MAKING A PODCAST WITH AUDACITYWe are sure you know what Podcasts are, they’re extremely popular now. Even very large Websites publish some of their content as Podcasts. A podcast is just like a normal Radio Show, but instead of being aired on the Radio or Streamed on the Internet live, it’s Pre-recorded and published on a Website.
Podcasts are so popular because people can Download them in MP3 format, and save them onto their MP3 players to listen to for the rest of the day. If you’re a fan of Podcasts then the thought may have crossed your mind to create your own.
Just how are Podcasts created ? Well its simple really they’re just recordings on your Computer that you Upload to the Internet, and you can use many different pieces of Software to create a Podcast.
Just because a Podcast is like a Radio Broadcast you don’t have to feel as though you have to behave exactly like one of the Radio Broadcasters!
Before you can get started you need to think of a Topic to talk about, make sure you choose a Topic that you can talk a lot about, running out of material is disastrous to any Podcast! Ideally you should choose a Topic that you’re very Knowledgeable and Passionate about.
You should conduct some market research before you start producing your Podcast, Download some of the popular Podcasts, and start to decide what it is that’s right about them, and what’s wrong with them.
Decide on an appropriate length for your Podcast by listening to others, and try to find out when you get bored of the Topics being talked about.
To record a Podcast you need the following Equipment:
Computer
Your computer does not need to be Top of the range to enable you to make high quality recordings, pretty much any PC will do as long as it runs at least Windows 98. Now we are sure you have a Computer, that matches this spec. if you’re reading this now.
Microphone
You obviously want your Podcast to include Audio, and therefore invest in a good quality external Microphone. Some Computers (especially Laptops) have built in Microphones, you should probably avoid using these, because they will not produce good recordings, and the will also pick up on any other noise.
Software
There is a wide range of different Software available to make your Podcasts. One of the best is Audacity, mainly because it’s Free! Audacity is quite easy to Download, just do a search on the Internet, and you’re bound to come across it. The beauty of Audacity is, that it supports numerous Plug-ins, if you use the “Lame MP3 encoder Plug-in”, then it is possible to Record straight to an MP3 File.
You can even use MP3 Music as a Background for your Podcast, but remember do not use Copyrighted MP3’s, only use Free Music.
Now you’re ready to start recording your Podcast, let’s look how to use Audacity:
When you’re Exporting your MP3 File, if your Podcast is a talk show, then 32 KBps is normally sufficient. If your Podcast includes Music, then you should use 128 KBps to ensure High Quality.
Once you’ve recorded your Podcast it’s time to publish it, no we are not talking about putting it on CD. Publishing means making it available to the Masses or the few people that would want to Download it.
All you need to do is Upload your Podcast to a Website. If you already have a Website, then you can easily Store your Podcast there.
An RSS feed is a useful Tool that allows people to subscribe to your Podcast, and so they will be notified whenever you update it. You can create a RSS feed by going to www.feedburner.com
After you’ve created your Podcast - Log onto the ITunes Website and click the “Submit Podcast” button.
Well that’s everything now your Podcast is available to anybody that wants to Download it! Maybe you’ll even become a Net Celebrity!
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