Podcasting For Dummies

Foreword

Welcome to the fourth edition of Podcasting For Dummies. This book can be your stepping off point to being part of a vibrant community of content creators who are creating every possible kind of content (often from the quiet of the inside of a closet). While anyone can create a podcast, creating a successful podcast requires showing up week after week and working to constantly improve the quality as you build your audience. No show starts perfect, but this book instructs beginners on how to get a good start while also helping old dogs like me learn new tricks.

I still remember exactly where I was when I saw a real-life copy of the first edition of Podcasting For Dummies. The year was 2007. Most people still looked at me funny when I said, I’m a podcaster, but Tee Morris had recognized me by my voice and told me to come check out a book. Back then, I think that’s how all of us original podcasters knew each other: We were voices that we carried around in each other’s pockets as we worked to teach each other new content (Mur Lafferty’s I Should Be Writing still leaves me feeling guilty that I’m not writing!). We also emailed and Skyped, working together to define new techniques and to build up our entire community. Opening that first edition book, I felt a thrill to see my show’s logo — Slacker Astronomy’s logo — listed side by side with the shows I loved most and embedded in a book that could explain to someone how to create a podcast in the exact way I would create a podcast. (Back then I was a GarageBand + LibSyn + WordPress kind of producer.)

Back in 2007, podcasting was just three years old, but already it felt like everything had changed, as we went from our grassroots origins to mainstream success with the introduction of iTune’s Podcast Directory. Already, Tee and Evo were working on a new edition, this time bringing in Chuck Tomasi for added insight. Like me, Chuck was one of the early podcasters, and with his Technorama and Chuck Chat shows, he interviewed a lot of voices in podcasting, and helped network us together around our craft. Across the years, as podcasting has evolved, this book has evolved, too.

Today, most people know what a podcast is, but creating a stand-out show has actually gotten harder rather than easier. That shouldn’t worry you, though. You have this book, and it will introduce you to what’s needed to get started. Inside you’ll find rock-solid examples of what a good show can look like. Want a science podcast? Got it (That Astronomy Cast show? That’s me and Fraser Cain!) Want a good tech show? Got those, too. Need insight on production, hosting, promotion? All of it is laid out here. I’m not going to lie. I’ll be reading this book to see how I can improve, because 15 years of podcasting later, there are new tools and new best-practices as Spotify, our digital assistants (Hey, Alexa!), and so many other platforms add podcasts to their lineups. There is so much to learn… so start reading!

And welcome to the podcasting community. We’re so glad you’re here.

—Dr. Pamela Gay, Astronomer and cohost of Astronomy Cast

Introduction

Maybe you’ve been casually surfing the Interwebz (yes, that is a thing!) or perusing your newspaper when the word podcasting has popped up. Steadily, like a building wave that would make champion surfers salivate with delight, the term has popped up again and again — and your curiosity continues to pique as the word podcasting echoes in your ears and remains in the back of your mind as a riddle wrapped in an enigma, smothered in secret sauce.

Well, ponder no more. Podcasting For Dummies, 4th Edition provides the answer to the question — What is podcasting? This book takes you through the always-evolving technological movement encompassing the Internet, digital communications, education, and entertainment. By the time you reach the end of this book, the basics will be in place to get you, your voice, and your message heard around the world — and you can even have a bit of fun along the way.

About This Book

Back in 2005 …

So what are you up to, Tee?

I’m currently making a podcast of my first novel, a swashbuckling tale that carries our heroes …

Uh … what is a podcast?

Just the word podcasting carries an air of geekiness about it — and behold, the habitual technophobes suddenly clasp their hands to their ears and run away screaming in horror lest they confront yet another nerdy technology that has gone mainstream. Too bad. It has been a long road for podcasting, and it has taken a decade-and-a-half for the platform to go from something nerds are doing in the basement of the science building to a punch line about people who cannot cut it in mainstream media to plot devices in Jordan Peele’s reimagining of The Twilight Zone. What an evolution!

The funny thing about podcasting — outside of comedy podcasts, of course — is that it isn’t that hard to do. When you peel back the covers and fancy-schmancy tech-talk, it’s a pretty simple process to make your own podcast. You just need someone pointing the way and illuminating your path.

