Getting Started at Making Podcasts

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:36:53 PST

Podcasting is many things. Some people use podcasts to provide easily accessible audio or visual updates for family and friends. Others use it as a sort of anonymous method of venting. Some have even turned it into a profitable venture that covers the cost of living. I have not personally managed, or for that matter tried, to make podcasting even pay for itself. For me, making podcasts is a hobby and I suppose it also is a method of venting.

These tips are meant to help you make your own personal audio podcast. As of yet I have not started making video podcasts, but in time I will and will be sure to share it with you. That said, making an audio podcast is much easier than you might think. First I'll list out the tangible things you need.

A computer
Internet connection
A microphone (headsets work best)

That's it, if you have those three things, you're almost ready to record a podcast. The next thing you need, and this could prove to be the difficult part, is a podcast subject. You'll want to aim for something unique. I would suggest staying away from the crazy and silly news, that market has been saturated. Some of the more successful podcasts that don't involve crazy news are political, religious, and historical. (Not all together of course, but you can try it.)

Now that you have found a subject (you have haven't you?) It's time to record your show. The electronics sections of stores are starting to fill up with all kinds of podcast software. Not necessary, in fact, many podcasters prefer the free software that is available online. The two that I have had the best experiences with are Audacity and CastBlaster. Audacity has unlimited recording capacity. CastBlaster will limit your use to fifteen minutes unless you purchase the software. I personally prefer Audacity because I find the editing easier to utilize.

So, now you've recorded a podcast. (You have haven't you?) It's time to share it with the world. There are a number of ways you can do this. However, I've only used one, so that's the one I'm going to share. Many sites offer free podcast hosting with a limited bandwidth. They then offer upgrades which you can decide to purchase as you go. I use Podbean, it is easy to navigate and has several upgrade levels. Also, when you use a podcast server site like Podbean, your RSS (real simple syndicate) feed will be generated for you. The RSS feed is important as it is how listeners will have your show delivered to their computers.

And there you have it, one of many methods available to record and publish podcasts.