unit 8: making a podcast

Podcasting

photo credit: www.flickr.com/photos/ollyhart/123420044

About this workshop

Overview of podcasting productionFurther guidance provided after session

Bookmarks, handouts & supported practical

Participant guidelinesLet us know if you have any problems

Ask questions

Talk to each other

Producing your podcast

Introduction

Production is easy - quality production is harder!Consider how much time/effort is justified

Get the right equipment

Plan your content

Choose your location

Record, edit & publish!

Get the right equipment

Analogue sound - digital representation

Recording chain...

Microphone(s)

Mixer

Monitor (headphones)

Recording device

Garbage in, Garbage out!

Dynamic Mics

General purpose mic

Sturdy & resilient

Handle high volumes

Doesn’t need power

Studio (Condenser) Mics

Sensitive & responsive

Good for voice work

Intended for studio use

Need cradle/shock mount

Need external power (amp)

Connectors: Jacks

6.5 mm

3.5 mm

Fit many consumer devices

Typically low quality

Introduce electrical noise

Mono or stereo

Connectors: XLR

Used on professional mics

Very little electrical interference

Supply phantom power

Connectors: USB

Typically high quality

On-board audio encoding

No need for audio interface

Recording to computer

Recording via audio interface

XLR inputs - USB output

Gain control

Monitoring

Recording via mixer

More inputs, USB output (multi-channel)

More control of each channel

Equalisation

Gain control

Recording to portable device

Lightweight & portable

Built in mics

Storage as DAT, SD, HDD...

Good for sound bite interviews

Any questions?

Planning your content

Planning: outlines

Define show structure

Segments

Items (stories)

Timings

Transitions

Resources

Episode 1

Intro (2 min)

Item 1 (3 min)

Recap (30 secs)

Item 2 (2 min)(3 min)

Planning: scripts

Writing Learn from the media…• Inverted pyramid• Headlines as hooks

Add detail, but not every word

Presenting Try not to sound scripted

Adopt your on-air persona

Recording: location

Studio

Quiet room

Soundproofing

Some background noise can add atmosphere,

but a lot is distracting…

Recording: mic technique

Positioning

Pop filters

Sound check

Watch your pace & volume

Forget it’s on!

Editing

Relatively easy, but time consuming

Editing contentCuts, drop-ins, intro/outro, music…

Signal processingEQ

Normalisation

Compression

Publishing your podcast

Save uncompressed master as MP3

Upload to hosting service

Simple

Freemium

Some limitations

Upload to blog or website

More control, more work

Publish

Practical

Produce 10 minute+ PodcastDon’t worry too much about equipment

Plan and rehearse your content

Publish and get feedback from others

SupportHandouts provide further guidance

Ask tutors for help

Support each other