Podcasting for Beginners

How Do I Podcast? -- 101

Welcome to the FSI 2006 "Teaching with Podcasts" Learning Team. Let's talk about, How to Do a Podcast. My name is Heidi Jung and I will be guiding you through the 8 easy steps to creating a Podcast.

Step 1: Select Your Topic- First you want to figure out what you want to talk about. For openers, try a 5- to 10-minute piece. Writing out a script is a good idea. You can always go "off book" later, work without a script, and then edit out the "ers" and "ums".

Step 2: Gather Your Equipment- Make sure you have the hardware and software you'll need to create your Podcast. To start, you'll need a microphone. Headphones are essential because you need to be able to listen to what you are recording. Headset microphones are less effective than studio microphones which can be purchased for $20 or more. Along with a microphone and headphones, you will also need some way to capture your audio file with software. For a PC or Mac, Audacity is a good, basic, open source download and it's free. Sony's SoundForge is not free, but offers more options. On a Mac, however, you'll probably use Garage Band because it's currently packaged with Macintosh Computers, however, other software packages are available.

Step 3: Record Your Voice- Find a comfy, quiet spot [Hey turn that vaccum off...we can can always clean this up later...] As I was saying, find a comfy, quiet spot and open your recording software. Press record and start talking.

Step 4: Review and edit- At this point, you can add bells and whistles to your recording! Some successful podcasts are "raw," unedited files, but many podcasters try to approach broadcast quality by removing dead air, mumbles & mistakes, as well as, adding supplemental audio, such as music or interviews. The possibilities go as far as your creativity will allow.

Step 5: Compress Your Audio File- At this point, you want to compress your audio file by turning it into an MP3 file. This makes your file universally recognized by all computers and MP3 Players. Not just the iPod. Basically any software you're using will offer the option to "Save As" or "Export As" an MP3 file. There are Enhanced Podcasts that lose their universal capability but do have the advantage to be enhanced with pictures and video. Enhanced Podcasts are only viewed on iPods or in iTunes.

Step 6: Post Your Audio File - You need to find a home for your audio file on a server, just like you would with an online course. This might be on a campus server but any server will work as long as it is accessible by your audience. Many find the free services at edublog.org preferable. Others, find the services at libsyn.com well worth the modest cost of 5 dollars a month.

Step 7: Create an RSS Feed- RSS means "Really Simple Syndication" and it's a push technology which makes your audio file available to others. Until you add the RSS Feed, your audio file is not a Podcast. An RSS Feed allows users to subscribe to your podcast. Once they have subscribed, any new podcasts will be sent to them automatically. Sites such as feedpublish.com allow you to do this without charge and offer you step-by-step instructions. Many Podcast Hosting sites will also create your RSS Feed for you.

Step 8: Just Podcast- Podcasting is easy. Just work through the steps and before you know it, you'll be podcasting regularly.

And there you have it. 8 easy steps on How to Podcast. And now, let's head back to Doug, at Podcast Central!