Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies will host a two-day workshop on audio snapshots May 30-31, 2026, taught by award-winning audio producers Elizabeth Friend and Marc Maximov. The course costs $500 and is designed for audio professionals and enthusiasts seeking to develop skills in creating short-form sound narratives.
The workshop, titled “Audio Snapshots with Elizabeth Friend and Marc Maximov,” will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time both days at the Duke Center for Documentary Studies, located at 1317 West Pettigrew Street in Durham, North Carolina. Participants will earn 12 contact hours and must register by May 29, 2026. The course fee includes all necessary materials. Equipment will be available to borrow for those without their own recording gear.
The curriculum draws inspiration from Jay Allison’s Sonic IDs, short audio portraits that establish a distinctive sense of place and personality through sound. During the weekend, participants will listen to examples of Sonic IDs and audio postcards, discuss key production elements, and venture into the Durham area to record raw tape. Students will then edit their recordings in workshop sessions and share completed pieces during a group listening session at the end of the course.
By the workshop’s conclusion, each participant will produce at least one finished audio snapshot between one and two minutes long, with the option to create additional pieces or alternate versions. The instruction covers planning field recordings, identifying and capturing evocative audio, weaving together ambient sound and narrative details to establish a sense of place, and editing audio within time constraints to produce polished pieces.
The workshop welcomes participants of all skill levels but assumes students have some familiarity with audio recording and editing fundamentals. Those who own recording equipment are encouraged to bring their own devices, though the center will provide alternatives for those without personal gear.
Friend, based in Chapel Hill, is a freelance audio producer whose work has appeared on the BBC, NPR, North Carolina Public Radio, The Assembly, and Longreads. Her reporting focuses on stories at the intersections of history, science, and the natural world. She co-founded the Audio Under the Stars listening series and organizes the North Carolina Audio Work Group, a regional community for audio creators. Maximov, a Durham-based independent media producer, works primarily in audio recording and editing for radio, podcasts, video, audiobooks, theater productions, and museum installations. He has served on the production and selection committees of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival since 2012.
The course represents a growing trend in audio education, with universities and independent organizations expanding offerings for podcast producers and audio engineers seeking to refine their craft. Short-form audio narratives have become increasingly popular on podcast platforms and public radio, making technical training in sonic storytelling relevant to professionals navigating the expanding audio content landscape.
For podcast producers and audio professionals in the Southeast, the workshop offers practical instruction in a specific genre of audio production that bridges narrative journalism and experimental sound design. The hands-on approach, combining listening sessions, field recording, and collaborative editing, mirrors production practices used in contemporary podcast development. Registration inquiries can be directed to the Duke Center for Documentary Studies at cdscourses@duke.edu or by phone at 919-660-3663.
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