The Power of the Word

I joined a new group yesterday!  I am now part of the group that will be doing an audio recording of the play Hamlet.  Our group discussed what exactly makes a good audio recording and asked us all to do some research...

Here's the first one that I found, from LibriVox:
http://www.archive.org/details/hamlet_0911_librivox

The second sample recording, from LearnOutLoud.com:
http://www.learnoutloud.com/Audio-Books/Literature/Drama/Hamlet-John-Gielguds-Classic-1948-Recording/20537

And last, a recording of the Richard Burton Hamlet from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Burtons-Hamlet/dp/B00005NRAU

The goal of an audio recording, similar to that of a text, is to create images in the mind to substitute for a lack of visual material.  In my opinion, the sample from LearnOut Loud is the best because it incorporates background music and effects, which enhance the listening experience by helping the listener get a sense of what is happening. 

For us to create an effective audio recording, we need to create images inside the head of the listener by setting tone and mood with good voice acting and sound effects.  Enjoy the samples!