CreatingAudioPodcast

Are you aware of the post on GCast? **Attention**: gcast.com is no longer accepting new signups, and will not be accepting new uploads as of February 1, 2010. Your existing podcasts will continue to be available. =**Creating an Audio Podcast: Step-by-Step Instructions**=
 * ===What is a podcast?===
 * There are lots of detailed definitions of podcasting all over the Internet. Don't believe me? Just Google, "What is a podcast?" to find out for yourself. Here is my scaled down version: A podcast is a recording created by you and saved as a file on your computer. This recording can be either audio or video. Then the file is uploaded to a server for others to download and listen to on a computer or mobile device, such as aiPod or MP3 player.
 * For this step-by-step instruction, we will be dealing only with an audio podcast being produced on an Apple computer. The only real difference in producing a podcast on a PC will be the recording software used. I will discuss that in the next section on hardware and software. There are many ways to produce a Podcast but because these instructions are for educators, I tried to show the free to low-cost options for producing a podcast.


 * ===What hardware and software will you need on your computer?===
 * First the hardware, you will need a current computer, say not over 4 years old. I am using an Apple MacBook Pro, but any Apple/PC computer purchased in the past 4 years should work. You will also need some type of microphone. Some computers do have built-in microphones, however, I recommend that you use an external microphone. There are many low-cost options. Again, search the Internet to find the best solution for your budget. My personal favorite is the Blue Snowball. Currently, on Amazon.com, they are retailing for $90.
 * Next the software, you will need access the the Internet using any browser, whether it be Safari, Internet Explorer or Firefox. For the Apple computer, we will be using Garage Band. This is a product that comes bundled with iLife and came with your Apple computer at purchase. For the PC, you can download free software from the Internet. The software is called Audacity. It is located at audicity.sourceforge.net, or just Google Audicity. It will be the first link. Once at the Audacity, you will need to download two files: 1) the Audacity installer for your operating system and 2) LAME MP3 encoder. You will need to install both of these files to create MP3 files. Garage Band and Audacity are both great tools for recording podcast. They both work the in the same way, so by watching the demonstration in Garage Band, you will get the idea of how to use Audacity as well.
 * Other software you will need are Web 2.0 tools that are free via the Internet. However, you will need to sign up for an account. These tools are:
 * Google Docs (in Google Apps via a Gmail account) for writing your script and saving as a PDF
 * Blogger (in Google Apps via a Gmail account) for publishing your podcast
 * Gcast (www.gcast.com) as a server to park your podcast


 * ===What needs to be done in pre-production?===
 * Before you start recording you will need to do some pre-production work. Find of a subject that you will feel comfortable talking about for your first recording. You will need to write a script or at least have an outline of what you will be recording. I recommend doing this in Google Docs. To get into Google Docs, you will need to sign up for a Goggle account. Go to www.google.com and select the link: Get started.Once you have a Google account, go to My Account and look for Docs. I like Google Docs, because it is stored on the Google server and I can share the Doc with others for feedback. You can also use any word processor to create you script. When you are done writing you script, save it as a PDF, so that you can upload it to the Internet as a resource for others to download with your podcast. You may ask why would I do this when they have my podcast? Well, there are many types of learners listening to podcast and some of them many appreciate having a print version of your podcast.
 * Collect all of you resources and add to you script. So any websites or papers you are referring to should be included in this script.
 * Creating a good script will make your podcast sound more polished and professional, so take the time to sit down and collect your thoughts before pushing that record button.
 * It's time to record!


 * ===How do you record, edit and save your podcast?===
 * Plug in your microphone. Most microphones are plugged into the USB port.
 * Open your Garage Band software, it is the guitar icon on your dock, usually at the bottom of your computer screen. A screen will open with four choices. You want to select 'Create New Podcast Episode'. The next widow to open will be New Project Template, this is where you will name your podcast. Name your podcast and notice that it attaches .band after your name. This is the file extension for Garage Band. Hit the create button and you are now in the Garage Band software. On the tracks at the left hand side, select the track for the male or female voice. When you are ready to record, select the round button with the red dot in the center and start talking. To stop the recording, select the single arrow on the controls, just to the right of the record button. To hear your recording, drag the red line back to the beginning of the recording by selecting the downward arrow at the top of the red line, holding down your mouse button and dragging it to the beginning. Press the single arrow on the controls to listen to your recording.
 * Editing your recording can be done in the lower part of the window. If you want to delete a part of the recording, select the part of the recording you want to delete and slide your mouse until you have all that you want to erase. This can take lots of practice and many times of listening the the record. There are many features that go with editing. I suggest that you just start to play with the software. Trail and error are the best teachers.
 * Saving your podcast, is really quite simple as long as you know what format to save it in. If you just save your podcast, it will be saved in the .band format, which can only be opened in Garage Band. Go ahead and do this, but you will need to export the recording as an MP3 file to upload to the Internet for others to gain access. One of the top pull down windows in Garage Band is Share. Select Share and then select Export Song to Disk... A window will pop-up and you will need to check Compress and select MP3 Encoder for Compress Using. Leave High Quality for Audio Setting. Then select Export and place the file where you can find it on your computer.
 * Now how do you upload the file to the Internet?


 * ===**How do you upload your podcast to a server?**===
 * This is the trickiest part of the whole operation. Your podcast is now living on your computer, so how do you send it out to that big wide world web in the sky?
 * First, you have to find a place to park it. This is parking place is called a server. Where can you find a free parking space or server space? Well, there is a website called GCast.com that allows you to upload your podcast for free! However you must create an account. So go to www.gcast.com and create an account. Select the 'Create your podcast for FREE' link and step through the instructions. You will end up on your podcasting homepage with the first step being, Add Audio to Your Podcast. Go to the second link: From your computer and select: Upload new audio files. Give your podcast a title and browse your computer to find your MP3 podcast file. Type in a description and publish to test. Select the I Agree, upload this file.
 * Then go back to your podcasting home page and wait for the podcast to appear in the Listen to Your Podcast area. Select the link to your podcast in the gray box. You will go to the podcast, just select the round circle with the black play arrow to listen to your podcast.
 * Now your podcast is parked on the server. So how do people find it?


 * ===How do you publish your podcast?===
 * There are many ways to publish you podcast. I am going to show you how to use a blog to broadcast your podcast out to the world. First, you will need to sign up for a Blogger account, if you do not already have a blog. Blogger is located in your Google account under My accounts or you can access it via www.blogger.com. Follow the steps for creating an account and start a new blog. Get to your first blog post and stop.
 * Now go back to your Gcast account and find your podcast. Next to the title of your blog, you will see an orange box with the letters XML. Select this box and a window will appear with a URL address that gives access to your podcast. Copy this URL.
 * Now go back to your first blog post and paste this URL into the window. Type a description of your podcast and publish your blog page. Now view your blog post and select the link. It should take you right to your podcast!
 * **//Congratulations, you now have your first podcast on the Internet!//**