i want to make a podcast but i don't know much i have audacity what now?
Well, that's a big question. First, you need a subject you want to talk about. Try for something you love, but maybe there aren't many podcasts out there about it yet. An easy way (and "free") to get started and some help is here: http://www.podbean.com/ (http://www.podbean.com/)
I found this link useful when I was thinking about starting... http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/ (http://www.how-to-podcast-tutorial.com/)
Luckily for me, Darren then asked me join him on the podcast he was launching....The plans I had for a solo project were dreadful and I hate to think about what I could have ended up producing. I suppose the best advice would be to join an existing one!! :D
Seriously though, the content matters more than you realise. I would say really work at the research aspect and don't aim to get one out every week....they take more time than you realise. Try and aim for say....one a month and then take it from there. Editing gets quicker the more you do (so Darren informs me)
Excellent advice.
I do a podcast once a month and it takes me three weeks to write, research, get clips, record, edit and then publish but I do have a 8 month old to deal with along with a day job and I'm a writer as well.
Podbean I use and I have to say it's ideal, they sort your feed out, they help link you to iTunes ( a must don't even think about nit putting your show on iTunes). Downside it's a pain to mice your feed to your own site.
Audacity is ideal, use the basic one to start off with. It's dimple to use and if course free.
Get your self a decent microphone. You don't need to spend mega bucks but s cheap headset won't cut the mustard. Go for a USB condensor mike, if you can't afford that then but a decent headset mike.
As Rico and Ori said above pick your subject wisely. Rico has been here for years and got is foot in the trek door early. Doing another podcast on Trek wont grab you listeners. Ori above does a red Dwarf dedicated show and i don't know many Dwarf casts so they picked a subject they not only love but us unique. My show is a bit harder as we do TV in the UK between 1960 to 1999 which gives us ample pickings but also doesnt put us in a market fir a main subject.
So ask yourself what do you love?
What do you know way too much about?
Do you want to do it solo or with a friend?
Ask as many questions you like here we'll be more than willing to help.
Excellent book for a newby would be "Podcasting For Dummies, 2nd Edition" for about $25 (or less if you can find in a half price book store). Covers all aspects from a point of equipment, example sites, finding your voice and topic, creating the podcast, rendering it for uploads, and upload sites. That was not the Hitchhiker's Guide to Podcasting. Excellent resource. See link below.
;-)
V
http://www.dummies.com/store/product/Podcasting-For-Dummies-2nd-Edition.productCd-047027557X.html (http://www.dummies.com/store/product/Podcasting-For-Dummies-2nd-Edition.productCd-047027557X.html)
thanks you guys
i got one the old gamedom podcast it is all about game reviews
Yes, I would like to start one myself - and pushing my brain to come up with a suitable subject that hasn't been beaten to death already. :)
I'm much happier writing than speaking so I'm resisting any urges to record a podcast at the minute.
Not that I'm saying I'll never do another episode of TrekSF but I doubt I'll ever start up my own.
Quote from: Bromptonboy on June 07, 2010, 09:37:11 AM
Yes, I would like to start one myself - and pushing my brain to come up with a suitable subject that hasn't been beaten to death already. :)
Yeah that was the hardest part for me. That's why I waited a while and once I started working on The Guild it just made sense to do a podcast about them since there isn't another one around. When the Guild ends I'm not sure what I'll do. Got podcasting in the blood.. I'm currently working on a topic that I haven't seen many podcasts about.. so guess I'll focus on that one next.
I know one you can do Kenny ;)
You know, I have to agree with Rico and many others here. It's like writing a story or maybe starting a monthly newsletter. Podcast what YOU enjoy. Simple. If you choose a topic simply because there are no shows out there on it, but you really have no interest in it, that will transfer into the show you do. It's important to record a show about a topic that you're passionate about. If you do, then there will be virtually no end to the ideas for ongoing episodes.
And there are many, many programs that can help you record/edit your show. We use iMac's iLife software (Garageband and iWeb) to do our show, and that works very well. We record in Garageband and edit it up, then share it with an iWeb page I built for the show, then simply publish it to iTunes. Then only downside is that with this method, there's really no way of tracking how many listeners we have. You need something like what has been recommended above. But for us, at least now, that's not a worry. I am interested in how many people (if any) are listening, but that's not really too important to us at this time.
So, I suggest that you just think of a topic that you really enjoy and start talking! Good luck and let us know what you've decided on...Al
Quote from: Bromptonboy on June 07, 2010, 09:37:11 AM
Yes, I would like to start one myself - and pushing my brain to come up with a suitable subject that hasn't been beaten to death already. :)
Hey there I've thought off and on about this as well, and since we are sort of neighbors, who knows, maybe we could get together and make something happen. Two heads are better than one, so they say. What do you think?
edit: perhaps we could get together and record something for one of Rico's "off weeks" to see if things mesh
Hmmm...maybe that would be a good plan.
Oooo I see a podcast in the making.
I had the weird idea that a single podcast could actually be two 30 minute casts put together into one. Easier to generate 30 minutes vs. 60 which is a bunch more effort. Wouldn't have to be on the same topic. Would be different.
I could do something like that in the fall, got a busy summer ahead.
V
As far as guesting there really is no rule against a shorter show sometime. I've done those on occasion. Although lately I seem to be having trouble keeping them at my less than 90 min. mark.
I always aim for 60 min but end up with 90.
