SELF-GUIDED  AUDIO TOURS

How They Work

• The tour information is recorded and produced onto audio CDs or emailed MP3 audio files.

• The CD's (and sometimes CD/MP3 players) are then rented or purchased at entrance gates, information centres, and gift shops. 

• The CD/MP3 is played while driving, cycling or walking the tour route. 

• Visitors following a map or numbering system select the appropriate audio track to hear the commentary. 

Customer Benefits:

• Self-guided AUDIO tours provide total independence.

• Tour at a time convenient for you rather than having to meet a tour-guide’s schedule.

• Stop and go at your own pace. See only what interests you without interference to others. No waiting or sudden need to catch up to a tour-guide.

• No need to read pamphlets and signboards to get all the information.

• Listeners control the volume so every word can be heard with CD quality sound.

• Self-guided AUDIO tours are easy to operate and fun for all ages.  

Corporate Benefits for Attractions, Museums and Parks:

• Audio tours can be promoted as a new attraction to bring back former visitors.

• The upbeat style of the audio presentation holds the interest and attention of all ages.

• The park benefits from sales and rental charges for the audio tours.

• Audio CD players or MP3 players may be purchased and rented out to visitors.

• The self-guided tours may be marketed as souvenirs at tourist information outlets.

• Self-guided tours can be sold to corporations for employee gifts and to convention hosts as gifts for visiting delegates.

• Tour packages may be used to promote the region or community.

• CDs hold up to 80 minutes of audio information, that’s over 11,000 words of printed script.

• Promote neighbouring attractions, facilities and gift shops.

• Tour operators find that Self-guided tours on CD are more practical and economical than having to train, administer and coordinate a tour-guide service.

• Self-guided tours on CD can extend the normal touring season by several weeks without increasing staff.

• Self-guided tours can be taken year round.

• Special sound effects, music, or character voices can be integrated into the presentation for effectiveness.

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Self-Guided Audio Tours are Practical:

Self-guided Audio Tours are ideal for industries, museums, interpretive tours of trails & murals.

Show off your town or region with a Self-Guided AUDIO Driving, Cycling or Walking Tour.

 “It’s like having your own personal tour-guide”.  

Other uses for self-guided tours are at:

Heritage Parks, Wetland and Conservation Areas, Urban Forest Driving Tours, Haunted Houses and Ghost Tours, Wineries, AgriTours, City Tours, Arts & Crafts Tours, Architectural Tours, Historic tours, Castles, Churches and Government Building Tours to mention only a few.

Frequently Asked Questions

1                     Why are self-guided tours becoming so popular?

People enjoy having the information told to them instead of having to read pamphlets and signboards.   The tour can be halted at any time and resumed hours or even days later without missing any information.   

Self-guided tours on CD/MP3 are informative, entertaining and best all, fun and easy to use by all ages.   A new self-guided tour is like having a new attraction and brings repeat visitors.   Anyone with a portable CD/MP3 player or who has a CD/MP3 player in their vehicle can enjoy a self-guided audio tour.    Every word of the tour presentation can easily be heard through the earphones or vehicle radio. 

2                     Can ACE Audio Productions create a character voice?

Yes, we have voice specialists that can impersonate several prominent people as well as create character voices for mascots or special images.

3                     Can sound clips be used to customize sounds for tours?

Yes, Audio clips from interviews, other soundtracks or productions may be used. 

You may want to record a familiar sound such as a bell tower or an interview with an historian, artists, or curators about a particular item or event. These sound tracks can be incorporated into the tour presentation. CD/MP3 tours may be enhanced with background music and sounds effects such as bird and animal sounds that may not be present during the actual visit. Note that some productions have copyrights and may require permissions or fees when used.  

4                     What is the cost to produce a self-guided Audio Tour?

The length of the final audio presentation primarily determines the costs. Each tour is different. Other factors such as gathering the information and using copyright material may be a factor. Costs vary from $30 to $80 per minute. Example: a 30 minute tour might cost $1500, which would be $50 a minute. Costs are determined when the scripts are finalized.

5                     How can the costs of a CD/MP3 tour be recovered?

Sell and rent the tours from Tourist information outlets and tourist attractions.

    -Sell tours to corporations for use as gifts and prizes to staff and visitors.

    -Sell ads on the packaging

    -Sell ads on the audio presentation - some restriction apply.

    -Sell ads on the map

    -Sell coupons and inserts to accompany the tour packages

    -Sell corporate sponsorships to underwrite the costs of producing the tour.  The sponsor would be acknowledged in the script and would receive publicity for funding the project.

6                     How can local businesses help to sponsor the costs?

Businesses can insert brochures and coupons into the tour packages and buy advertising on the maps and packaging.

7                     Can advertising be sold on the sound track?

Yes, however the advertising must be general in nature. Example: Attractions may announce show times, dates, locations, admissions prices, and special features of the event. References and suggestions to visit other trails and sites can be included in the scripts. This will encourage further use of the parks and facilities in the area.

8                     Who sells the ads, sponsorships and commercials? 

Local Chamber offices or Tourism and Economic Development departments can approach their members for individual sponsorships or charge an across- the- board levy to recover costs.  

9                     What happens if we change an item in a museum or gallery tour? 

Each item or group of items is recorded as a separate sound track. A track may be removed, added or changed. A new CD/MP3 can be produced without re-voicing the entire script.   

10                    How can we update our tours if the tour changes from season to season?

Separate seasonal tracks may be recorded during the initial session.  Each season may have its own special presentation. A different CD or audio track will be produced for each season.

11                  What happens when your information is outdated? 

Clients should avoid using current dates and names of people in appointed or elected positions as they often become outdated in the short term. By doing this, most tours can remain current 3 to 5 years, however if too many items become outdated a major update or a new tour would be advised.      

12                  Can clients record the messages themselves?

Yes, you may record the message and produce an MP3 audio file. We can edit, mix and produce the message using your recorded message. Please note that clients that produce their own sound tracks are most often less than satisfied with the end result. They end up getting it redone professionally where proper studio equipment is used and professional editing and mixing gives quality to the production. 

13                  Are CD players available from Ace Audio Productions?

Yes, we can supply CD/MP3 players in quantities of 10.

14                  Is a map necessary for an indoor tour?

No, however visitors need to be able to identify items so they can select the appropriate audio track to play to hear the description. It doesn’t have to be a map. Some indoor tours follow a line on the floor or wall. Others simply number the viewing point location or clearly identify the item being described.

15                  Why would people want to buy a tour if they could rent them?

Tourists and visitors often like to have a souvenir of their visit, or to pass on the information to shut-ins or distant friends.

16                 How much information can we put on one tour?

You can record up to 12,000 words on an 80 minute CD, however tours can be any length from 15 minutes to several hours and may include more than one CD/MP3 such as highway tours and large eco-regions.

17                 Does everyone have to rent a player to take the tour?

No, the self-guided AUDIO tour CD may be played on most privately owned CD/MP3 players. Organizations may offer to provide or rent players to visitors.

18                  How are the Self-guided Tours marketed?

The Self-guided AUDIO tours are generally marketed through tourist information outlets, B&Bs, local tourist attractions and on the Internet at www.acetours.com.

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What You'll Need

1. Your recorded message on CD or MP3 player.

2. Audio players (CD or MP3)

Request a Quote

The more details you can provide, the easier it will be to provide you with a more accurate quote.

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