UPK 3.6.1 now offers developers the ability to easily record and edit sound from right within the UPK Developer. Sound can be recorded in either the concept pane or individual topic frames. A developer can record sound at the same time they're capturing a transaction or by adding sound after recording, on a frame-by-frame basis.

The sound editor in UPK 3.6.1 allows developers to perform a variety of editing functions: play, insert sound or silence, delete, adjust amplification, and import or export sound files, just to name a few.

Internally, Oracle Product Management is using this functionality to create "UPK-casts" for enablement purposes. We do this by capturing PowerPoint slides, then adding sound, allowing us to create our own recorded "webcasts". Because we develop these independently, we control the content and have more flexibility to edit the content as needed. Whether it's a change to a single frame or an entire topic, we can react quickly, providing our users with the most up-to-date information.

And you don't need expensive equipment or a sound studio to achieve good sound quality. Depending on how your end users are accessing your content, a $35 head set can do the trick. Just be sure to follow the best practices for sound recording as outlined in the UPK documentation. Tip: we've found that we get the best results with sound consistency when we record all the sound for a topic at one sitting.

UPK 3.6.1 is now available for download from Oracle E-Delivery. Upgrade today and have fun creating more robust, engaging content for your users!

- Karen Rihs, Oracle UPK & Tutor Outbound Product Management