Podcasting With MS Windows

Podcasting w/ MS Windows Recommended hardware Recommended software One person More than one person Editing Saving for publication Hosting Results Hints

Recommended hardware

Recommended software

One person

More than one person

Editing

Saving for publication

Hosting

Results

Hints

Hardware Any modern computer with a microphone input will work A higher quality sound card will sound slightly better, but is not essential A good microphone is important Any headset with a microphone that is at least $30 will work NOTE: A wireless headset will not sound as good as a wireline headset If you want to record away from a computer get a Zoom H2 http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H2-Portable-Stereo-Recorder/dp/B000VBH2IG

Any modern computer with a microphone input will work

A higher quality sound card will sound slightly better, but is not essential

A good microphone is important

Any headset with a microphone that is at least $30 will work

NOTE: A wireless headset will not sound as good as a wireline headset

If you want to record away from a computer get a Zoom H2

http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H2-Portable-Stereo-Recorder/dp/B000VBH2IG

Software MS Windows XP or newer Wavepad http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/ Skype (not the beta version) http://www.skype.com/ PrettyMay Call Recorder

MS Windows XP or newer

Wavepad

http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/

Skype (not the beta version)

http://www.skype.com/

PrettyMay Call Recorder

One Person - Computer Plug in the headset and put it on Start Wavepad Start recording Make sure Wavepad is recording from the headset microphone Talk!

Plug in the headset and put it on

Start Wavepad

Start recording

Make sure Wavepad is recording from the headset microphone

Talk!

One Person – Zoom H2 Read the manual – the Zoom works well but does take some configuration time Record MP3 192kbps Set the date/time whenever you replace the batteries Use a card reader rather than the USB cable to xfer the files to your computer Use AC power whenever possible

Read the manual – the Zoom works well but does take some configuration time

Record MP3 192kbps

Set the date/time whenever you replace the batteries

Use a card reader rather than the USB cable to xfer the files to your computer

Use AC power whenever possible

More Than One Person In person; use the Zoom H2 Read up on how the built-in microphones work Use the handle Use the wind cover if there is any air movement at all

In person; use the Zoom H2

Read up on how the built-in microphones work

Use the handle

Use the wind cover if there is any air movement at all

More Than One Person By telephone; use Skype and PrettyMay You have to have a fast internet connection Call other person / people via Skype If they do not use Skype Set up a SkypeOut account Try to call a landline as the sound quality to cell phones is usually not as good as a landline Start Skype & start PrettyMay

By telephone; use Skype and PrettyMay

You have to have a fast internet connection

Call other person / people via Skype

If they do not use Skype

Set up a SkypeOut account

Try to call a landline as the sound quality to cell phones is usually not as good as a landline

Start Skype & start PrettyMay

Editing Open sound file in Wavepad Select all of the sound (left click on the sound, and hit Ctrl-A) Run the Automatic Gain Control (Select the sound, Menu:Effects > Automatic Gain Control) Run the Noise Reduction (Select the sound, Menu:Effects > Noise Reduction > Apply Multiband Noise Gating and use the “Remove Hum and Hiss Preset”) Listen and edit

Open sound file in Wavepad

Select all of the sound (left click on the sound, and hit Ctrl-A)

Run the Automatic Gain Control (Select the sound, Menu:Effects > Automatic Gain Control)

Run the Noise Reduction (Select the sound, Menu:Effects > Noise Reduction > Apply Multiband Noise Gating and use the “Remove Hum and Hiss Preset”)

Listen and edit

Saving for Publication Save as MP3 file Use variable bitrate Min: 32kbps, Max: 96kbps, Quality: 4

Save as MP3 file

Use variable bitrate

Min: 32kbps, Max: 96kbps, Quality: 4

Hosting Libsyn – www.libsyn.com

Libsyn – www.libsyn.com

Results The Andy Forbes Files are recorded using the aforementioned tools http://www.theandyforbesfiles.com

The Andy Forbes Files are recorded using the aforementioned tools

http://www.theandyforbesfiles.com

Hints Just do it! It is easy to get caught up in planning and wanting to be perfect The fastest way to learn what works is to just get started Make sure you understand copyright and ownership issues http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Podcasting_Legal_Guide

Just do it!

It is easy to get caught up in planning and wanting to be perfect

The fastest way to learn what works is to just get started

Make sure you understand copyright and ownership issues

http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Podcasting_Legal_Guide

Questions? Andy Forbes [email_address] http://twitter.com/andyforbes http:// www.theandyforbesfiles.com / http:// www.linkedin.com/in/andyforbes

Andy Forbes

[email_address]

http://twitter.com/andyforbes

http:// www.theandyforbesfiles.com /

http:// www.linkedin.com/in/andyforbes