Complete Dummy

[jessiedog]

I have nil experience with MP3 players or downloading music etc, so I am hoping that if I tell you what I would like to be able to do, someone will be able to help. The answer may not even involve MP3 at all.

I have been asked to set a quiz for a local quiz night and I would like to be able to have a 'music' round in which I play some music (TV, Film, etc) or voices of famous people (Churchill, Terry Wogan etc). Hopefully there are sites where I can get this type of thing, free if possible or else very cheap.

I would want to buy a cheap player and speakers to set up in the hall and be able to pause between each item.

1 - are there sites that have this sort of stuff to download ?
2 - Can the resulting files be edited to make shorter if necessary ?
3 - Could these files be saved to a CD as an alternative to MP3 and played on a CD player easily ?
4 - if yes to 3, would I need any special software to do the above ?
5 - anything else I might not have thought of, advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I am posting this in both technology and Q&P as a quizzer may have already done this themselves.

[JackDanielsU]

1. Thousands of sites (obv not all legal) http://humor.about.com/od/soundbites/Sound_Bit es_and_Sound_Effects.htm is just one

2. I assume so...again there is probably a free-2-download program, or a demo version available on the net. You choose what sections you need, and "cut it out"

3. Most of the files will be in a format that can be easily burned to a CD, or played through a laptop / computer

4. Doubtful. A Laptop is probably a good option

5. Having done a similar thing...I had a dozen or so tracks on a CD, and just played the first 10 secs etc..hitting pause when needed - thats the very basic option, but works if youre short on time

[jessiedog]

Thanks Jack

[BillySugger]

For no. 2 http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[chrisrob]

A very low tech answer: how about using a cassette tape recorder?

[jessiedog]

Thanks for that BillyS I shall come back to it when I have found stuff I want to record.

Chrisrob - I would love to do just that but finding all the clips I think would be much more difficult and I haven't got a cassette player anymore. Ta anyway

[wideboy]

For No.2 - alternative to Audacity (also free):-

http://free-audio-editor.com/

Some might prefer the friendlier interface?

[jessiedog]

Thanks Wideboy