how to do a podcast - bsides ri 2013

http://securityweekly.com Copyright 2013

How To Do A Weekly Podcast (or Three)

Paul Asadoorian Founder of Security Weekly !

http://securityweekly.com



Why This Talk

People ask me all the time “How do you manage to produce all those podcasts?”

Many podcasts have come and gone (“podfade”) and we don’t like that

Encourage you to create your own podcasts


Here’s What You NeedAn idea

People

Equipment

Software

A schedule

An understanding spouse

A web site Podcast Cake Helps Too...


Here are some nice to haves

Sponsors

Slogans

Logos

Custom Music

Guidelines for content


IdeasHave better ones than us...


Ideas

It should be about *something*

Long format, short format, talk show, how-to, interviews, round table

You gotta pick one at first, and run with it

Will you broadcast live? Have video?


More on Ideas: Have A Place

A place to record is important

Depends on what ideas you’ve come up with

It needs to be quiet

I built a studio in my basement, and a man cave for my cigar podcast

Probably your desk is okay for you...Make sure you have

power...


People

Because if you are doin’ it solo, some would call that...


Sometimes there is photobomb


People

You can do it by yourself if you want...

People may grow tired of hearing just you

Its tough to bounce ideas off yourself

There is no one but you to motive yourself to record

You will have to do everything from planning, recording and post-production (i.e. its a lot of freakin’ work)


Get together at cons

Podcast outside when possible

I gave up on trying not to use “podcast” as a verb

Podcasting at cons is hard.


People on Security WeeklyHosts:

Paul Asadoorian

Larry Pesce

Jack Daniel

John Strand

Carlos Perez

Allison Nixon

Interns:

Patrick Laverty

Rob Kornmeyer

Greg Hetrick

Dale Luke

Joe Barcia

Mike Perez (Executive Producer)

Steve Reikburg (Audio Engineer)

Steve Ryan (Live Audio/Video)

Bob (Evil Persona)

Byte Bucket (Mail List/IRC)


EquipmentGolden Rule: You get what you pay for!


Equipment

Some history

Basic Setups

Advanced Setup

Studio Setup

Peavey PV10 10-Channel Recording Mixer Its a workhorse! $250


This was Episode 1 (October 2005)

Beer

Laptop Mic

1 ear bud


Then We Grew...

2006 2007


Got a little better

2008

Beer

Soundboar

Live Stream

Recording (Single Track)

Heil PR40


Episode 150

Phone Bridge

SSD Recorder

Larry

John Beer (Keg)


Episode 200


Security Weekly Today

Recording Google+ Skype Ustream

Skype MainHDMI Cameras

AV Mic

Live Video Display Power

Conditioner

Headphone AmpFirewire Recorder

TV SwitcherDAC

Music Preamp

Backup Recorder


The Most Basic

A USB Headset

Skype

Software (Audio Hijack Pro on a MAC)


The USB Headset

In short, they all suck

Most sound like you are in a tin can

It is difficult to properly adjust the volume (you are either too close or too far away)

After about an hour they stop working (have to dis-connect then re-connect)


USB Headsets

Plantronics Audio 655 $28.95 (Amazon)Beyerdynamic MMX 2

$99.00 (Amazon)


Skype + Software Recording

Its great in a pinch and works really well

Hard to have a backup recorder

If you computer or software crashes, start over

Little flexibility (no knobs to adjust, though software plugins do exist)

Harder to separate out tracks


Recording at Both Ends

If there are just two people on the show both can record

Then you send the audio to the person editing

Three+ people gets a little more tricky to sync

Has the best audio quality with just two people

You still need quality Mics and Preamps to sound good


TIP: Stay Away From These Brands

Behringer

Alesis

Tascam


Tip: Rather Go With These Brands

M-Audio

Presonous

Focusrite

Zoom


The Basic Package

A USB or Firewire Recording Interface

A Microphone


USB or Firewire Interfaces

Takes in analog audio and outputs it to Firewire or USB

Typically Two XLR and/or 1/4” connections

Both are $150, USB, two inputs, two outputs


Tip: Line Level vs. Mic Level

LINE MIC


Choosing a Microphone

I will get right to it, the best Microphone for podcasting is a headset

It may seem expensive at first, but it comes with headphones, a pop filter, cables and you don’t need a stand


Shure PG48

Comes with Mic, mic stand clip, cable and case for $40

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-PG48-XLR-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B0000AQRSR/

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-PG48-XLR-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B0000AQRSR/


Heil PR40

Best quality mic for podcasting, around $300

If you have an ear for it, you can tell the difference between this and Shure PG48, but mp3 is pretty low quality anyhow


Audio-Technica BPHS1 - The GoodYou can turn your head while talking and still be on mic

You can type, click your mouse, put your beer down without making background noise

It travels easy (no mic stand or mounting adapters)

You ensure your guests are talking into the mic

Comes with 3 pop filters, reversible mic boom

Its comfortable to wear for hours

It sounds more than acceptable for a podcast


Audio-Technica BPHS1 - The Bad

It costs $199, and RARELY goes on sale or can be found cheaper

Sometimes the headphone cables tend to have a loose connection (tape FTW)

