# Setting audio recording options

Audio files present the common challenge of balancing quality against size. The higher the sound quality, the larger the file size. The more you compress a sound and the lower the sampling rate, the smaller the size and the lower the quality. Captivate lets you control the way sound is recorded and compressed based upon your input and output requirements.

Creating audio in Captivate is essentially a two-part process. You record audio in WAV format, and then Captivate converts the WAV file into an MP3 file. When files are in WAV format, they have a degree of flexibility. You can edit and adjust them "downward," compressing them into MP3 files uniquely tailored to their playback scenario.

Of course, when working with audio, keep your users in mind. If a user is likely to access the Captivate movie by using a dial-up modem, use a higher compression/lower sampling rate, such as 56 Kbps. However, if you are distributing the movie on a CD-ROM, you can use a lower compression/higher sampling rate, such as 144 Kbps. In the best development case, experiment to find the optimal balance between sound quality and file size for your users.

#### To set audio recording options:

1. Open a Captivate project.

2. To open the Record Audio dialog box, do one of the following:

3. In Storyboard view, select a slide and click Audio on the toolbar.

- In Edit view, select a slide and click Audio on the toolbar.

3. Click Options.

The Audio options dialog box appears.

4. Set the following options:

5. Input source: Specifies the type of recording device you are using to create audio. Select Microphone if you are using a microphone, or select Line in if you are using a different type of recording device.

6. Audio quality: Specifies a quality level for the audio. Click the pop-up menu and select an option. Remember that a higher quality level results in a larger audio file size.

7. Calibrate input: Click to display the Calibrate microphone dialog box. It is important to calibrate your recording device for optimal sound quality.

5. When you finish, click OK.