alberta council of global cooperation podcasting workshop
TRANSCRIPT
Alberta Council of Global
Cooperation Podcasting Workshop
ICE-BREAKER
NAMEORGANIZATION WHY YOU WANT TO LEARN TO
PODCASTONE INTERESTING THING ABOUT
YOURSELF“WELCOME TO MY PODCAST”
WORKSHOP OUTLINE What is Podcasting? Podcasting and International Development Important Jargon/Definitions Planning Your Podcast Optimizing Your Podcast Music and Podcasting Creating a Basic and Free Podcast Step-by-Step Tutorial Polishing Your Audio Video Podcasting File Hosting and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Adding Widgets Taking Your Podcast to the Next Level Microphones and Other Equipment
OBJECTIVES
Understand the podcasting medium Understand how podcasting can be used to
benefit organizations within the field of international development
Learn how to tailor a podcast to fit your organization’s goals and resources
Learn how to optimize podcast usability Learn the skills needed to create a basic podcast Learn the basics of using audio recording
software Create a functioning blog and podcast using
Blogger, Feedburner, and Audacity.
WHAT IS PODCASTING?
“Podcast (noun): a series of audio (or video) programs delivered through a static URL containing an RSS feed that automatically updates a list of programs on the listener’s computer so that people may download new programs using a desktop application. Programs can be delivered to the listener automatically or when they choose to download them.” – The Podcast Bible (Ratcliffe and Mack)
PODCAST Permanent, On-Demand, webcasts. Series of online audio or multimedia
(video, images) episodes that are automatically distributed to individual subscribers.
Episodes can be saved forever, and watched an endless amount of times without streaming.
PODCASTS
Even the Pope is podcasting! http://www.radiovaticana.org/index.html
REALLY SIMPLE SYNDICATION
PODCATCHERS
BEFORE RSS
WITH RSS
WHY PODCAST?
Allows you to reach a global audience
Inexpensive to produce, inexpensive to subscribe to
Easy to make, easy to subscribe to
DEFINITIONSAND JARGON
PODCAST “A podcast (or non-streamed webcast)
is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication.” - Wikipedia
PODCASTER The author and creator of the podcast.
WEB SYNDICATION Distribution and sharing of online content (podcast,
blogs, news articles, etc.) to multiple websites, usually through an RSS feed
XML eXtensible Markup
Language Computer code, like
HTML, that podcasts use to store, read, and deliver information
RSS Really Simple Syndication Specialized XML file that is programmed to look for
specific information on a website to send to a podcatcher or a ‘reader’ in a standardized form
By subscribing to an RSS feed, updated information from the site is downloaded to and organized in your reader or podcatcher
Surfing is done for you News sites, podcasts, blogs, etc.
PODCATCHER Program or software
capable of downloading new episodes automatically once a podcast is updated
Vehicle by which podcast episodes are downloaded and transferred onto iPods, cellphones, and other devices
EPISODESA single and
distinct audio or multimedia file within a podcast
Return of the Jedi, not Star Wars
WEBHOST/WEBSPACE A webhost provides, usually for a price, room
on a internet server to upload content that can be accessed by internet users everywhere.
This room is known as webspace Your podcast content will be stored in
webspace provided by a webhost Webspace includes storage space (total
content stored) and bandwidth (amount of content transferred to and from users per month)
AUDIO RECORDING SOFTWARE
Program used to record or create audio or multimedia files that will eventually be uploaded to a podcast
Price, quality, complexity, and interface usability vary vastly
WIDGET/CHICKLET A “widget” or a “button” that is found
on blogs or podcasting websites that, when clicked, link the user to an RSS feed, which can be subscribed to
PLANNING YOUR PODCAST
What is your podcast’s purpose? What are your podcast’s objectives? How will you achieve your objectives,
fulfill your purpose, AND build an audience
Entertaining, captivating, educational Format
Interviews, debates, lectures
OPTIMIZING YOUR PODCAST Interesting Content!
Fill a niche Make sure your podcast is captivating, engaging
Balance creativity with familiarity Try new things, but ensure continuities Subscribers, just like radio-listeners or TV-
viewers, desire a sense of familiarity Create a brand
Imagery Music Themes Features
Update often, and regularly
THE ONION
PODCASTING AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Capacity BuildingCollaborationAwarenessEngagement
CAPACITY BUILDING
Providing the tools, resources, skills, and knowledge to individuals and organizations dedicated to international development around the world.
