Training session onPodcasting

26-09-2011

Outline

• Definition of podcasting• How to create a podcast• How to publish a podcast• How to listen/ watch a potcast• Key elements: storage and bandwidth• A practical example using Google Apps and

Itunes and Podomatic• Podcasing at FAO: A case study

“A podcast (or non-streamed webcast) is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and downloaded through web syndication.”

Definition

Creating a podcast

• Microphone• Audio Recorder software• Media Player software• Audio Editor and MP3 Encoder• Reliable internet connection• RSS feed• Pod catcher software

Publishing a Podcast

To publish your podcast to the internet, you usually need to do the following:

• Host the audio files on a web server, a website or a blog

• Create an RSS Feed – this is the feed that your listeners subscribe to so they can automatically download new audio files of your podcast

Storage

The amount of storage you need for your audio files will depend on the following:

• The length of each audio file• The audio quality of your MP3 files (the higher

the quality the bigger the file)• How often you produce audio files• How many past audiofiles you want to make

available at a time to your listeners

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the amount of data that your web host allows to be transferred to and from your web site. “Capacity channel”

Listening to Podcasts• Listeners can subscribe to podcasts through RSS feed. New audiofiles

are automatically downloaded as soon as they’re released.

A practical example using Google Apps and ITunes

http://www.blogger.com/home

http://www.google.com/reader/view/#overview-page

http://web2practice.jiscinvolve.org/wp/podcasting/

Podcasing at FAO during Conference and Council sessions

Corporate requirements

• FAO Basic Texts require that Conference and Council Verbatim Records be produced within 24 hrs by the FAO Verbatim team

• Recording Hardware• Recording Software• Transcription Software• Workflow system

Technical requirements

Recording Hardware EDIROL Fa 101

• Digital audio converter and mixer: EDIROL – up to 10 audio channels

• Recording done by PC with normal sound card and FireWire port

• FAO Conference: one PC for Plenary (7 channels); another for two Commissions; a third backing up all meetings

Recording Software

• Audio recording software (VRS by NCH)− Records digital signal in several formats and quality levels− Built-in compressors and filters− Individual treatment of each channel and file storage in preferred

location (network drives, FTPs or e-mail or Podcast)− Sound files of any length− Automatic recording at certain sound level− System operated also remotely via Internet− Creation of database of logs

• Transcription: ExpressScribe (Freeware)

• Sound editing software (Freeware)

Web-based form created during the meeting

RSS export on the Permanent Representatives website

Achievements

• Excellent sound quality and flow of recordings• Audio recordings available to Staff and Permanent

Representatives in real time through a dedicated web page• Entire workflow visible in real time on web• Savings from employing less temporary staff• Savings from not renting tape recorders and foot pedals• Digital recording equipment is portable

Useful links• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast• http://www.apple.com/itunes/• http://www.podomatic.com/login• http://www.google.com/reader/• http://www.blogger.com/home• http://www.zdnet.co.uk/broadband-speedtest/• http://web2practice.jiscinvolve.org/wp/podcasting/• http://www.rolandus.com• http://www.nch.com.au/vrs/index.html• http://www.fao.org/audiocatalogue/index.jsp?lang=EN• http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/globalnews• http://permreps.fao.org/

• Mariagrazia.Bovo@fao.org