audio and video blogging: an introduction

An overview by Inner Ear

Audio and Video Blogging

Inner Ear

•Creative content communications

‣ Digital media production (create content)

‣ Social media engagement (communicate content)

‣ Training and consultancy

Inner Ear

• Produce audio, video, text (blog) and image content

• Setup, manage and advise on publication and distribution

of blogs, podcasts, videos and live streams

• Seed content through social media

•Consult on campaign planning, strategy,

operations and tactics

Inner Ear

• Extensive content management experience

‣ Radio Magnetic (www.radiomagnetic.com)

‣ Began online broadcast in March 2001

‣ UK’s longest running independent internet radio station

‣ Credibility with music and media

‣ “Shop window” proof of concept

Audio or Video

• Choose the right format for you

‣ Audio is portable

‣ Video is immediate

• What does your audience want?

• What resources do you have?

Plan the Series

• Finite or ongoing?

• How many episodes?

• Themed or open?

• What’s the “story arc”?

Plan the Episodes

• How long is each one?

• What’s the format?

‣ e.g. Drama, comedy, documentary, interview...

• Assemble your content

• Open with a strong statement or engaging clip

• Draft script ideas

Record the Content

• Setup your studio or choose your locations

• Assemble your equipment (borrow, buy or hire)

• Low cost hardware options include:

‣ Audio: ZOOM H1

‣ Video: Kodak Playtouch HD Video Camera

Recording Considerations

• Audio

‣ Be aware of background noise

‣ Use a windshield for outdoor recordings

‣ Get as loud a level as possible without distortion

‣ Always use headphones to monitor

Recording Considerations

• Video

‣ Make sure there’s enough light

‣ Use external microphones wherever possible

‣ Film a variety of angles to use when editing

‣ Be consistent in terms of where the the subject

is looking, i.e. at the camera or interviewer

File Management

• Backup all of your raw files

• Adopt a consistent file management policy

• Be strict about version control

• Make sure you have plenty of storage space

Editing Considerations

• Review all your recorded content

• Choose the bits you want to use

• Use time codes (mm:ss) to indicate clips

• Plan the episode

• Edit down as much as possible

Editing Software

• Audio

‣ http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

‣ http://www.aviary.com/tools/audio-editor

• Video

‣ http://www.youtube.com/editor

‣ http://jaycut.com/

Content Management

Consider the three core elements of web 2.0:

RSS (really simple syndication: feeds, streams, etc.)

Embeddable media (video and audio players, etc.)

Tags (user defined, non-hierarchical taxonomy system)

Content Management

• Properly label each episode

• Be consistent across the series

• Write an engaging title and description

• Use a combination of generic, specific and branded

tags

Mixcloud Choose Your PlatformsSoundcloudAudiobooYou

Tub

e

VimeoFlickr

Publish the PodcastiTunesRapidFeedsFeedburner

Use online tools to create and manage your RSS feed

before submitting it to podcast directories, like iTunes

Distribute and Promote

• Submit the podcast feed to as many directories as

possible including:

‣ http://www.podcastalley.com/add_a_podcast.php

‣ http://podnova.com

‣ http://www.podcast411.com

‣ http://www.podcastblaster.com/directo

ry/add-podcast

‣ http://www.podcastdirectory.com/add

‣ http://www.podcast.tv/submit-your-podcast.html

‣ http://www.podcast.com/submit.php

‣ http://www.podblaze.com/directory_submit.php

‣ http://www.podbean.com

Reference and resources

• http://www.delicious.com/innerear

• http://www.slideshare.net/innerear

• http://www.issuu.com/innerear

• http://www.vimeo.com/innereartv

• http://www.facebook.com/innerearuk

• LinkedIn: Creative Content Communications

• Twitter: @innerearuk

Contact

• Inner Ear Ltd.

• 16 Argyle Court, 1103 Argyle Street, G3 8ND

• 0141 226 8808

• www.innerear.co.uk

‣ dougal@innerear.co.uk

‣ anny@innerear.co.uk

‣ andy@innerear.co.uk