PODCASTING 101 PRIMER

Rich Helms BookTrailer101.info rich@richhelms.com

WHAT IS PODCASTING?

➤ More than just putting audio files on the web

➤ A show (podcast) is made up of a series of episodes

➤ You are syndicating a show

➤ Once a show is syndicated, then listeners can subscribe

➤ They are automatically informed of new episodes

➤ Syndication requires a host with RSS (Really Simple Syndication) support

➤ I use podcasts.com

➤ Free and easy to use. Hides the complications

PODCASTING IS POPLAR

From podcasts.com site

PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION

➤ Learn how to podcast

➤ No theory - just an approach that works

➤ Requirements:

➤ PC/Mac

➤ Microphone

➤ Sound editing software - Audacity (free) audacityteam.org

➤ Lame MP3 encoder (Other Audacity Downloads for Mac)

➤ podcasts.com account (free)

➤ iTunes account if you want to syndicate on Apple iTunes

➤ iTunes application software installed

MICROPHONE

➤ You need more than your built-in mic

➤ Your audio quality is an indication of the show quality

➤ Buy an external mic

➤ USB mics give great quality

➤ Blue ($70) to Rode ($245)

STEPS

➤ Record/edit first show

➤ Add opening/closing to recording (optional)

➤ Sign up for PodCasts.com account (free - done once)

➤ Create podcast (show - done once)

➤ Upload first episode

➤ Test - listen on podcasts.com

➤ Add episode to your website

➤ Create Apple iTunes podcast - done once

➤ Wait for approval (24 hours)

➤ Look for it in iTunes podcasts catalog, test

➤ Next time you add an episode, it will appear in iTunes in minutes

RECORD FIRST SHOW

➤ Install microphone. USB mics do not need software installed

➤ Start Audacity AFTER mic is running

➤ Audacity loads mic list only when starting

EDIT AUDIO

➤ Remove unwanted areas

➤ Select, then delete. Can undo to back out a change

SAVE AS MP3 FILE

➤ First time you save an MP3 file, you will be directed how to install Lame MP3 support

➤ EXPORT as 44,000 16 bit stereo, 128k constant data rate

➤ Save project in case you need to edit again

ENTER MP3 TAGS

➤ If you used music remember to attribute the creator

➤ You now have an episode

ADD A NEW PODCAST (SHOW)

➤ Select Add New Podcast from Account Dashboard

PODCAST DETAILS

Podcast name - Name of the SHOW - not one episode

Podcast category - Arts, Business, Comedy, Education, Games & Hobbies, Government & Organizations, Health, Kids & Family, Miscellaneous, Music, News & Politics, Religion & Spirituality, Science & Medicine, Society & Culture, Sports & Recreation, Technology, TV & Film

Subtitle - tag line

Description - BRIEF line about show and link to website

PayPal email - if charging (optional)

PODCASTS.COM SETTINGS/DESCRIPTION

ITUNES INFORMATION

➤ iTunes email address (account owner)

➤ Name

➤ Podcast author

➤ Summary (like description) - BRIEF

➤ Keywords - for searching

➤ Explicit - Yes/No

➤ Optional search engine optimization settings

➤ Logo image (600x600 pixels) - canstockphoto.com

ADD A NEW EPISODE

ADD EPISODE TO YOUR BLOG

➤ Once added, test listen to ensure it uploaded OK

➤ Add to your BLOG

<audio style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source src="http://www.podcasts.com/download/MAKING-VIRAL-VIDEOS-PART-2-2cd3" type="audio/mpeg" />Your browser does not support the audio element.</audio>

Replace the address above with the one from your site

ONCE EPISODE IS UPLOADED

➤ Listen and test the episode

➤ Once you are happy that the episode works, click to promote to iTunes

➤ Must have an iTunes account and iTunes installedSubmit

ITUNES

➤ You submit to iTunes only ONCE for a show

➤ Wait for approval (24 hours)

➤ Look for it in iTunes podcasts catalog, test

➤ Next time you add an episode, it will appear in iTunes in minutes

PROFESSIONAL SHOW FORMAT

1. A show (podcast) is made up of a series of episodes

2. A show has an intro (theme music and opening lines) as well as a standard closing (website address)

1. Same for each episode

2. Find free music at incompetech.com by Kevin MacLeod

3. Each episode has the unique content

Episode

Theme music/std opening - unique content - closing music/msg

ADVANCED - SHOW AUDIO TEMPLATE

➤ Opening music

➤ Opening dialog

➤ Closing music

LOWER MUSIC FOR DIALOG

➤ Called Ducking

➤ Select Envelope Tool

➤ Drag top volume to lower the music

➤ Save template.aup project

ADD IN EPISODE

➤ Select Time Shift Tool

➤ Drag episode to start as opening music ends

ALIGN CLOSING MUSIC

➤ Time Shift Tool still selected

➤ Drag closing music to start just as episode ends

IN CONCLUSIONS - THE BASICS

➤ Record/edit first show

➤ Sign up for PodCasts.com account (free - done once)

➤ Create podcast (show - done once)

➤ Upload first episode

➤ Test - listen on podcasts.com

➤ Add episode to your website

➤ Create Apple iTunes podcast - done once

➤ Wait for approval (24 hours)

➤ Look for it in iTunes podcasts catalog, test

➤ Next time you add an episode, it will appear in iTunes in minutes