Podcasting offers an opportunity to offer capacity-building resources online, equitably and free
Developing a common and unified set of skills for participants around the world.
http://www.namac.org/node/12192
COLLABORATION
Moving partnerships and organizational interaction online, where it can be displayed for all, explained to all, and strengthened by all.
Collaborate in ways that previously would have been time-consuming, expensive, and logistically demanding.
http://sic.conversationsnetwork.org/series/internationalDevelopment.html
AWARENESS
Podcasts as educational tools Providing detailed lectures, stories,
discussions, or videos about a specific or broad issue, educating viewers on topics not typically discussed in mainstream media or news
Broad: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/development-
agenda/id374443607
Specific: http://www.iranhumanrights.org/category/podcas
t/
AWARENESS
Daily or weekly alternative news updates that focus attention to certain topics or issues http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/democracy-
now-audio/id73802554 Disseminate information about an
organization, its objectives, resources, and ways in which subscribers can get involved. http://blog.redcross.org/category/podcast/
ENGAGEMENT
Podcaster/Subscriber interaction Potential to engage viewers in exciting ways
that traditional media could not. Direct Engagement - organizing political
rallies or protests, organize lobbying events, letter campaigns, or even boycotts
Developing sustained and meaningful engagement that other social media often lacks http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/greenpeace/
id415370164
LABELLING YOUR PODCAST EPISODES Concise and consistent – easy to navigate,
organize Labelling determines how your podcast is ordered
in podcast directories, and on subscribers’ computers and media players
By date ACGCPodcast-2011/06/21.mp3 ACGCPodcast-2011/07/21.mp3
By episode number ACGCPodcast-001.mp3 ACGCPodcast-002.mp3
By theme ACGCEfficiencyWorkshop-01.mp3 ACGCLectureSeries-2011/06/21.mp3
No spaces! ACGCPodcast%20%2011/06/21.mp3
INTEGRATING MUSIC INTO YOUR PODCAST
Uses of music in podcasting Podcasts about music Theme Music Narrator/Voiceover Segues Sweepers/bumpers/stingers
Purposes for music in podcasting Familiarity Branding Transitioning
FINDING AND USING MUSIC WITHIN COPYRIGHT LAW
Royalty-Free Music Once purchased, can be played an unlimited amount of
times Podsafe Music
No royalty fees, no initial purchase required For podcasting only Public Domain – intellectual rights have expired or do
not exist Creative Commons – artists choose which rights to
reserve or which conditions make the music podsafe (ex. crediting the artist in the podcast)
http://www.jamendo.com/en/ http://www.creativecommons.org/
Collaborate with local musicians – Win-Win! Purchase copyrighted music with web licences.
CREATIVE COMMONS LICENCES
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/
Creative Commons: Attribute – ShareAlike:
CREATING A BASIC AND FREE PODCAST
DYNAMIC RANGE COMPRESSION More commonly called “Compression” A podcast can sound unprofessional or abrasive if there are
unexpected jumps or inaudible sections of audio volume. “Smoothes” or “flattens” out your audio’s dynamic range Audio above a chosen threshold is compressed (diminished
in volume) by an amount determined by a chosen ratio. Compressors can boost overall audio volume (output gain)
after compression has been applied
COMPRESSION EXAMPLE
REVERBERATION
Effect that emulates the sound of a room or a reverberant space (enclosed area)
Adds echoes to your audio
If used properly, can make your audio sound more natural
NOISE REMOVAL
Removal of background noise Computer fan, air
conditioner, etc. Noise Removal Tool
in Audacity Creates a ‘gate’ at a
that only lets through sounds that register at an amplitude above a set noise floor
FILE HOSTING AND FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL (FTP)
FILE HOSTING AND FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL (FTP)
Podcasting requires a web host to store your files
Free sites like Ourmedia are slow, limited, and unreliable
Two Alternatives 1) Upload files to your own webspace using FTP
Use the free program FileZilla 2) Pay for a web host to store your files
Libsyn, Podbean, Podmachine, Globat, etc.
FTP To transfer a file from your hard drive to you
webspace, you will need a FTP program (FileZilla), and access to your website’s ftp: ftp.______.com FTP username FTP password
If you do not have this information, contact your web provider
Once connected to a remote host, drag and drop your carefully named files to a folder created for your podcasts
Find your URL http:// www._____.com/newfoldername/___.mp3
VIDEO PODCASTING
More and more podcasts are including video content
Once video content is produced, uploading it to your podcast is essentially the same
Only difference lies in formatting
VIDEO PODCASTING
Produce digital video Use a video editor with built-in converter that
can create podcast/iPod//smartphone compatible feeds
Download or purchase a converter to export your files from a .AVI or .MPEG file into a MPEG-4.
iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Quicktime http://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/
ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=64813&PageNum=4 To embed video into your blog, use YouTube or
VEVO. These sites provide embed links that can simply
be pasted into your blog entry.