This is why we’re here: to be that candle in the dark, helping you navigate a world where anyone can do anything, provided they have the tools, the drive, and the passion. You don’t need to be a techno-wizard or a super-geek. You need no wad of tape holding your glasses together, and your shirt tail need not stick out from your fly. Anyone can do what we show you in this book. Anyone can take a thought or an opinion, make an audio file expressing that opinion, and distribute this idea worldwide. Anyone can capture the attention of a few hundred — or a few thousand — people around the world through MP3 players hiding in computers, loaded on smartphones, strapped around biceps, jouncing in pockets, or hooked up to car stereos.

Anyone can podcast, and anyone can listen.

Podcasting, from recording to online hosting, can be done on a variety of budgets, ranging from frugal to Fortune 500. You can podcast about literally anything — including podcasting for its own sake. As blogging gave the anonymous, the famous, the almost-famous, and the used-to-be famous a voice in politics, religion, and everyday life, podcasting adds volume and tone to that voice.

Podcasting is many things to many people; but at its most basic, it’s a surprisingly simple and powerful technology. What it means boils down to a single person: you. This is a platform delivering your message around the world, connecting the Global Village in ways that the creators of the Internet, RSS, and MP3 compression would probably never have dreamed. It is the unique and the hard-to-find content that can’t find a place on commercial, college, or public access radio.

You’re about to embark on an exciting adventure into digital media distribution, and here you will find out that podcasting is all these things and so much more.

How to Use This Book

Podcasting For Dummies, 4th Edition should be these things to all who pick up and read it (whether straight through or by jumping around in the chapters):

A user-friendly guide in how to listen to, produce, and distribute podcasts

A terrific reference for choosing the right hardware and software to put together a sharp-sounding podcast

The starting point for the person who knows nothing about audio editing, recording, creating RSS feeds, hosting blogs, or how to turn a computer into a recording studio

A handy go-to think tank for any beginning podcaster who’s hungry for new ideas on what goes into a good podcast and fresh points of view

A really fun read

There will be plenty of answers in these pages, and if you find our answers too elementary, we give you plenty of points of reference to research. We don’t claim to have all the solutions, quick fixes, and resolutions to all possible podcasting queries, but we do present to you the basic building blocks and first steps for beginning a podcast. As with any For Dummies book, our responsibility is to give you the foundation on which to build. That’s what we’ve done our level best to accomplish: Bestow upon you the enchanted stuff that makes a podcast happen.

This book was written as a linear path from the conceptualization stages to the final publication of your work. However, not everyone needs to read the book from page one. If you’ve already gotten your feet wet with the various aspects of podcasting, jump around from section to section and read the parts that you need. We provide plenty of guides back to other relevant chapters for when the going gets murky.

Conventions Used in This Book

When you go through this book, you’re going to see a few ⌘ symbols, the occasional ⇒ , and even a few things typed in a completely different style. There's a method to this madness, and those methods are conventions found throughout this book.

When we refer to keyboard shortcuts for Macintosh or Windows, we designate them with (Mac) or (Windows). For Mac shortcuts, we use the Command key and the corresponding letter. For Windows shortcuts, we use the abbreviation for the Control key (Ctrl) and the corresponding letter. So the shortcut for Select All looks like this: Command+A (Mac) / Ctrl+A (Windows).

If keyboard shortcuts aren’t your thing and you want to know where the commands reside on menus, we use a command arrow ( ⇒ ) to help guide you through menus and submenus. So, the command for Select All in the application’s menu is Edit ⇒ Select All. You first select the Edit menu and then Select All.

When we offer URLs (web addresses) of various podcasts, resources, and audio equipment vendors, or when we have you creating RSS feeds for podcast clients, such as Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or Spotify, we use this particular typeface.

Bold Assumptions

We assume that you have a computer, a lot of curiosity, and a desire to podcast. We couldn’t care less about whether you’re using a Mac, a PC, Linux, Unix, or two Dixie cups connected with string. (Okay, maybe the two Dixie cups connected with string would be a challenge; a computer is essential.) In podcasting, the operating system just makes the computer go. We’re here to provide you tools for creating a podcast, regardless of what OS you’re running.

