

TwistedWave Online – Record/edit directly in browser

Freesound – Community-submitted sound effects

Free Music Archive – Background music for non-commercial use

Pixabay Music – High-quality music for podcasts and videos

Canva – Drag-and-drop graphic design for beginners

Pixlr – Free image editor with advanced features

Google Drive – Be sure to share as “Anyone with the link”

Dropbox – Alternative for storing and sharing

YouTube (Unlisted) – Upload audio as a video with cover art