USING FILEZILLA
ADDING WIDGETS TO YOUR BLOG
Embed the link code into the HTML template for your blog
<a href="URL FOR THE WEBSITE TO BE LINKED TO"><img src="LINK TO IMAGE TO BE USED AS WIDGET"/></a>
Embed code below the code for the RSS feed
USING GARAGEBAND http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RimJ6BfQaTE If you own an Apple computer, GarageBand is perfect
for beginner podcasters Tracks automatically formatted for vocals Royalty-free jingles Add images, video Auto-Ducking Easy export Blog/podcasting platform provided Still requires webspace Potential downside: a GarageBand podcast can look
and sound like a GarageBand podcast. Solution: use GarageBand as your audio recording software
only.
TAKING YOUR PODCAST TO THENEXT LEVEL
Blogger/Feedburner provide you with full podcasting capabilities for free, but remain limited
Affordable podcasting alternatives for serious podcasters: Libsyn
http://libsyn.com/3/plans-and-pricing/ Wordpress
http://wordpress.org/download/ Podbean
http://www.podbean.com/podcast_hosting_audio_video_blog_hosting
Podcast Machine http://podcastmachine.com/?
PodcastMachine.html&gclid=CNmEtfzRl6kCFQsCbAoda11_uA
AUDIO RECORDING SOFTWARE OPTIONS
ProTools ($200 +) Industry standard Requires interface Rather complicated to use
Logic Studio/ Logic Express ($400/$200) Apple owned More music-oriented Easy-to-use (similar to GarageBand) Easy to transfer GarageBand work
Cubase ($500) Professional Quality
MICROPHONES
Range vastly in price, quality, purpose Choosing the right kind of microphone plays
a large role in making your podcast sound professional
MICROPHONES:DYNAMIC VS. CONDENSER Many types of microphones Dynamic and condenser the two most
popular DYNAMIC
Diaphragm attached to a coiled spring, wrapped around a magnet
Rugged, do not break easily, cheap Most common type of microphone Less accuracy and clarity than condenser Does not register transient sounds as well as
condenser mic Does not require electrical power Handles louder or ‘heavier’ instruments better
than condenser (will not distort the sound)
MICROPHONES
CONDENSER 2 metal plates vibrate, charges capacitor,
creates electric charge Requires electrical power (battery or external
power) to power its built-in pre-amp, boost the electric signal
Delicate, can break easily Highly accurate and clear sound if sound being
recorded is not at a high volume Sensitive and responsive to subtlety in sound
and frequency Ideal for vocals, ‘soft’ or ‘delicate’ sounding
instrument, high frequencies, or sounds with detailed harmonic content
DYNAMIC MICS
PROS CONS
RUGGED LACK ACCURACY RECORDING SUBTLETIES
CHEAP LACK CLARITY AT HIGH FREQUENCIES
BATTERY POWER NOT REQUIRED
SLOW REGISTERING TRANSIENTS
VERSATILE
LONG-LASTING
CONDENSER MICS
PROS CONS
HIGHLY ACCURATE DELICATE
CLARITY AT HIGHER FREQUENCIES
EXPENSIVE
QUICK TRANSIENT RESPONSE REQUIRE ELECTRIC OR BATTERY POWER
NOT VERSATILE
MICROPHONESDIRECTIONAL PROPERTIES
http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/microphones/directional-characteristics.html
OmnidirectionalPattern:
MICROPHONESDIRECTIONAL PROPERTIES
Cardioid Pattern:
Hypercardioid Pattern(Shotgun):
MICROPHONESDIRECTIONAL PROPERTIES
Bidirectional Pattern (Figure 8)
POP FILTER
When speaking or singing into a microphone, bursts of air that enter the microphone creates a ‘popping’ noise in your recording.
Pop filter cuts out these ‘pop’ sounds by preventing bursts of air or breath from reaching the mic
Also prevents the build-up of saliva on the microphone
MICROPHONE OPTIONS
Audio-Technica Cardiod Condenser Mics AT2020 ($99) AT2020 USB ($155) AT2035 ($160) AT2050 ($250)
Shure SM58 Dynamic Handheld Microphone ($100)
MICROPHONE OPTIONS
Samson C01U USB ($85)
MXL 990 Condenser Microphone with Shockmount ($80)
Logitech ClearChat Comfort USB($34)