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Absolute Beginner's Guide to Podcasting
Has anyone ever told you that you should be on radio? While radio can be hard to break into, podcasting lets you put your voice and talents to work to create your own broadcast to be distributed over the Internet to millions of people. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Podcasting is the aspiring podcaster's handbook. Authors George Colombo and Curtis Franklin
will guide you through creating, editing, and syndicating your podcast, from the kinds of equipment you need to how to design a podcast that will reach the widest audience possible to legal issues faced by podcasters. You'll also learn how to:
* Design a podcast that grabs - and keeps - an audience!
* Choose the right tools - recording software, microphones, and other equipment
* Create an engaging show persona - podcasting is more than just talking!
* Craft your 'cast into a show worth listening to with post-production secrets of the pros
* Set up a web page and RSS feed that will allow listeners to subscribe to your podcast
* Efffectively promote your podcast
The tips inside Absolute Beginner's Guide to Podcasting will guide you towards creating a fun and successful podcast.
CONTENTS:
Introduction.
Welcome to Podcasting.
I. THE BASICS.
1. An Overview of Podcasting.
Podcasting Is Radio As You've Always Loved It-Only Better
How Podcasting Works
The Basic Steps for Creating a Podcast
Getting Inside the Listener Experience
Download and Install "Pod-catching" Software
Find the Podcasts You Want and Subscribe to Them
Listen to Your Podcasts in "The Real World"
The Differences Between Radio and Podcasting
Podcasting Time-shifts the Radio Experience
Your Podcast Isn't Restricted by Programming Constraints
Podcasts Persist
II. CREATING A COMPELLING PODCAST.
2. Guidelines for Designing a Killer Podcast.
Begin with Your Listeners in Mind
The First Step in Defining Your Listener
Drilling Down Another Level
Designing a Show That's Right for Your Listeners
Crafting the Best Overall Sound for Your Podcast
Choosing the Right Length
How Frequently Should You Post Your Shows?
Practice, Test, Practice Some More
Getting Feedback on Your Practice 'Casts
3. The Components of Your Podcast.
The Voice(s) on Your Podcast
Your Show Host Persona
Do You Need (or Want) a Co-Host?
Conducting Interesting Interviews
Using Music Skillfully
Sound Effects
Balancing Quality and "Realism"
Unpredictability (Within a Framework)
4. Strategies for Planning Each Show.
The Basics of Show Preparation
It Allows You to Approach Each Show More Confidently
It Improves the Flow of Your Podcast
It Guarantees You Won't Overlook Something You Wanted to Talk About
It Makes Post-Production Easier
Time-Tested Show Prep Techniques
The ABC Technique (Always Be Clipping!)
Collect More Than You Need (Way More!)
The Usual Suspects
Design the Flow of Your Show
Don't Forget the Funny Stuff
Avoiding the Cardinal Sin of Podcasting
5. Creating a Positive Feedback Loop with Your Listeners.
Don't Podcast in a Vacuum
Your Show Notes/Blog
Email Strategies
Accepting Audio Feedback
Show Feedback Line
Skype
And Furthermore...
6. Setting Up Your Studio.
The Hardware and Accessories You'll Need
Choosing a Computer Platform: Windows, Macintosh, or Linux
Windows
Macintosh
Linux
Headphones
Closed-ear (Isolation) Headphones
Open-ear Headphones
In-ear Headphones
Microphones
Cables
A Mixing Board
Recording in the Field
Portable Recorders
Accessories for Field Recording
Microphones for Field Recording
Windscreens
Cameras
Working with Ambient Noise
The Software You'll Need
Recording Software
Audio Editing Software
FTP Software
Budgeting for Bandwidth
7. Recording Your Podcast.
It's Showtime!
Recording Tips and Techniques
Interviewing Guests on Your Podcast
How Long Should You Keep Your Files?
