Podcasting

The term podcasting derives its name from Apple's iPod, but to create a podcast or even to listen to one, you don't need to own an iPod, or any portable music player for that matter. In a nutshell, Podcasting is a new type of online media delivery. You publish selected audio files via the internet and allow your users to subscribe via an RSS feed to automatically receive new files. Podcasting lets you create your own syndicated online talkshow or radio program, with content of your choosing.

In this article

1. Make Your Own Podcast
2. Setup
3. Podcast Production Step-by-Step
4. Finding Your Voice (and Others')

Make Your Own Podcast

Podcasting gives me the feeling that I have the keys to NPR; that I can interview anyone I want and then deliver it over the internet to anyone who wants to listen in. Podcasting involves producing your own audio files (usually in MP3, Ogg, or WMA formats) and then publishing them online somewhere, indexed for subscription and reception by an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) reader. They're then downloaded to subscribers' iPods, cellphones, iTunes directories, or other locations to listen to whenever they want. As you'll see, anyone can do this, using all free tools. The podcasting genre particularly shines for interviews. I've interviewed makers from around the world via Skype or iChat (plus in person) and made them available as podcasts. Check out MAKE: Audio on makezine.com for lots of examples.

Setup

Software

Conveniently enough, all the applications and utilities I use to create podcasts are free. Here’s what they are and where you can download them.

Function	Software	Platform			Where to find it
Telephony	Skype				skype.com
	iChat/AIM				apple.com / aol.com
Audio Stream Routing	VAC				ntonyx.com/vac.htm
	Soundflower				cycling74.com/products/soundflower.html
	Soundflowerbed (optional)				cycling74.com/products/soundflower.html
	LineIn				rogueamoeba.com/freebies
	AudioHijack Pro (optional)				rogueamoeba.com/audiohijackpro
Audio Recording / Mixing	Audacity				audacity.sourceforge.net
	GarageBand				apple.com/ilife/garageband
Encoding	LameLib				spaghetticode.org/lame
	LAME				mitiok.cjb.net
Podcast Receiving (called a podder or podcatcher)	iPodder Other apps at ipodder.org/directory/4/ipodderSoftware				ipodder.sourceforge.net

Windows   Macintosh   Linux

Hardware

Related Reading Make: Technology on Your Time Volume 02 By Mark Frauenfelder