Podcasting

With MS Windows

Podcasting w/ MS Windows

• Recommended hardware• Recommended software• One person• More than one person• Editing• Saving for publication• Hosting• Results• Hints

Hardware

• Any modern computer with a microphone input will work– A higher quality sound card will sound slightly

better, but is not essential• A good microphone is important

– Any headset with a microphone that is at least $30 will work

• NOTE: A wireless headset will not sound as good as a wireline headset

• If you want to record away from a computer get a Zoom H2

• http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H2-Portable-Stereo-Recorder/dp/B000VBH2IG

Software

• MS Windows XP or newer• Wavepad

– http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/

• Skype (not the beta version)– http://www.skype.com/

• PrettyMay Call Recorder

One Person - Computer

• Plug in the headset and put it on• Start Wavepad• Start recording• Make sure Wavepad is recording

from the headset microphone• Talk!

One Person – Zoom H2

• Read the manual – the Zoom works well but does take some configuration time

• Record MP3 192kbps • Set the date/time whenever you

replace the batteries• Use a card reader rather than the USB

cable to xfer the files to your computer• Use AC power whenever possible

More Than One Person

• In person; use the Zoom H2– Read up on how the built-in

microphones work– Use the handle– Use the wind cover if there is any air

movement at all

More Than One Person

• By telephone; use Skype and PrettyMay– You have to have a fast internet connection– Call other person / people via Skype– If they do not use Skype

• Set up a SkypeOut account• Try to call a landline as the sound quality to cell

phones is usually not as good as a landline

– Start Skype & start PrettyMay

Editing

• Open sound file in Wavepad• Select all of the sound (left click on the

sound, and hit Ctrl-A)• Run the Automatic Gain Control (Select the

sound, Menu:Effects > Automatic Gain Control)

• Run the Noise Reduction (Select the sound, Menu:Effects > Noise Reduction > Apply Multiband Noise Gating and use the “Remove Hum and Hiss Preset”)

• Listen and edit

Saving for Publication

• Save as MP3 file• Use variable bitrate

– Min: 32kbps, Max: 96kbps, Quality: 4

Hosting

• Libsyn – www.libsyn.com

Results

• The Andy Forbes Files are recorded using the aforementioned tools– http://www.theandyforbesfiles.com

Hints

• Just do it!– It is easy to get caught up in planning

and wanting to be perfect– The fastest way to learn what works is

to just get started

• Make sure you understand copyright and ownership issues– http://wiki.creativecommons.org/

Podcasting_Legal_Guide

Questions?

Andy Forbesa.forbes@earlystage.comhttp://twitter.com/andyforbeshttp://www.theandyforbesfiles.com/http://www.linkedin.com/in/andyforbes