If you know nothing about audio production, this book can also serve as a fine primer in how to record, edit, and produce audio on your computer, as well as accessorize your computer with mixing boards, professional-grade microphones, and audio-engineering software that will give you a basic look at this creative field. You can hang on to this book as a handy reference, geared for audio in podcasting. Again, our book is a starting point, and (ahem) a trusted starting point at that.

With everything that goes into podcasting, there are some things this book is not now, nor will ever be, about. Here’s the short list:

We’re not out to make you into an übergeek in RSS or XML (but we give you all you need to make things work — even get you Spotify-ready).

We figure that if you get hold of Audacity, GarageBand, or Audition, you can take it from there (but we give you overviews of those programs and a few basic editing examples).

We’re not out to teach you how to get rich quick through this platform. While we teach you how to produce a podcast, there is no magic formula in making the next Serial or Slow Burn.

If you are looking for a terrific start to the podcasting experience, then — in the words of the last knight guarding the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade — You have chosen wisely.

How This Book Is Organized

The following sections give you a quick overview of what this book has to offer. And yeah, we’re going to keep the overview brief because we figure you’re eager to get started. But the fact that you’re reading this passage also tells us you don’t want to miss a detail, so here’s a quick bird’s-eye view of what we do in Podcasting For Dummies.

Part 1: Podcasting on a Worldwide Frequency

Part 1 goes into the bare-bones basics of how a podcast happens, how to get podcasts to your listening device of choice, and how to host a podcast yourself — ending up with a few places online that offer podcast feeds you can visit to sample the experience and (later on) to let the world know Hey, I’ve got a podcast, too!

Part 1 also helps you pick out the best hardware and software you need to start podcasting.

Part 2: The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Podcasting

Consider this part of the book Inside the Actor’s Studio, part DIY Network, and part WKRP (with your host, Dr. Johnny Fever … boooouuugaaar!!!). This is where we offer some techniques the pros use in broadcasting. Podcasting may be the grass-roots movement of homespun telecommunications, but that doesn’t mean it has to sound that way (unless, of course, you want it to sound that way). From preshow prep to setting your volume levels to the basics of audio editing, this is the part that polishes your podcast.

Part 3: So You’ve Got This Great Recording of Your Voice: Now What?

The audio file you’ve just created is now silently staring at you from your monitor (unless you’re listening to it on your computer’s music player, in which case it’s just defiantly talking back at you!), and you haven’t a clue what your next step is. We cover the last-minute details and then walk you through the process of getting your podcast online, finding the right web-hosting packages for podcasts, and putting together show notes that give listeners a glance at what your latest episode is all about.

Part 4: Start Spreadin’ the News about Your Podcast

You have your podcast recorded, edited, and online, but now you need to let people know you have this great podcast just waiting for them — and that’s what we explore in Part 4. With the power of publicity — from free-of-charge word-of-mouth (arguably the most effective) to investment in social media, you have a wide array of options to choose from when you’re ready to announce your presence to the podcasting community.

Part 5: Pod-sibilities to Consider for Your Show

The question of why one should podcast is as important as how to podcast. We cover some basic rationales that many folks have for sitting behind a microphone, pouring heart, soul, and pocket change into their craft each and every day, week, or month. We then look ahead to streaming on Twitch or YouTube as a possible interactive addition to your podcast’s workflow.

Part 6: The Part of Tens

Perhaps the toughest chapters to write were these: the For Dummies trademark Part of Tens chapters. So don’t skip them because we’ll be über-miffed if you fail to appreciate how hard we busted our humps to get these chapters done!

Right — so what do we give you in our Part of Tens? Along with giving you ten reasons why podcasting is something important to do, we also offer suggestions for what’s out there, how they sound, and how you can benefit from them. Finally, we close with words of wisdom from some of the podcasters who have been podcasting the longest. Read … and then you decide.

