The What's and How's of Podcasting:
I originally sent this out in an E-mail. I have added a few things to it. I am re-writing this introduction as well. This page has links to articles explaining what podcasting is, AND how to go about doing it. By "doing it", I mean, listening to podcasts and or making your own podcasts.
I keep being asked what a podcast is. Some one else asked me how you do them. This introduction is my simplistic explanation. For more detailed information, please see the links below.
Podcasts were originally a type of "DIY" (do it yourself) radio program in MP3 format. People would stick them on their web site for people to download. (download = put them onto their computer for listening to later on) Now days, even big broadcasters are doing podcasts. It is very common to find sermons and other related Biblical things on podcasts now. It is probably increasing more and more that people will be doing video podcasts. The latest iPod does video, so the podcasters are turning to video podcasting. Don't ask me how to do that one! I don't have a video iPod so I don't get into that.
You do not need an iPod to play (listen to) podcasts. All you need is a computer or a gadget that will play MP3s (MP3 format sound files).
[MP3 format is a type of audio format. One day, I recorded my grandfather's voice onto an audio cassette tape. I went and hooked the tape recorder to my computer with a wire. I then played the tape of my grandfather, and recorded it onto my computer. When I did that, the computer took the sound and made it "digital". This means that if you looked at the sound file as if it were text, you would see computer language. (For the sake of argument, the text would look like nothing but ones and zeros.) When I tell the computer what format to record the sound, I am telling it how to arrange the ones and zeros. MP3 format lets the sound take up less space on a computer. MP3 format will not always play on a CD player. If I take the MP3 of my grandfather speaking, and put it on a CD disk, then I cannot play that disk on some CD players. If I put it in another format, it will play on any CD player.]
How to make your own Podcast...
Essentially you record your voice or other audio (sound) onto tape. (Do not record anything that is copyright by someone else--UNLESS you have their permission. That would get you into trouble.) You do not have to record your audio onto a tape. You can use other recording methods if you choose. You try to record your audio with the best sound available. The better the recording the better it will be in the end. You get the audio you recorded, onto your hard drive. You can run a wire from a tape recorder to the back of the computer. (patch cord from Radio Shack) After you get the sound onto your hard drive, you “publish” (stick--place) the sound file onto a web site.
A true “Podcast” is more than just a sound file you can listen to or download from a web site. To be a “proper” Podcast, the sound file has to be part of an “RSS” feed. (attached?) People can subscribe to these RSS feeds. They download a program that will automatically download their favorite podcasts. I don’t know how to do the RSS Feed stuff. You will have to read the articles in this document to figure that out.
You get podcasts from individual websites, “Podcast Directories”, or places like “iTunes”.
For a while people were using SKYPE and doing their own "home made" talk radio (radio "phone in") programs. (see below) Just type in "Skypecast" in Google, to learn more about that.
Below you will find more details of how to do podcasting. I am not an expert so it would be best if you read the articles at the links below.
What is Podcasting
“Podcasting” from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting (There’s tons of stuff about podcasting etc. at the end of this article. “External links”.)
http://www.ipodder.org/whatIsPodcasting What Is Podcasting from 10/21/04
How To
How To Podcast—Voxmedia Wiki http://www.voxmedia.org/wiki/How_to_Podcast (The simplest easy to understand guide that I have found so far. Talks about how to do RSS feeds etc. This looks to be the best to get you started. There’s a list of more in depth guides at the end of this article.)
Podcast Free America The Real Beginners Guide To Podcasting http://www.podcastfreeamerica.com/ the-real-beginners-guide-to-podcasting
How To Podcast Tutorial http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/index.htm
BaffledExperts Podcasting http://www.baffledexperts.com/podcasting.html
BaffledExperts Super Cheap Recording http://www.baffledexperts.com/2005/01/super-cheap-recording.html
Programs / Service You Use
Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ (Audacity® is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.) This is a really great program. I use it a lot. I use it more than one I paid for called, “Roxio”. Roxio is good for making CD’s. Audacity is best for recording on your hard drive.
iPodder (program that automatically downloads Podcasts onto your hard drive so you can put them onto your iPod or MP3 player.) http://www.ipodder.org/whatIsIpodder What is iPodder
iPodder now called, Juice Receiver http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/index.php
BitTorrent http://www.bittorrent.com/ (There’s an “introduction” on here you can read.)
PodBlaze.com www.podblaze.com The complete Podcasting Solution. The EZ web based way to Create and Publish a Podcast.
Hardware (equipment)
BaffledExperts Equipment http://www.baffledexperts.com/BaffledExperts/Equipment%20advice/Equipment%20advice.html
Podcasts
Podcast Bunker http://www.podcastbunker.com/
Podcast.net -- The Podcast Directory http://www.podcast.net/
PodcastAlley--The place to find Podcasts http://www.podcastalley.com/
Pod Cats http://www.podcats.co.uk/
iPodder.org http://www.ipodder.org/ Podcast Directory
News Etc.
“Podcasting News” http://www.podcastingnews.com/
"The 411 podCasts, podCasters, & podCasting" http://www.podcast411.com/page5.html
Main Page- Voxmedia Wiki http://www.voxmedia.org/w/index.php/Main_Page
History
Engadget Podcast 001 - 10.05.2004 / How-To: Podcasting (get Podcasts and make your own) http://www.engadget.com/2004/10/05/engadget-podcast-001-10-05-2004-how-to-podcasting-get/ (This is a famous [older] "how to" article.)
Unbound Spiral: Skype + Podcast Recorder = SkypeCasters http://www.henshall.com/blog/archives/001056.html
(Skype is a very good FREE internet telephone service!!!!!! www.skype.com)
“If RSS ain't broke...” http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5383118.html
“DIY radio with PODcasting” from “Doc Searls' IT Garage” http://www.itgarage.com/node/462
“Adam Curry Wants to Make You an iPod Radio Star” from “Wired” magazine 13.03 http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.03/curry.html
Wired News: Podcasts: New Twist on Net Audio http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,65237,00.html
Podcasts bring DIY radio to the web http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4120773.stm
“ ‘Podcasters’ look to net money” from BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4371555.stm