Podcasting – getting started, 1

The beauty of podcasting is its accessibility compared to other forms of radio, and in fact, media in general.

If you’re just starting up, it is a good idea to avoid getting caught up in a desperate chase to get all the latest specialist technology; you will just make it more difficult at that early stage. You don’t need a lot of equipment to start making good quality podcasts; just follow the tips below!

Equipment:
1) First things first: you’ll need a digital voice recorder. The easiest way of recording sound and getting it where you want it is to use a digital recorder with a USB connection to plug into your computer, which records sound in WMA format, making it ideal to manipulate with Windows when saving it. You can buy one of these from as little as £35.00.
2) Next, you will need a computer. Any standard desktop or laptop will do, but some come with an inbuilt voice recording function, so you may want to check this before you buy item number 1.
3) To put the finishing touches to your recordings, you will need audio editing software. For a basic version from NH Software, try WavLab, which is simple to use and costs £35.00.
4) To get your podcast out to your audience, you will need an internet connection to upload the finished programme to the web – this is free

Maximum outgoings - £70, although it is possible to do this on no budget.

Preparing to record
It is best to keep your programme short, as this will make the podcast easier to manage and boost your confidence. Here are a few quick tips on creating a professional-sounding programme:
1) Focus on one single topic within a specialist subject that you wish to discuss during the podcast episodes. One way to look at it is to treat each podcast as if it were the chapter of a book on your main subject, but in audio version.
2) Script your podcast and practice it a few times to avoid hesitation or stumbling over your words.
3) Source accurate information and provide details on where it came from so your listeners can find out more.
4) Keep it simple and easy to digest; remember that your audience will often listen whilst doing something else, so make sure you highlight the main points to make sure the message sticks.
5) Use accessible language. Your audience may be alienated by clever words and terminology they are unfamiliar with, so try to break things down.
6) When recording, choose a quiet space so that your voice comes across loud and clear with no background noise.
7) Focus on your topic before recording so that you are calm and ready to present. This will help you to speak with authority and keep your voice dynamic to listen to.
8) Try to record your programme in one go. It is always easier to edit one single file rather than lots of smaller ones.

Preparing to upload
Bearing this in mind, it’s time to upload using these easy steps:
1) Plug the voice recorder into your computer and find your podcast file on the screen.
2) Open an audio editing programme, such as WavLab, Audacity, or AdobeAudition, and load your audio file (Note: you can also record straight into these programmes if you would rather).
3) Edit your podcast using the software to the desired length; the optimum length of a podcast is 5-15 minutes. When you first start editing, it is best to simply chop to the introduction of your programme, and then cut any silences longer than 3 seconds to keep your programme tight.
4) Save the file as 64kbps in MPEG format, as this is the easiest format for listeners to download.

Uploading
We suggest that you research the best podcasting hosts for you. smallpod uses www.podomatic.com, as this is ideal for disseminating and sharing podcasts. Once you have chosen your host, follow these steps to upload:
1) Register with the podcast host and make a note of your username and password, or choose login details you can remember.
2) To start off with, just use the basic service the host offers; there is no need to pay until you are ready to upgrade and use more advanced features.
3) Follow the directions provided by the host on how to upload the audio file.