Authors’ note: Keep in mind, the podcasts we cover here are currently active at the time of writing this edition. Some of these podcasts may thrive and continue producing killer content. Some may disappear like ill-fated voyagers tempting the Bermuda Triangle. Remember this as you might find a podcast in these pages that’s no longer podcasting.

Icons Used in This Book

So you’re trekking through the book, making some real progress with developing your podcast, when suddenly these little icons leap out, grab you by the throat, and wrestle you to the ground. (Who would have thought podcasting was so action-packed, like an MCU movie, huh?) What do all these little drawings mean?

Glad you asked.

Tip When we’re in the middle of a discussion and suddenly we have one of those "Say, that reminds me …" moments, we give you one of these tips. They’re handy little extras that are good to know and might even make your podcast sound a little tighter than average.

Remember If the moment is more than a handy little nugget of information and closer to a Seriously, you can’t forget this part! factoid, we mark it with a Remember icon. You’re going to want to play close attention to these puppies.

Warning Sometimes we interrupt our train of thought with a Time out, Sparky … moment — and this is where we ask for your completely undivided attention. The Warnings are exactly that: flashing lights, ah-ooga horns, dire portents, or your local DM saying Roll for Initiative. They’re reminders not to try this at home because you’ll definitely regret it.

Technical Stuff These icons illuminate the So how does this widget really work …? moments you may have as you read this book. The Technical Stuff icons give you a deeper understanding of what the wizard is doing behind the curtain, making you all the more apt as a podcaster. But if you want to skip the nitty gritty details, that’s perfectly fine, too.

Beyond the Book

In addition to what you’re reading right now, this product also comes with a free, online Cheat Sheet that offers up quick reference points you’ll want to have on hand when you’re working on your first podcast, or your first production on location. You need a quick answer at a glance? The Cheat Sheet should jog a memory or two from this book. To get this Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for Podcasting For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the Search box.

This book also comes with a companion podcast. Go to http://www.podcastingfordummies.com and follow the instructions to get free weekly audio commentary from Tee Morris and Chuck Tomasi about concepts in this book explored in greater detail, from the difference between good and bad edits, when too much reverb is too much, and the variety of methods you can use to record a podcast.

Where to Go from Here

At this point, many For Dummies authors say something snappy, clever, or even a bit snarky. We save our best tongue-in-cheek material for the pages inside, so here’s a more serious approach….

We suggest heading to where you’re planning to record your podcast, or just plant yourself in front of a computer, and start with Chapter 1 where you're given a few links to check out, some suggestions on applications for downloading podcasts, and directories to look up where you can find Tee’s and Chuck’s (many) podcasts, and other podcasts that can educate, inspire, and enlighten your ears with original content.

Where do we go from here? Up and out, my friends. Up and out …

Part 1

Podcasting on a Worldwide Frequency

IN THIS PART…

Understand the fundamentals of creating, uploading, and distributing your podcast for others to enjoy.

Explore various podcast directories to find content that interests you and compare and contrast how others produce their shows.

Find the right hardware, software, and accessories to fit your budget.

Take your podcast recording on the road with mobile devices and processes.

Chapter 1

Getting the Scoop on Podcasting

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Finding out what podcasting is

Bullet Creating a podcast

Bullet Finding and subscribing to podcasts

Sometimes the invention that makes the biggest impact on our daily lives isn’t an invention at all, but the convergence of existing technologies, processes, and ideas. Podcasting may be the perfect example of that principle — and it’s changing the relationship people have with their radios, music collections, books, education, and more.

The podcasting movement is actually a spin-off of another communications boom: blogs. Blogs sprang up right and left in the early 2000s, providing nonprogrammers and designers a clean, elegant interface that left many on the technology side wondering why they hadn’t thought of it sooner. Everyday people could chronicle their lives, hopes, dreams, and fears and show them to anyone who cared to read. And oddly enough, people did care to read — and still do.

Then in 2003, former MTV VeeJay Adam Curry started collaborating with programmer Dave Winer about improving RSS (which stands for Really Simple Syndication) that not only allowed you to share text and images, but media attachments which included compressed audio and video files. Soon after, Curry released his first podcast catching client. Thus launched the media platform of podcasting.