Its not comfy for everyone (Esp. for people who wear glasses)

People will move the mic away from their mouths


More Microphones

Lapel mics are okay, but they are expensive

Stick with cardiod mics, not condenser

Condenser mics pick up background noise (keyboards, mics, laptops all generate noise)


Mics with Pop Filters - Not For Video


Mixers

Analog mixers are okay, we use one for a travel rig (Peavy)

Some mixers have a USB output for multi-track recording

They are often cheap and sound horrible


Allen and Heath

Nice small mixer ($250)

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/allen-heath-zed-10-10-channel-usb-mixer

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/allen-heath-zed-10-10-channel-usb-mixer


Mixer Setup

Tape Out (RCA) -> Dual 1/4”

In <- Out RCA <- 1/8”

Out -> IN 1/4” <-> 1/8”

SkypeMix Minus

Music Backup Recording (Audacity)

IN <- Out 1/4” <-> 1/8”

Line Level

Headphone Amp

Tape Out -> IN RCA -> 1/8”

1/4” <-> 1/4”


Mixer Setup

Dual 1/4” <- 1/4” ST1

Mix Minus

Skype

Headphone Amp

1/4” <-> 1/4” Stereo

AUX -> Input

USB

1/4” <-> 1/4” Stereo


Cost

ART HeadAmp4 Headphone Amplifier ($65)

Allen and Heath Z10 ($300)

Audio-Technica BPHS1 ($200 x 3)

Zoom ZH4N Handy Portable Digital Recorder ($270)

Cables ($50)

Total (no laptops/computers) = $1285.00


Compressor/Limiter/Gate

These are nice to have and can be found pretty cheap

But remember, cheap = crap when it comes to audio gear

I have a couple, they are difficult to tune and configure

Easy to plug into any setup

Put them inline between mics and devices

Use the channel inserts (loops audio through external device)


Telephone Bridge

JK Audio Podcast Host ($400)

Essentially makes your telephone am mic

I found it introduces noise

Multiple people require a conference bridge

They are noisy too


SoftwareWarning: Mostly experienced with OS X software


Software

Ustream Producer Pro - Live streaming

Audacity - Backup recording and post-production

iTunes - Play music and sound clips during the show

Feeder - Create, edit and manage RSS feeds

Marsedit - Edit blog posts

Garage Band - Live multi-track recording


If I had to do it all over again setup

Skype 1 Skype 2

Google+ Ustream Music

Apple Logic Pro

x5

OUT OUT OUTININ IN OUT OUT IN

USB

OUT


ScheduleHave a regular schedule


Regular Schedule = Important

I’ve had 0 success trying to do a podcast on an irregular schedule

People are busy

Its to difficult to keep track

All my podcasts are recorded same time every week

Avoids confusion


Understanding SpouseAfter 8 years, we’re getting there...


Regular Time Slot = Difficult

My Thursday nights have been 95% consumed by podcasts

I don’t know what is on TV on Thursday nights

NFL sucks for having games on Thursday nights (don’t they know we podcast?)

Holidays, birthdays, baby births, anniversary all must be rescheduled (j/k)


A Web SiteAnd also methods of distribution


Your Web Site

A podcast and a blog go hand in hand

You can make posts to announce your show, post your show notes, and post your audio/video into

We also use a Wiki for all our show notes


Other Web Sites

We use several different web sites and providers:

Libsyn

Blip.TV

YouTube

Ustream


Nice to HavesPants are always optional


Sponsors

“How Do I Get Sponsors?”

For podcasts, its tough, we don’t track who listens

Have to develop other methods of defining who listens and how many people listen

First question sponsors will ask: “Who is your audience”

We do webcasts and have a newsletter mailing list (Mailchimp rules)


Slogan?

We came up with “Hack Naked”

Now we are stuck with it

Our listeners threaten revolt if we talk about changing it

Choose a slogan wisely


Logo?

Having a logo at some point makes sense

For the cigar podcast Stogie Geeks I used a site called logobid.com

The logo was designed for free by a friend


Custom Music

I’ve used podcast themes and bought the rights to our theme songs

The dude is super nice, tell them we sent you

You can find royalty free music online

You can run clips of copyrighted music in short segments

If you use copyrighted music and post to YouTube, you will be flagged


Content Guidlines

We aim for a “PG-13” rating

We often fall far short of that

You are not regulated by the FCC, so take advantage of that and at least curse every once and a while

Set rules too (e.g. no politics or religion discussions is a rule we have on our shows)

Unless your podcast will be about politics and religion...


More Informationhttp://securityweekly.com

!

http://hacknaked.tv !

http://stogiegeeks.com !

http://www.tenable.com/podcast !

Contact me: [email protected]


http://hacknaked.tv

http://stogiegeeks.com

http://www.tenable.com/podcast

mailto:[email protected]

how to do a podcast - bsides ri 2013

Technology

security weeklyhosts

weekly podcast

ideas youve

allthose podcasts

short format

long format

channel recording mixerits

spousea web site podcast