Sound of Nature
Everyday we hear a wide variety of natural sounds that we don't  pay attention to it. The following short sound clip might help us to appreciate some of these sounds. The sound clip includes calming sounds like the water sound from the AUC fountain and the sounds of birds. Other sounds are unpleasant such as the drill's sound  in a construction area at AUC, students saluting the flag at school in the morning and the sound of cars, horns, traffic and crowds in the streets of Cairo.

Fatimid Rock Crystal

Fatimid Rock Crystals

Breaking the Fast

   Feature from World Vision Reports

      

     Title of the Feature: Breaking the Fast

     Who Produces the feature: two persons the announcer and narrator or reporter

     Length of the Feature: 3. 30 min

     Link to the Feature: http://www.worldvisionreport.org/player.php?storyfile=1629

Review 

The feature is about the banquets of mercy, Mawaed Al- Rahman,  held during the month of Ramadan. The story takes the listener to one of those banquets held in Al-Sabtia area, one of the poorest and busiest areas in Cairo, to feel the atmosphere of Ramadan.

The feature production is excellent which is why I decided to write this review about it. At the beginning, the story commenced with a call for prayer, the Athan, which captured my heart and attention to listen to what is next. The announcer’s voice is clear, strong, serious, and put me in the mood of listening to the reporter’s story. The shift from the Athan to the announcer’s voice is gradual. The Athan sound was strong at the beginning then gradually began to fade away  in the background and the announcer’s voice began to appear in the foreground; none of which overlapped with the other one nor disturbed my attention. Also, the use of low natural sound in the background while the reporter is talking is a good idea. It kept me always in the mood of the story. The same thing goes for the transition from the announcer’s voice to the reporter’s voice; a link between both voices was made by using the natural sound in the background. In addition, the  use of the reporter’s description of Ramadan in the foreground and the use of natural sound in the background made me feel that I am actually at Al- Sabtia with the reporter living the event. 

The sound quality is strong and clear and the natural sound is used professionally. All the recorded parts are very clear and alive, as if I am standing in the middle of the banquet. Also, the reporter’s voice is clear and gentle matching with the peaceful atmosphere of Ramadan. However, sometimes the reporter’s voice speeded up as if she got bored, tired or uninterested in the subject.  Though the story’s length is too short, I liked the production.



Oprah : The Billionaire Everywoman

                       Feature from the National Public Radio (NPR)

      

     Title of the Feature: Oprah : The Billionaire Everywoman

     Who Produces the feature: two persons (narrator and script writer)

     Length of the Feature: 6:09 min

     Link to the Feature: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124285128

Review

The feature is about media tycoon, Oprah Winfrey, who is considered one of the most influential women in the world. The story covers various parts of her life such as her early childhood, personal life, career and success and entrepreneurship and wealth.  Winfrey is credited for creating a more confessional form of media communication, which I personally adore.

The story could have been more interesting if the producer used Oprah’s voice to narrate her own story. The narrator’s task, in this case, is to comment on what Oprah has said with a light music or proper natural sound in the background. The natural sound will break the narration monotony or tediousness and keeps the listener interested in the story.  Also, the story can be more exciting if the audience heard Oprah’s friends talking about their special moments with her.

The sound quality is good in some parts; especially those pieces narrated by the producer (narrator). However, the recorded parts are really bad and the listener can hear noises or voice echoes in the background. The natural sound is not professionally incorporated with the rest of the story. For instance, you hear the narrator’s voice and then all of a sudden you hear a natural sound or Oprah’s voice; as if the two sounds are detached. In other words, no gradual transition is detected when shifting from the narrator’s voice to the natural sound. This  disrupts the listener’s attention and gets him or her out of the mood of the story.

At the beginning, the narrator talks so fast to the extant that the listener can lose interest. I was hardly following up on what she wanted to say. I felt it is more of a commercial ad than a story about a media tycoon. After the first 28 seconds she slowed down the rhythm of her voice and I began to feel and comprehend what she wanted to say.  

The story is just at the right length; it is not too long nor too short. It is informative and covers various parts of Oprah’s life. However, in some parts the narrator talks for a long time which makes it hard for the listener to pay attention to everything said; I think they should have used a background music or natural sound more often.