Podcasting combines the instant information exchange of blogging with audio and video files that you can play on a computer or portable media device. When you make your podcast publicly available on the Internet, you are exposing your craft to anyone with a computer or mobile device and a connection capable of streaming data. To put that in perspective, some online sources report the global online population is over 4.5 billion users. In the U.S. alone, more than 275 million people own some kind of mobile device or portable media player and every one of them is capable of playing your content!

This chapter is for the consumers of the content (the audience) and those who make the content (the podcasters) alike. We cover the basic steps to record a podcast and lay out the basics of what you need to do to enjoy a podcast on your media player.

If you’re starting to get the idea that podcasting is revolutionary, groundbreaking, and possibly a major component of social upheaval, great. Truth is, some have made their marks in society. Some storytellers have reignited the desire for short stories, anthologies, and storytelling. Other podcasts have shone spotlights on criminal injustices. But not all podcasts are so deep. In fact, many of them are passion projects inviting you to join in on the experience!

Deciding Whether Podcasting Is for You

Technically speaking, podcasting is the distribution of specially encoded multimedia content to subscribed personal computers via the RSS 2.0 protocol. Whew! Allow us to translate that into common-speak:

Podcasting allows you to listen to what you want, where you want, when you want.

Podcasting turns the tables on broadcast schedules, allowing the listener to choose not only what to listen to, but also when — often referred to as time shifted media. And because podcasts are transferred via the Internet, the power to create an audio program isn’t limited to those with access to a radio transmitter.

The simplest reason to podcast is that it’s just plain fun! We’ve been podcasting since the beginning, and we’re still having a blast, continuing to get out messages to our worldwide audiences and challenging ourselves with new tricks and techniques in creating captivating media. So, yeah, for the fun of it? Heck of a good reason.

The following sections cover other reasons podcasting is probably for you.

WHAT’S IN A NAME, WHEN THE NAME IS PODCASTING?

As with most items that make their way into the conventional lexicon of speech, the precise origins and meaning behind podcasting are somewhat clouded. Although the domain podcast.com was originally registered back in 2002 (nothing was ever done with it, as far as we know), and Ben Hammersley suggested that and many other terms in February 2004 (www.guardian.co.uk/media/2004/feb/12/broadcasting.digitalmedia), it’s generally accepted in the podcast community that the first person to use the term as a reference to the activity we now know as podcasting was Dannie Gregoire on September 15, 2004. Some voices in tech asserted the name held connotations to Apple’s popular player of the time, the iPod. Regardless of the intentions, the term was backronymed (that is, treated like an acronym and applied to a variety of plausible existing meanings) even with alternative names defiantly offered … but to no avail. The term podcasting became part of everyday lexicon.

Since 2004, though, content creators who set up YouTube and Twitch live streams and tell the world Check out my podcast! garnered weeping and gnashing of teeth by your authors. We’ve been what you would call purists, telling people You can’t call it a podcast if you don’t have an RSS feed! However, on finding our own place in streaming, we understood that times change, technology evolves, and even these old dogs can learn new tricks. The term podcast no longer represents the specific technology linked to RSS, but is more about making your content available to a global audience automatically delivered or streaming on-demand. For that reason, we include Chapter 17 to help get you started streaming and seamlessly work it into your podcast’s workflow.

You want to deliver media on a regular basis

Sure, you can include audio, video, and PDFs content in your blog if you have one. Many bloggers create special content and insert them as links into the text of their blogposts. Readers then download the files at their leisure. However, this approach requires manual selection of the content blog hosts want readers to download. What sets podcasting apart from blogging is that podcasting automates that process. A listener who subscribes to your podcast is subscribed to all your content, whenever it’s available. No need to go back to the site to see what’s new! Once you subscribe to a podcast, the content is delivered to you in the same way as when you subscribe to a print magazine. New content, delivered to you. (See what we did there?)

You want to reach beyond the boundaries of broadcast media

In radio, unless it is satellite radio, the number of people who can listen to a show is limited by the power of the transmitter pumping out the signal. Same thing with broadcast television, depending on whether you are using antenna, cable, or satellite dish to receive programming. Podcasting doesn’t rely on or utilize signals, transmitters, or receivers — at least not in the classic sense. Podcasts use the Internet as a delivery system, opening up a potential audience that could extend to the entire planet.