Recording in the Field
Working with Ambient Noise
8. Processing and Posting Your Podcast.
Editing Techniques
Thinking in Tracks
It's Time to Fade
Building Blocks for a Podcast
Decisions on Edit Points
Mixing Techniques
Extending Our Loops
Building on the Cross-Fade
To Clean or Not to Clean
Cut It Out
Filters for Clarity
What You Need to Know About ID3 Tags
Making Tags More Useful
Using FTP
Services That Will Make Your Podcasting Easier
Liberated Syndication (www.libsyn.com)
Feedburner (www.feedburner.com)
Podshow.com (www.podshow.com)
Odeo (www.odeo.com)
Hosting Companies
III. DISTRIBUTING YOUR PODCAST TO LISTENERS.
9. Public Syndication.
An Overview of RSS
A Bit of History
RSS and Beyond
Enclosure Tags
Thinking About Your Server
Preparing Your Podcast for Syndication
Getting Listed
10. In-House Syndication.
Secure Distribution to a Targeted Audience
Controlling Access to the RSS Feed
Your Own Private Network
When In-house Syndication Is Appropriate
Education
Customer Communications
Faith-based Organizations
Political Organizations
Simple In-house Syndication Strategies
Security Through Obscurity
Limits on Limitations
Privacy Matters
IV. DAY-TO-DAY ISSUES YOU'LL FACE AS A PODCASTER.
11. Promoting Your Podcast.
Get Your Podcast Listed
Getting Listed in iPodder
Podcast Alley
iPodderX.org
Beyond the First-tier Directories
Tap into the Podcasting Community
Hang Out Around Podcasting's Virtual Water Cooler
Promote Podcasting
Nail Down Your Niche
The Power of Public Relations
12. Double-Enders: The Secret Technique for Remote Interviews.
The Insiders' Secret Technique for Remote Interviews
Recording Your Double-Ender
Eliminate As Much Ambient Noise As Possible
Check Your Recording Levels
Get Connected on the Phone
Hit the Record Button and Start Talking
Save Your Partner's Recording in an Appropriate Format
Transferring Files That Are Too Large for Email
Mixing Your Double-Ender
13. Generating Income with Your Podcast.
Get Ready to Generate Revenue
Build Up Your Audience
Understand Precisely Who's Listening
Four Basic Revenue Models
The Associate/Affiliate Model
Donations
The Sponsorship Model
Distribution to Paid Subscribers
Choosing the Right Business Model
Other Revenue Opportunities for Podcasters
14. Music and Intellectual Property.
What Is a Copyright?
Royalties
Podsafe Music for Your Podcast
Fair Use
Resources for Understanding Royalties and Copyrights
Links to Royalty-Free Music
15. Protecting Your Content Through Packaging.
Wrapping Your Podcast in a Good Website
Podcasts with Pictures
Alternate Packaging-Passwords and More
16. Letting Your Podcast Go-Taking a Wider View of Rights.
Maybe You Can Just Let Go
Creative Commons
V. APPENDICES.
A. Podcasting Glossary.
B. Resources for Podcasters.
Audio Software for Podcasters
Pod-catching (Aggregator) Software
Audio Equipment Manufacturers
Podcasting Directories
Online Resources for Podcasters
Online Suppliers of Audio Equipment
The Podcasting Community Online
Web Hosting and RSS Feed Software and Services
C. 30 Podcasts You Should Definitely Check Out.
The Daily Source Code
WGBH Morning Stories Podcast
The Point Podcast
New York Minute
Ultimate Podcasting
Reel Reviews
The Cubicle Escape Pod
The Dawn and Drew Show
Science @ NASA
Inside Mac Radio
The President's Weekly Radio Address
One America Committee
Off The Record
Catholic Insider
Slice of Sci-Fi
IT Conversations
Geek News Central
Caribbean Free Radio
The Podcast Brothers
Endurance Radio
Grape Radio
Coverville
MacCast
Marlaina By Ear
The Beatles Chronicles
Battlestar Galactica
How To Do Stuff
Engadget
The Bitterest Pill
Autoblog
D. iTunes.
Introducing iTunes 4.9
iTunes Offers One-Click Subscriptions
iTunes Allows Listeners to Manage Music and Podcasts_from a Single Application
Getting Your Podcast into the iTunes Directory
The Good News and the Bad News
The Bottom Line
Index.
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