It's all good to look at all the podcasts that exist out there, but one large question still remains: how do you actually get them out here? We can divide making a podcast into steps:
1. Investigate the content for the podcast
2. Write the script (if the podcast is scripted)
3. Record (audio or video) the script
4. Assemble and edit all the recordings in a sound editing software
5. Publish the podcast on the internet
6. Create a new episode...
Though I have been looking into 1 and 2 for quite a while now, how do you actually record a podcast? You need three separate tools - a mike, headphones, and a recording software. The mike takes in your voice and translates it into digital data, making it a must if you're going to be recording sound. The websites I looked at all suggested that the mike was the most important piece of hardware when recording sound, and it had the biggest impact on the sound quality.
Most computers come with an integrated microphone, but it is often of poor quality. If you want to record podcasts professionally, you need to invest into some rather expensive equipment. The microphones which were considered beginner-level were already around $100, and some of the higher end ones came all the way to $2000! Of course, we won't be needing professional quality for our own podcasts, but that is what serious podcasters use. Another recommended piece of equipment is a "pop filter", a small piece of plastic with some holes that is put between the mike and the mouth to eliminate any extra noise.
Going to back to our own context, I asked some of my classmates who had a good sound quality in their fictional podcast how they had achieved it. Some recorded the sound using phones, which seemed to yield surprisingly good results. Others used an external microphone connected to the computer, which is what I think I will be doing. I can either use one of those available at school or purchase one from a computer place such as Computer Land, here in Mongolia.
Headphones are needed in order to hear your own voice while you're recording. Everyone hates their voice when they hear them, and there's a good reason for that - your voice sounds different in your head than it does to other people. Headphones are needed to monitor your own voice levels while recording, so that you don't get closer to the microphone and increase the sound suddenly (this is called clipping). As far as these are concerned, good quality is always interesting but they are not as important as the mike. iPod earphones will do the job.
Finally, the other important part of recording podcasts is the sound recording software used on the computer. You could always use Windows Sound Recorder, which comes with all Windows computer, but not only is it impossible to see the levels of your voice as you are recording, it does not guarantee the best sound quality. One of the most widespread free programs for recording is Audacity. I've used it myself in the past and besides making it very simple to record, it also gives you many editing options such as noise removal or volume increasing. The only problem is that Audacity will only be helpful as far as the sound recording goes; it won't actually upload the podcast on Internet.
Another way to go about podcast creation is to use all-in-one editors. Two of them were listed for us by Mrs. Wilson: My Podcast and Podomatic. I first tried out My Podcast, which lets you register and create a podcast feed for free. The interface was very simple, guiding you through creating an account, giving your first podcast a name and an internet adress. The website then provides you with a simple recording software, My Podcast Recorder. The program was easy to use, but did not really give much flexibility. You could see your sound as it was recorded as well as a simple timeline. The uploading to the internet, on the other side, is done with a simple click of the button.
Podomatic, the other "all-in-one" option, was slightly harder to use but also more flexible. No downloadable recording software for this one, but a very basic online editor. The content of the website was also less audio-podcast based, with the website encouraging you to work on the layout, the information, etc. Overall, though, both experiences were very similar and had the same pros and cons.
On one side, they allow you to get started and manage your podcast very easily; all the tools come as a bundle, and the editing/uploading process is made very simple. It's also easy to get published and have a few people listen to your podcast very quickly, instead of having to find a host for your episodes. This can also be a problem, though; the websites become known as more "amateur" platforms and it's easy for your podcast to get lost in the masses that get produced everyday. The other issue is that you don't have as much flexibility concerning the layout of your podcast, where to download it from, etc. This makes Podomatic and My Podcast excellent tools for people who just want to get started with podcasting, which is exactly what I am.
The other solution is to upload your podcast on the web yourself. Most people who want to listen to new podcasts will go to directories such as Podcast Alley and Podcast.com; one of the first steps with your podcast would therefore be to get yourself listed on these websites. However, the selection process is long and your podcast might never get listed. Another large directory that is used by even more users is iTunes. The selection for this directory is even longer, though. A number of people working on the iTunes team will review your podcast, ensuring it has a large number of episodes, does not infringe copyright laws, does not contain explicit language in the title, and other similar criteria. This can take weeks and as mentioned you cannot submit only one episode - it is not really a directory to put your podcast at the very beginning, more of a widespread method once you have a number of listeners.
For my own podcast, I am not too sure how I intend to distribute it at this point in time. I think all-in-one solutions will work very well for myself, though; I might also try uploading my podcast on Podcast Alley or another directory.
"Making A Podcast." Apple. 19 Oct 2009 (last updated). <"http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/specs.html">
Falconer, Joel. "10 Best Affordable Microphones for the Home Studio." Audiotuts. 22 July 2009. 30 Nov 2009 <"http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/recording/10-best-affordable-microphones-for-the-home-studio/">
Ludington, Jake. "Recording A Podcast." Jake Ludington's Digital Lifestyle. 12 Apr 2006. 30 Nov 2009 <"http://www.jakeludington.com/podcasting/20050222_recording_a_podcast.html">
Broida, Rick. "Create Your Own Podcast." CNET Reviews. 22 June 2005. 30 Nov 2009 <"http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11293_7-6246557-1.html?tag=rb_mtx;wp_body">