No rules exist (yet, anyway) to regulate the creation of podcast content. In fact, neither the FCC nor any other regulatory body for any other government holds jurisdiction over podcasts. If that seems astounding, remember that podcasters are not using the public airwaves to deliver the message.

Warning Just because the FCC doesn’t have jurisdiction, you’re not exempt from the law or — perhaps more important — immune to lawsuits. You’re personally responsible for anything you say, do, or condone on your show. Additionally, the rules concerning airplay of licensed music, the distribution of copyrighted material, and the legalities of recording conversations all apply. Pay close attention to the relevant sections in Chapter 5 to avoid some serious consequences. When it comes to the legalities, ignorance is not bliss.

You have something to say

As a general rule, podcasters produce content that likely holds appeal for only a select audience. Podcasts start with an idea, something that you have the desire and knowledge, either real or imaginary, to talk about. Add to that a bit of drive, do-it-yourself-ishness, and an inability to take no for an answer. The point is to say what you want to say, to those who want to hear it.

Podcasts can be about anything and be enjoyed by just about anyone. The topics covered don’t have to be earth-shattering or life-changing. They can be about do-it-yourself projects, sound-seeing tours of places you visit, or even your favorite board games. A few rules and guidelines are common in practice, but at times you may find it necessary to bend the rules. (That can be a lot of fun in itself!)

Some of the most popular podcasts are created by everyday people who sit in front of their computers for a few nights a week and just speak their minds, hearts, and souls. Some are focused on niche topics; others are more broad-based.

You want to hear from your listeners

Something that is a real perk with podcasting: accessibility. On average, most audiences have a direct line of contact between themselves and the podcast’s host or hosts. Podcast consumers are more likely to provide feedback for what they listen or watch, probably traceable to the personal nature of a podcast. Unlike popular talk shows that follow strict formulaic approaches, podcasts offer their audiences — and the creators behind the production — control, options, and intimacy traditional broadcast media cannot. It is that appeal that attracted major production studios like NPR, ESPN, Disney, HBO, and many others to podcasting. The connection of podcasting with audiences would pave the way for streamers, and now podcasting and streaming are synonymous with one another.

Remember When you ask for feedback, you’re likely to get it — and from unusual places. Because geography doesn’t limit the distance your podcast can travel, you may find yourself with listeners in faraway and exotic places. And this feedback isn’t always going to be Wow, great podcast! Listeners will be honest with you when you invite feedback.

Creating a Podcast

There are two schools of thought when it comes to creating a podcast: the I need the latest and greatest equipment in order to capture that crisp, clear sound of the broadcasting industry school of thought, and the Hey, my laptop has a built-in microphone, and I’ve got this cool recording software already installed school of thought. Both are equally valid positions, and there are a lot of secondary schools in-between. The question is how far you’re willing to go.

But allow us to dispel a few misconceptions about podcasting right off the bat: You’re not reprogramming your operating system, you’re not hacking into the Internal Revenue Service’s database, and you’re not setting up a wireless computer network with tinfoil from a chewing gum wrapper, a shoestring, and your belt, regardless if MacGyver showed you how. Podcasting is not rocket science. In fact, here’s a quick rundown of how you podcast:

Record audio or video and convert it to a download-friendly format.

Write a description of what it is that you just created as a blog post.

Upload everything to a host server.

Yes, yes, yes, if podcasting were that simple, then why is this book so thick? Well, we admit that this list does gloss over a few details, but a podcast — in its most streamlined, raw presentation — is that simple. The details of putting together a single episode start in Chapter 2 and wrap up in Chapter 8; then Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12 walk you through all you need to make the media you create into a podcast.

So, yeah, podcasting is easy, but there’s a lot to it.

