| Sound Recorder is accessed in Windows 95 by clicking on Start / Programs / Accessories / Multimedia and clicking on Sound Recorder. Sound Recorder is accessed in Windows 98 and above by clicking on Start / Programs / Accessories / Entertainment and clicking on Sound Recorder. _________ Sound files can be recorded on your computer's Sound Recorder and can be attached to messages as long as the completed soundfile is under 1 megabyte in size. Depending on which recording format you select from the Sound Recorder menu you can record up to approximately 8 minutes and still be under the 1 megabyte limit. Recording a Sound File To record audio and listen to audio files, you'll need a sound card, a microphone and speakers. Make sure you have a microphone connected to your computer. 1. To begin recording, click  and speak into the microphone. 2. To stop recording, click  . 3. Note that Sound Recorder automatically stops recording after 60 seconds so if you need to record for longer you need to reclick on the red button and the recording will recommence. You can drag the slider back and listen to what you have recorded so far, and choose the best spot to stop the Recorder so that you can restart recording. 4. When you have completed the recording play it back by clicking on the Play button and see if you need to adjust the sound level. You can increase or decrease the level by clicking on Effects and then on Increase Volume by 25%. Click on that as many times as you need to to get the required level. You can also add Echo if required. You now need to know the file size to ensure that you get it below the 1 megabyte limit for posting to the message board. 6. Click on File and Properties (as below) 
This will then appear 
and the Data Size will show how many bytes your recording has used. If you need to compress the file size click on the Convert Now button (highlighted above) and on the board that then appears 
click the Format arrow and scroll upwards through the possibilities offered. If the file is more than about three minutes long and under 9 minutes you will need to select the GSM 6.10 format. GSM 6.10 will reduce the Data Size by about 90% and will also lose some of the sound quality unfortunately, but for voice recordings the quality is still listenable. Click OK and the file will compress and you will be shown the new Data Size. 7. On the File menu, click Save As. Type a name for your file, select the location where it will be saved, and Click the Save button. If you save the file to My Documents it will be easy for you to locate when you are browsing for the file to upload to the message board. 8. To upload a recording to a community message board: when using the Add a reply or Start a New Discussion facility on the message board you will see the words Attach a file just under the Subject box. Click onto Attach a file You will then be shown a window with three steps to take. STEP 1. You will see a heading; Choose the file you want to attach Click on BROWSE You will then be shown a new window with the heading CHOOSE FILE Select the place where you saved the file, eg. My Documents. Find the recording you saved and click OPEN The file you select will then appear in the box under the heading mentioned in STEP 1 STEP 2. Select Click here to attach the above file Uploading can take about 3 or 4 minutes depending on the length of your recording. When uploading is complete, the computer will show you the named file above the Reply Box. If you have no other files to upload, remembering you cannot exceed 1MB per attachment click on SEND. When you return to the reply board you will see your attachment file just below the message box. | 