My wife and I've been trying to keep it right around the 40 minute mark for now. By the way, tell me what you guys (and gals) think: we just started our podcast (Tales From The Mouse House) and we asked a co-worker to listen. He is very adamant that it's WAY too long. He thinks we should limit it to 15 minutes. In fact, he feels that all podcasts should only be about 15-20 minutes. I tried arguing the point that for some shows, that's not long enough. He fired back with, well, then you should cut it in 15 minute segments. What do you think? Al
Quote from: QuadShot on June 09, 2010, 04:18:34 PM
My wife and I've been trying to keep it right around the 40 minute mark for now. By the way, tell me what you guys (and gals) think: we just started our podcast (Tales From The Mouse House) and we asked a co-worker to listen. He is very adamant that it's WAY too long. He thinks we should limit it to 15 minutes. In fact, he feels that all podcasts should only be about 15-20 minutes. I tried arguing the point that for some shows, that's not long enough. He fired back with, well, then you should cut it in 15 minute segments. What do you think? Al
For some the 15 minutes is just right - for instance I listen to a few tech podcasts that keep to that length. I have a longish commute, so I enjoy Rico's cast even when they tip the scales around 90 min! I used to listen to the Galacticwatercooler cast - which often hit 2 hours.
I agree, I love Treks and couldn't imagine it any shorter. I listen to other podcasts, and for me at least, it's the same. I guess you're right though Bromptonboy, it depends on the material/topic. Thanks!
Quote from: QuadShot on June 09, 2010, 04:18:34 PM
My wife and I've been trying to keep it right around the 40 minute mark for now. By the way, tell me what you guys (and gals) think: we just started our podcast (Tales From The Mouse House) and we asked a co-worker to listen. He is very adamant that it's WAY too long. He thinks we should limit it to 15 minutes. In fact, he feels that all podcasts should only be about 15-20 minutes. I tried arguing the point that for some shows, that's not long enough. He fired back with, well, then you should cut it in 15 minute segments. What do you think? Al
It really depends on the format and point of the show. 15 minutes is not long enough to go into any detail on a single subject. For example, on TrekSF, How could Rico do a commentary on a 1 hour show in 15 minutes?
it also depends on how you listen to them. I listen while I'm at work, while I work out, while I drive, etc. If you listen in little chunks here and there, obviously a shorter show would be more ideal. When all is said and done, there's a podcast for every listener.
That said, I found GWC's 2 hour plus podcasts tend to get a little long.
It really is a preference thing. When I started Knights of the Guild podcast I wanted to keep them to 1 hour at most. After the first episode they started getting longer and longer. Finally when we got to episode seven we did a great interview with Felicia Day and instead of cutting it down I decided to cut the show into two shows which made them about 45 minutes each. Of course now that I had two episodes a month they are now getting up over an hour each sometimes an hour and a half. Listeners have grown and I haven't gotten many complaints about the length.
For me personal when I listen to podcasts.. if it's interesting stuff I can listen to it for 15 minutes to 2 hours.. as long as I'm entertained.
One of my reasons for trying to keep my shows at an hour in the past was I thought that was about a good commute amount of time. If you drive 30 min, it fills the time each way. An hour drive and then it fills that. But with so much to cover I've let things slide up to about 90 min. and really haven't had any emails complaining or anything like that. There are times I'd like to push it back down to one hour, but for now I'm happy with the length.
An hour is the most comfortable for me at the moment but I'm happy up to an hour and a half. Over that and it starts to get just a little bit too much to handle.
When my daily journey rises from 30min to 60min it will be interesting to see if that opinion changes.
Tales from the mouse house is going on my ipod on Monday so looking forward to that. There is no way i could do my show at 15 mins, we only get warmed up by then.
Quote from: billybob476 on June 10, 2010, 05:52:03 AM
That said, I found GWC's 2 hour plus podcasts tend to get a little long.
Yes I agree with you there - and have to admit that I don't really listen any more - but more from the topics they are covering. I feel bad, since I was a listener from the earliest casts.
Quote from: HawkeyeMeds on June 10, 2010, 12:35:19 PM
Tales from the mouse house is going on my ipod on Monday so looking forward to that. There is no way i could do my show at 15 mins, we only get warmed up by then.
Hawkeye, let me know what you think. But...be kind :) We're still working out the "kinks" (no, not the band). Thanks! Al
Here is what I've found with podcasts:
15min or less: Good for quick news podcasts like Think Geek, Appytimes, and Inside Gaming. This works really well if your going to hit one or a few points quick and to the point.
30mins: Pretty good area, but very few podcasts do 30mins. I'm not sure why, but it seems once they hit 30mins, they want to go farther.
1 Hour: Is just fine by me. Get it around an hour and do it right and you've got me hooked. This seems to be a happy good area as it's just long enough to get your point across and not too long to be boring. I think 3/4ths of my podcasts hit 1 hour give or take some minutes.
1:45-2 Hours+: You better be really engaging or interesting or I throw it out. Too many podcasts hit two hours and it's such a drag to listen to two hours of constant droning on. Only a few I've found do it right.
So there you go.
King
ok a podcast about cheep games like age of empire what do you guys think
If thats what you love talking about, then go for it. I'll be listening.
I agree with Meds, if it's a topic that you know, one that you really love to discuss then go for it! Post the link and I'll listen too. Oh, and I recommend Podbean.com. Al
ok thanks you guys
Link it on the Forums and I'll listen in :)
King
The only thing I'd suggest is not trying to pitch something to this (fairly limited) potential audience. By definition, we're a fairly select group so if it's thrown at us alone you're already limiting your potential listener base. Spread your net a little wider and see what others elsewhere think if you want a better feeling for the reception you might get.
ok thanks going to make bata podcast today or tomorrow i now have a podbeam thanks you guys
Podbean rocks...
Podbean rocks 80% of the time lol
True. I think there may be an issue right now with the channel visits counter. Mines been stuck at the same number for a few days now...