Looking for the bare necessities

You need a few things before starting your first podcast, many of which you can probably find on your own computer. For these beginning steps, we focus on audio. Here’s what you should keep an eye on:

A microphone: Take a look at your computer. Right now, regardless of whether you have a laptop or desktop model, Windows or Macintosh, your computer probably has a microphone built into it — or a USB port for plugging in a microphone. Yes, even your mobile phone has a microphone, or it wouldn’t be much of a phone, now would it? Many earbuds even include a microphone.

Position the microphone in a comfortable spot on your desk or table. If you’re using a laptop, it should be somewhere on your desk that allows for best recording results without hunching over the computer like Young Frankenstein’s Igor. (That’s EYE-gor.) Check the laptop’s documentation to find out where the built-in microphone is located in the unit’s housing. For the mobile phone, hold the device as if you are making a call, the way it was intended. Holding the device any other way can degrade the audio quality. If you are using the microphone earbuds set included with the phone’s purchase, you may need to do some experimentation.

Technical stuff Usually the built-in microphone in a laptop is located close to the edge of the keyboard or near the laptop’s speakers. Some models tuck it in at the center point of the monitor’s base.

Recording software: Check out the software that came with your computer. You know, all those extra applications that you filed away, thinking, I’ll check those out sometime. Well, the time has arrived to flip through them. You probably have some sort of audio-recording software loaded on your computer, such as Voice Recorder (PC) or GarageBand (which comes pre-installed with new Macs).

Tip If you don’t already have the appropriate software, here’s a fast way to get it: Download the version of Audacity that fits your operating system (at https://audacityteam.org), shown in Figure 1-1. (Oh, yeah … it’s free.)

An audio interface: Make sure your computer has the hardware it needs to handle audio recording and the drivers to run the hardware — unless, of course, you have a built-in microphone.

Tip Some desktop computers come with a very elementary audio card built into the motherboard. Before you run out to your local computer vendor and spring for an audio card, check your computer to see whether it can already handle basic voice recording.

For tips on choosing the right mic and audio accessories, be sure to check out Chapter 2. Chapter 3 covers all the software you need.

FIGURE 1-1: Audacity allows you to edit audio and create MP3 files.

Recording your first podcast

When you have your computer set up and your microphone working, it’s time to start recording. Take a deep breath and then follow these steps:

Jot down a few notes on what you want to talk about.

Nothing too fancy — just make an outline that includes remarks about who you are and what you want to talk about. Use these bullet points to keep yourself on track.

All this — checking your computer, jotting down notes, and setting up your recording area — is called preshow prep, discussed in depth in Chapter 5 by other podcasters who have their own set ways of getting ready to record.

Click the Record button in your recording software and go for as long as it takes for you to get through your notes.

Tip We recommend keeping your first recording to no more than 20 minutes. That may seem like a lot of time, but it will fly by.

Give a nice little sign-off (like Take care of yourselves! See you next time.) and click the Stop button.

Choose File ⇒ Save As and give your project a name.

Now bask in the warmth of creative accomplishment.

Compressing your audio files

Portable media devices and computers can play MP3 files as a default format. While there are many other audio formats in existence, MP3 is the preferred format for podcasting because so many digital devices and operating systems recognize it. If your recording software can output straight to MP3 format, your life is much simpler.

If your software cannot export directly to MP3, it should be able to save to a WAV (Windows) or AIFF (Mac) file, which are raw, uncompressed, and can get rather large. In this case, save your raw file from your first software package and then use Audacity to import the file and export it as MP3. We get into those details in Chapter 3.

Congratulations — you just recorded your first audio podcast! Easy, isn’t it? This is merely the first step into a larger world, as Obi-Wan once told Luke.

Uploading your audio to the web

An audio file sitting on your desktop, regardless of how earth-shattering the contents may be, is not a podcast. Nope, not by a long shot. You have to get it up on the Internet and provide a way for listeners to grab that tasty file for later consumption.

If you already have a web server for your blog, company website, or personal website, this process can be as easy as creating a new folder and transferring your newly created audio file to your server.

If that last paragraph left you puzzled and you’re wondering what kind of mess you’ve gotten yourself into … relax. We don’t leave you hanging out in the wind. Chapter 10 covers everything you need to know about choosing a web host for your podcast media files.

Technical stuff A podcast