How to create a spoken audio guide for an exhibition

You want visitors to hear a clear, welcoming explanation at each stop, without recording one long narration that is difficult to edit. A simple plan and short audio files make it easier to correct a mistake, change the order, or update one exhibit later.

Record the narration with a phone or another recorder, then use the Audio Editor to trim clips, arrange them on tracks, add fades, and export a finished file.

Build the audio guide

1. Open the Audio Editor and gather your narration files. Record each stop as a separate clip if possible. Give files clear names, such as intro, stop-01, and closing, so you can find them while editing.
2. Write a short script for each clip before recording. Identify the exhibit, offer one or two details visitors can listen for, and keep the language natural when spoken aloud. Read the script once at a comfortable pace to check its length.
3. Record in a quiet space, with the microphone a consistent distance from your mouth. Leave a little silence at the start and end of each take. If you stumble, pause and repeat the sentence rather than restarting the whole recording.
4. Open the recordings in the editor and trim long, accidental silences or obvious mistakes. Arrange the clips in the intended order on tracks. You can join files on tracks, or split a longer recording by silence if you made the guide as one continuous take.
5. Listen through the complete sequence with headphones. Check that each stop follows the previous one clearly, then add a short fade where a clip starts or ends abruptly. Export the finished guide as an MP3 for convenient sharing, or as a WAV if you need an uncompressed working copy.

Keep an untouched copy of each original recording. If you later change a name or exhibit detail, you can edit just that stop and replace its exported clip instead of recording the whole guide again.

Choose a structure and sound

One file or separate stops

A single file is easy for visitors to play from beginning to end. It suits a short route where everyone follows the same order. Separate files work better when visitors can choose which exhibits to hear, or when you expect to update individual stops. For separate files, say the stop number and exhibit name at the beginning of each clip so visitors can tell they have selected the right one.

How much narration to include

Give each stop one main idea rather than trying to cover every fact on the label. A useful pattern is a brief introduction, a detail to notice, and a closing sentence that leads to the next stop. For example, invite visitors to look at a particular feature before explaining why it matters. Read the script aloud and remove sentences that sound dense or hard to follow.

There is no required duration, but shorter clips are easier to listen to while standing in a gallery. If a stop runs for several minutes, break it into smaller parts or let visitors know where to pause. Include practical directions, such as where to look next, only if they will still make sense when the exhibit layout changes.

MP3 or WAV

MP3 files are compressed, so they are usually smaller and easier to distribute through a website, QR code, or visitor device. WAV files are larger and retain uncompressed audio, which can be useful as a master copy for future edits. Keep the WAV master if storage allows, and make an MP3 copy for everyday playback.

Fades and speed changes

A brief fade can soften a clipped beginning or ending. It should not make visitors wait before the narration starts or leave a long silence after it finishes. Use speed changes sparingly: speeding up a voice can make names and unfamiliar terms harder to understand. Listen to any adjusted clip at normal playback volume before keeping the change.

Check the guide before sharing it

1. Listen to every stop. Wear headphones and check for clipped words, distracting background sounds, sudden volume changes, or edits that cut off a breath or syllable.
2. Check names and facts. Compare the spoken details with the exhibit labels and approved script. Make sure names, dates, and pronunciations are correct.
3. Test the visitor flow. Play the clips in the order visitors are likely to follow. Confirm that the introduction explains how to use the guide and that each stop is easy to identify.
4. Try it on a second device. Play the exported file on a phone or other device besides the one used for editing. Check that the file opens, the voice is audible, and the ending is complete.
5. Keep a text version. Provide the script or transcript alongside the audio when you share the guide. It gives visitors another way to access the information and helps staff make future updates.

Fix common audio problems

1. The voice sounds too quiet. Move closer to the microphone for a new take, but do not speak directly into it. Keep the same distance across clips, then compare their playback levels through headphones.
2. There is a click at an edit. The cut may start or end abruptly. Adjust the trim point to avoid cutting through a sound, or use a short fade to soften the transition.
3. A clip has a long pause. Trim only silence that is not there for a reason. Leave enough time for a visitor to look at the exhibit or follow an instruction before the next sentence begins.
4. The narration sounds rushed. Re-record the passage at a natural pace if changing the speed makes words less clear. Shorten the script instead of trying to fit too much into a stop.
5. The exported file will not play. Export another copy as MP3 or WAV and test it on a different device. Keep the original recordings so you can create a fresh export without losing your source audio.

The Audio Editor works in your browser, and the audio files you open and edit stay on your device.