About three and a half years ago, I started an internet radio station devoted to needlework and quilting. At the time it wasn’t just cutting edge, it was BLEEDING EDGE!

I was recording interviews during phone calls. The technology was pretty crude (and I might add, expensive!) and editing each phone call to get a reasonably good sounding version took me EIGHT hours!

Needless to say, I put the concept on hold!

Still, I thought that the concept was a good one, especially as more people got better and faster access online. After all, the Internet has turned out to be a Personality Driven Communication Medium and hearing someone’s voice gives an instant and PERSONAL connection!

I watched as more and more software and equipment was created, but much of it was still pretty complicated, with a steep learning curve, or expensive, or time intensive, or all four!

Until now…

Impact Web Audio was recently introduced and I bought a copy immediately. It made a number of claims that, if they were true, would solve a whole slew of problems associated with putting a voice message on a web page.

You can record a message instantly and easily

The software is automated so that you can add intro and outro music and have background music behind the message, with just a few mouse clicks

It comes with a nice selection of control buttons in any number of colors

It is easy to add to a web page (I am still trying to figure out how to add it to my blogs, but I expect to have an answer soon!)
If you are at the mercy of your web master, you can create message and all of its files quickly and easily. You then just give the file folder to your web master, who can get it installed in just a few minutes!

OK, these are pretty strong claims…

Then came the clincher…

It is set up so that the audio message *streams* as it plays… in simple English, this means that it will play quickly, even for people with slow internet connections!

WOW! Obviously this must be too good to be true!
Hmmmm.

Well, as I mentioned earlier, I was hooked. I bought it and started testing. I was pretty sure that there was no way it could live up to the hype, but maybe it would be *good enough*.

I started testing it and yep, it is pretty dang good! It did in fact fulfill all of its promises. limitations.

It was only as I dug deeper that I could see the short-comings.

Limitation:
You can’t edit the recording you make with this software. In other words, you have to keep recording your voice message until you get it right.

Solution:
This is actually NOT a big deal, if you reserve this program for doing short (no more then 5 minutes) messages.
If you upgrade to the Pro version for an additional $25, you can use any recording you like. This means that you can download Audacity Editing Software for free, and record and edit longer messages or interviews.

Limitation:
There are only 12 music loops to choose from.

Solution:
Depending on your taste, I expect that most everyone would be able to find one music loop that they could comfortably use.
If you upgrade to the Pro version for an additional $25, you can use any Music loop you want. I found a great one online for $4.99 at Opuzz.com

So, what do I think, several weeks and many recording later?

For quickly and efficiently adding brief voice professionally sounding messages to a web site, this software is the way to go.

If, like me, you are driven to make yours more unique and a bit more flexible, upgrading to the Pro version for $25 is still an AWESOME deal!

Is this a worthwhile investment in resources (time, dollars, and effort) for someone in a personality driven medium? You betcha!

I received an email recently from a stranger that started out:

*quote*
Hi, Tink.
I just listened to one of your voice messages on your site, so I feel like I know you, already.
*end quote*

I got CHILLS up my spine! Is this not an INCREDIBLY effective way to market yourself?

As I mentioned earlier, if you upgrade to the Pro version of Impact Web Audio, you can use any audio file you wish. This opens the door to using edited files.

As I also mentioned, there is an EXCELLENT and FREE audio editing software called Audacity. Louis Allport has created a superb Video Course on using Audacity, which I am offering here as a BONUS.

This combination of Impact Web Audio and Instant Audio Mastery provides an effective and efficient way to get yourself up to speed creating Audio content for your site and taking advantage of this dynamic marketing tool.

To learn more about Impact Web Audio and Audio Mastery, click HERE!