Podcasting Basics

Getting started in recording a podcast, or a segment for Letterpod, can be easy and fun. It does require some equipment and software, most of which costs little or nothing. There are lots of books, articles, and links about podcasting, and no two podcasters do exactly the same thing. It all depends on what you have available to you, so don’t be intimidated that there is only one right way to record. Here are some of the basic things you would need to get started.

Microphone

First, you have to figure out a way to capture those sound waves and get them recorded in some way. Thank you Bell Labs for figuring this out and developing the microphone. There are lots of different kinds of microphones out there you can use for a podcast. Some will make your voice sound like you are on a radio station, some will make you sound like you are in a tin box. Letterpod wants you to use what you have though, so don’t feel that you need to go buy a thousand dollar mic. Here are some options:

  • Many newer computers and laptops have built in microphones.
  • You can go to your local electronics store and buy a microphone or headset that has a USB connector, and plug it directly into your computer.
  • The telephone you own is a microphone, and you can use a free service like Gabcast to record your voice and get it in .mp3 format.
  • You can turn your iPod into a digital recorder with an iTalk.

Recorder

So once you have a microphone lined up, you need to be able to record what you say into the microphone in some way. Back in the day of cassette decks, everyone knew how to do this. In our digital age, it got a little more difficult, but that’s changing. Lots of new products and software programs are availalbe to help us out (this is why podcasts are now becoming popular). Let us count the ways…

  • Record directly to your computer. If you have a USB microphone hooked up to the computer you just need a piece of software that you can record and edit with. If you have a Mac, you might already have Garageband. Or maybe you have some other software like Audio Hijack or Soundforge. A great free piece of software a lot of podcasters start with(and continue to use) is Audacity which is available for both Mac and PC.
  • Record to a digital recorder. Newer iPod can be used to record if they have a built in microphone, or you can get plug in microphones. Other MP3 and stand alone recorders are also on the market designed to record in many different files types (WAV, ACC, MP3). Of course their are high end professional recorders too.
  • If you were one of the few that bought an MiniDisc player, many of these can record with a microphone hooked up to it. You then have to play it back for your computer to capture, but many podcasters have worked this out to record on the go.
  • As I mentioned before, Gabcast records your voice over the phone.
  • You can turn your iPod into a digital recorder with an iTalk.
  • If you want to record an interview over the phone, a great service to do this is the Gizmo Project. The free download will allow you to use your computer as a telepone, and you can record your conversation.
  • If all else fails and you still have a tape player around, you can even hook a cassette deck into the computer and record it (been there, done that).

Add-Ons

Of course you can get a lot more sophisticated with mixers and pre-amps and every other gadget under the sun. All will make you sound better, but will not make the process easier. Start simple and build upon it. Some easy add-ons are:

  • Headphones help you hear quiet sounds better, and allow you to hear what you sound like to others who might be listening to you on an iPod (yes it sounds different then in speakers).
  • Mixer/Sound Boards are great if you have more then one microphone, or maybe you have a microphone that isn’t a USB mic, so you need and XLR connector or phantom power. Maybe you are a guitar player and want to have more control with what is getting recorded before it hits the computer. Maybe you just like toys.
  • Speakers. This seems like a no brainer, but some computers have such tiny speakers, that you really need a bigger set to hear the podcast at all on your computer.

Jackbear’s Equipment

Some of you might want to know what set up jackbear uses.

These are some basics, and there is a learning curve for everything, but the folks at Letterpod are happy to give you individual advice and mentor you through the process. Join our Yahoo Group and we’ll help you out.