The new look for 2024
April 2024
Welcome to our new look monthly tips where we are pleased to share a plethora of tricks and tips that are relevant to such things as technology, travel, managing your daily life, and much more.
So just come aboard, sit back, take a deep breath, and enjoy!
If you wish to contact us then please do not hesitate to write to us at info@sterlingcreations.ca and we promise to respond within 2 business days as long as technology allows us to do so.
Give us your feedback, comments, suggestions, and thoughts!
For it is only through you and with you that we are able to do this!
Table of contents –
1. From our 10 tips on technology series
2. From the pages of Donna’s travel diary
3. A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s did you know diary
4. From the scam watchers
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From our 10 tips on technology series
Hello everyone:
Welcome to my 10 tip series where each month I’ll be sharing 10 tips on various pieces of technology.
This would include tips on popular screen readers, office software, and browsers.
If you have any suggestions on what you would like me to share then by all means! Write to me at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca.
For this month:
10 tips for learning the voiceover software
Learning voiceover software can significantly enhance your abilities to record, edit, and produce high-quality audio. Here are ten tips to help you get started with voiceover software:
1.
Select the Right Software: There are various voiceover software options available, such as Adobe Audition, Audacity, Pro Tools, Reaper, and more. Choose software that aligns with your needs, skill level, and budget.
2.
Familiarize Yourself with the Interface: Spend time exploring the software interface. Learn about the different tools, menus, and features available. Most software platforms offer tutorials or guides to help users navigate the interface effectively.
3.
Understand Audio Basics: Learn about audio terminology, such as EQ (equalization), compression, noise reduction, and gain. Understanding these basics will help you use the software more effectively.
4.
Practice Recording and Playback: Start with simple recording exercises. Practice recording your voice and playing it back to understand the software’s recording capabilities. Experiment with microphone settings and input levels.
5.
Editing Skills: Learn basic editing techniques such as cutting, trimming, splitting, and moving audio clips. Practice editing your recordings to remove mistakes, pauses, or unwanted noises.
6.
Effects and Processing: Explore the software’s effects and processing options. Experiment with adding effects like reverb, delay, or EQ to enhance your voice recordings. However, use effects judiciously to avoid overprocessing.
7.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Familiarize yourself with keyboard shortcuts. They can significantly speed up your workflow and make editing more efficient. Learn common shortcuts for tasks like cutting, copying, pasting, and zooming in/out.
8.
Noise Reduction and Cleanup: Understand how to use noise reduction tools to clean up your recordings. Learn techniques to eliminate background noise, pops, clicks, and other unwanted sounds.
9.
Mastering and Exporting: Learn about mastering techniques to ensure your audio is balanced and optimized for different playback systems. Practice exporting your final recordings in various formats suitable for different platforms.
10.
Seek Tutorials and Resources: Utilize tutorials, online courses, forums, and user guides specific to your software. YouTube and other online platforms offer a wealth of free tutorials covering various aspects of voiceover software.
Remember that mastering voiceover software takes time and practice. Start with the basics, gradually build your skills, and don’t hesitate to experiment to discover new ways of using the software to improve your voiceover recordings.
To contact me please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca
I’m Donna J. Jodhan (sight loss coach and accessibility advisor)
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Important tips from the travel table
From the pages of Donna’s diary
What makes for an accessible travel website?
In my humble opinion, an accessible travel website is one that enables and allows a traveler with a disability the freedom and convenience to browse, book, change, and garner information for their trip without having to seek the assistance of someone else to help them perform these tasks.
In short, the ability to access said website independently, anytime, from anywhere, and to do it in comfort and style.
No having to seek the assistance of a travel agent. The ability to seek and receive assistance online or by calling a phone number obtained from the contact page, and to be able to submit complaints if necessary.
This is what I would call an accessible travel website.
And this certainly helps to make travel more enjoyable and meaningful!
I would also say that airlines websites should be a part of those websites classified as travel websites and the same would go for cruise company websites.
I’m Donna J. Jodhan enjoying my travels.
To learn more about me as a sight loss coach and author visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com
On your next trip you could enrich your down time with some of my audio mysteries. Take them with you wherever you go!
In the car, on the plane, on the bus or train, at the beach, anywhere!
And now you can listen to Donna’s weekly podcasts!
Ask donna – a plethora of tips from a sight loss coach along with book and product reviews!
Dining with donna – recipes and time saving tips for the kitchen!
Your mental stretch with Donna – how to recharge, renew, and get going! Save yourself from those dramas, traumas, and stress!
Visit www.donnajodhan.com/youtube
and subscribe for free
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan
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A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s did you know diary
Award winning sight loss coach, author and advocate
Welcome to my Donna’s did you know diary for April and pleased to share the following with you.
Here’s what I learned for this month.
1) About keeping your passport up to date!
When you travel overseas, make very sure that your passport is valid for at least the next six months.
For if it is not, then you run the risk of being refused the ability to travel.
2) When staying at a hotel:
If you wish to have room service clean your room then here are some useful tips.
First, put the sign outside your door with the card showing that you require cleaning services.
Next, if you wish to have clean fresh towels placed in your bathroom,
Then take your old dirty towels and place them on the floor of your bathroom.
3) Okay and here is a tip on how colds start!
They begin in your nose believe it or not and from there they travel along your body to other parts.
4) About caring for orchids?
They should be placed in a sunny spot in your home.
The window sill is a great place for them.
Water them once weekly and you can use ice cubes to do the trick.
About 3 ice cubes per week.
Do not over water them.
5) Warming food in your microwave versus your toaster oven!
In the microwave, food tends to soften.
In your toaster oven, they tend to get hard.
6) What exactly is a de-influencer?
Well here is what I learned!
A de-influencer is the opposite of an influencer.
For whereas an influencer influences by encouraging us to do something, a de-influencer encourages us not to do something.
7) If you need to ensure that yours is a true self test for covid!
Please ensure that you insert the probe provided in your kit far enough up each nostril.
For if you do not; then your covid test will not be authentic.
8) And here are some benefits to eating pears!
They contain vitamin C
And they are filled with fibre.
9) What’s this about when is the best time to take a vaccination?
Well, make sure that you are not sleep deprived.
At least six hours of sleep.
Do not take a vaccination after coming off a night shift.
10) If you are looking for a laptop with a CD rom?
They are becoming more and more difficult to find!
You’ll now need to use an external CD rom drive.
Why is this?
Because manufacturers are building laptops with more usb ports and sd card ports.
The good old desktop computer still comes with a CD rom drive.
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From the scam watchers
And for the month of April the scam watchers advises you to be on the look out for 3 specific types of scams.
1) Someone with either an email or a phone call telling you that they can help you to complete your tax returns.
Just simply ignore; delete emails and hang up the phone.
2) Someone with either an email or a phone call telling you that you owe money to the Inland Revenue service or Revenue Canada.
Again, ignore; delete emails and hang up the phone.
3) You may also see a scam telling you how you can recover unclaimed funds.
Delete and hang up the phone.
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Contact info:
Visit our websites at www.sterlingcreations.ca
www.donnajodhan.com
www.sterlingcreations.com
Email us at info@sterlingcreations.ca
Or call us at 416 491-7711