Recording Spoken Word

The spoken word studio

Stanza treats audio poetry as a first-class form. Choose Spoken Word in the Library's Create section, or Spoken under Write in the More menu, and the studio opens.

Recording on the spot

1. Allow Stanza to use your microphone when your browser or device asks.
2. Tap the record button and perform.
3. Watch the live waveform, the volume meter and the elapsed time as you go.
4. Stop when you're done, then play it back.
5. Not happy with the take? Record again. Nothing is published until you choose to publish.

Uploading a recording

Already recorded somewhere else? Upload the file instead. Supported formats: m4a, mp3, wav, webm, ogg, aac and flac, up to 100 MB.

Transcripts

A transcript gives readers the words to follow along with, and makes your performance accessible to people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

• Write it yourself: paste or type the text of your piece.
• Speech-to-text: turn on automatic transcription and Stanza generates a transcript from your recording. Automatic transcripts can mishear names and unusual words, so give yours a read.

Same options as a written poem

Spoken word pieces have the same details and settings as written ones: title, form, style, tags, privacy, appearance, and permissions such as comments, reactions and adding to lists. They also go through the same settling window after publishing.

Where it shows up

Spoken pieces appear on the Stage alongside written work. Readers who only want one or the other can filter the Stage to Written only or Spoken only under Settings › Stage. If they turn on Auto-play audio, your piece will start as it scrolls into view.

Recording tips

• Find a quiet room. Soft furnishings absorb echo; bare walls bounce it.
• Mind the distance. Stay a hand's width or two from the microphone, and keep it steady.
• Do a test. Record ten seconds, play it back, and adjust your level before the real take.
• Leave a breath. A second of silence at the start and end makes the piece feel finished.