PodcastsCreating downloadable audio files for the web

What is a Podcast?• A podcast is a digital audio file that is*… • episodic; • downloadable; • program-driven, mainly with a host and/or theme;• convenient, usually via an automated feed with computer

software• Example: 365 Days of Astronomy• Daily podcast, .mp3 or .wav file, astronomy-centered, RSS Feed

enabled

*from University of Texas at Austin definition

Recording• You need:• Audacity

• Free, open source recording/editing/mixing software• http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

• Moderately priced headphones• A script

• At very least a roadmap, or detailed outline

• A website or blog (where you’ll post it)

Basics• Work in 30 second to 2 minute clips• Less likely to need retakes

• Export each clip upon recording as a .wav• .wav is lossless – no data loss• .mp3 is lossy – some data loss

• Export final product as .mp3 only after you are done• Requires a LAME download; Audacity guides you through the

process• Vid tutorial: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/vid_tutorials/#pod

• We’ll record and export 3 clips now

Editing• Import, don’t Open, first few clips• Open opens them in different windows, Import opens them in

same window• Copy and paste each clip onto first track• Edit out pauses, incidental noises• Save entire file with new name (e.g. all3.wav)

Intro/Outro Music• Import full podcast• Intro• Import music

• Make sure you have rights• LOTS of good public domain music out there

• Line music track up with beginning of voice track• Cut clip after 5-10 seconds• Add fade out at end

• Effect>Fade Out

• Outro• Choose Intro• Edit>Duplicate• Use Time Shift tool to move it

• Export as .mp3 (e.g. all3-music.mp3)

2 Ways to Post• Post on Podcast host service and embed player• Use on either blog or webpage• RSS Feed already enabled

• Upload file to your own website• http://www.ext.colostate.edu/vid_tutorials/#pod

Using a Podcast service• Many, many free ones• A place to put the audio file (important for blogs)• Provides embed code, slick player, RSS feed

• Podbean• http://podbean.com/

• Podmatic• http://www.podomatic.com/

• Archive.org (open source)• http://www.archive.org/

Podbean• Register (email, password)• Upload the file• Publish a podcast>Publish• Add text, tags, etc.• Upload file• Click Publish

• Embed the file and player• Manage>Embed code• Copy and paste the code into your blog or webpage

Resources• Public Domain music• http://www.mfiles.co.uk/• Google “public domain music” for many more

• Video tutorials on Podcasts • http://www.ext.colostate.edu/vid_tutorials/• Go to the “Podcasts” section

• Audacity download• http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

• Podbean• http://podbean.com/