For clarity the case studies are separated into distinctive styles but of course you can include more than one element in your audio trail. Many of our productions include a mix of newly recorded interviews and archive material, such as existing oral history recordings and quotes from books etc. These are weaved together with a narrator to provide a seamless and informative guide. Scroll down or select a link below.

Interview-based

Hearing the stories of people who know a site well really brings a place to life. Their passion is evident in the audio and the tales they tell are often the ones you wouldn't find in a traditional guide. This style is our most popular and we can either use existing oral history recordings or undertake new interviews for you. Below are two samples that illustrate this approach.

Script-written

The use of fiction to tell a complicated story or to appeal to a particular audience can really help deliver important messages. Two examples are illustrated below.

Archival

If you have access to archive information (e.g diaries, publications) relating to your subject then the use of well-chosen short excerpts can really enhance an audio guide.

Narrator

In some circumstances you may just want one narrator to tell the full story. Music and sound effects can be added to enhance the spoken word.

Soundscapes

Audio, like the sense of smell, is a very powerful tool and the use of everyday sounds weaved together can really define an area and provide a sense of place.

Podcasts

Podcasts provide a way of regularly keeping those interested in your work up-to-date. These audio magazines can be produced as often as you feel appropriate and may contain your latest news or seasonal information relevant to your site.

Maps and Directions

Whilst we add directions at the end of each audio track, we often find visitors benefit from having something that they can also read to help them find their way. Maps and directions provided as a PDF and included with the audio download can be printed off to take with them. The inclusion of this material also enables people who cannot download the audio to still enjoy the route.

Keston A simple but clear map with directions to each stop plus travel information to the start is important for a teenage audience.	Ashover All the information needed to navigate your way around the route is provided in this two page document.

Activity Sheets

The provision of activities at each point along the trail provides the opportunity for the visitor to learn more about the site and enhance their visit. The two examples below are part of a series of audio trails for 11-16 year olds developed for the London Borough of Bromley.

High Elms Each activity expands on the information found in the audio trail, but also works as a stand-alone document.	Beck Corridor Teenagers are encouraged to think how things have changed in this very urban environment over the years.

Podscrolls NEW!

A podscroll is a digital booklet that you can download onto iPods and other Personal Media Players with a colour screen. Using the devices controls you can scroll forward and backwards through the booklet. An emulation of a podscroll is provided to the right. In this example, it contains the directions and map for the Downe Audio Trail, but there are many applications - activity sheets, factsheets, regular magazine, publicity info.....