This project is now complete. All audio files can be found on our catalog page here:
https://librivox.org/coffee-break-collection-011-science-by-various/
This is the eleventh collection of our "coffee break" series, involving public domain works that are between 3 and 15 minutes in length. These are great for study breaks, commutes, workouts, or any time you'd like to hear a whole story and only have a few minutes to devote to listening. The theme for this collection is Science - The fascination with research, discovery, and experimentation has contributed to humanity's greatest feats. (Summary by Rosie).
- How to submit to this collection:
Please select and record any very short piece about science. I would like this collection to focus on nonfiction science and fiction about the study of the scientific method and topics within science (biology, technology, engineering, physical sciences, etc.) rather than science fiction. Though everyone reads at different speeds, you'll likely need to look for pieces with fewer than 2500 words to be within the 15 minute maximum. (Remember, if you record something and it ends up being longer, there are other collections to submit to!) You do not sign up or post in the thread before recording; as long as the work is clearly in the public domain, just go ahead and submit your section according to the instructions below.
Please try to read a complete piece. Short stories, essays, self-contained chapters (like in a travel or humor book), and letters are all great. If you wish to read an excerpt from a larger piece, it should be okay if it truly stands on its own. Just post here in the thread with your idea if you aren't sure!
For coffee break collections, we ask that each reader submit no more than three sections.
If you have no idea where to begin, search Gutenberg for a variety of keywords related to this topic, and see what comes up! I suggest trying science, nature, experiments, laboratory, biology, chemistry, geology, physics, astronomy, and research If you find a good collection of shorter works that would go well here, post your findings in the thread!
Some ideas:
Here is a collection of science essays from 1634!
Wells' A Short History Of The World, with some anthropology and paleontology
If you've ever wanted to learn how to care for glassware, On laboratory arts
General science (for a girl's high school curriculum from 1912)
Marvels Of Scientific Invention
Click "Post reply" at the top left of the screen and tell us which story you are submitting to the collection. Please include all this information:
• link to the text source
• author name
• title of the story
• title of the collection or anthology, if it's from a greater work
• duration (runtime) of the file
• if this is your first recording: how you would like to be listed in the LibriVox catalogue. We can also link to a personal web site/blog. - New to recording? Please read our Newbie Guide to Recording!
- Please don't download or listen to files belonging to projects in process (unless you are the BC or PL). Our servers are not set up to handle the greater volume of traffic. Please wait until the project has been completed. Thanks!
Magic Window:
BC Admin
Keywords that describe the book: science, nature, experiments, laboratory, biology, chemistry, geology, physics, astronomy, research
============================================ - BEFORE recording: Please check the Recording Notes: http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6427#6430
Set your recording software to:
Channels: 1 (Mono)
Bit Rate: 128 kbps
Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz - DURING recording:
No more than 0.5 to 1 second of silence at the beginning of the recording!
Make sure you add this to the beginning of your recording:
START of recording (Intro)- "[Title] for the LibriVox Coffee Break Collection 11 - Science. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit: librivox DOT org"
- If you wish, say: "Recording by [your name], [city, your blog, podcast, web address]"
- Say:
"[Title] by [Author] from [Collection or Anthology]"
END of recording- At the end of the section, say:
"End of [Title] by [Author]." - If you wish, say:
"Recording by [your name], [city, your blog, podcast, web address]"
There should be 5 seconds silence at the end of the recording
Please remember to check this thread frequently for updates! - AFTER recording
Need noise-cleaning?
Listen to your file through headphones. If you can hear some constant background noise (hiss/buzz), you may want to clean it up a bit. The latest version of Audacity is recommended for noise-cleaning. See this LibriVox wiki page for a complete guide.
Save files as
128 kbps MP3
coffeebreak011_shorttitle_authorlastname_128kb.mp3 (all lower-case) (e.g. coffeebreak011_modestproposal_swift_128kb.mp3). - Transfer of files (completed recordings) Please always post in this forum thread when you've sent a file. Also, post the length of the recording (file duration: mm:ss) together with the link.
- Upload your file with the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
(If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin) - You'll need to select the MC, which for this project is: knotyouraveragejo
- When your upload is complete, you will receive a link - please post it in this thread.
- If this doesn't work, or you have questions, please check our How To Send Your Recording wiki page.
Any questions?
Please post below - Upload your file with the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader