I have got alot of emails asking me about how I do this whole podcast thing. So I thought this blog post might shed some light on the mysteries of Podcasting!
It should be pointed out that this is not THE WAY to podcast it is just the way that works for me. There may different types of software and equipment available that others swear by.
I would like to give a special thanks to James Kennison of the clean comedy podcast, Nobodys Listening for getting me started. His help saved many hours of learning and allowed me to get stuck in with as little fuss as possible.
What I use
Recording & mixing Software
- Sound Forge – to record and edit the raw audio
- Sony Vegas 4.0 – To add in intros, break music, audio clips etc
- Audacity – a simpler free recording program, limited in features and you will outgrow it quickly but worth using at first instead of spending big $$$ on Sony Suite.
- WinLame – To convert the .wav files to .mp3
Hardware
- Dell Inspirion 6400 Laptop
- A set of $40 Kmart headphones.
- Mobile Pre USB preamp – This is an external soundcard that has built in phantom power to power your microphones ($150AU)
- Behringer XENYX 802 Mixer – Not really needed at first, it gives me greater control over the audio. I was given this unit from a friend However I think they are worth around $200AU
- 2 Behringer C-1 Condenser microphones ($100AU each) – Any condenser mic will do but this is probably the cheapest. (I have actually upgraded to a B-1 worth around $175AU – definatley worth the money)
- Pop Filter ($30)
An important note about hardware: If you are planning on doing a solo cast then a USB condenser mic is adequate(basically this kind of microphone allows you to ‘monitor’ your voice through the headphones). However you cannot use 2 USB mics at once. It does not work! If you want to have a cohost and want to each have a microphone (recommended) then I suggest you invest in the system I am using. Do not do what I did and spend big $$$ on a USB condenser mic only to find out that it cannot be combined with a second microphone.
If I have a third person on the show I just turn the volume up on the second mic and they share. To add a third microphone you need a much more complicated mixing board
Web Hosting & Software
- Libsyn (to host my podcasts)The best & cheapest place to host your media files. Basic service costs $5 a month. Unlimited bandwidth and a great stat tracker.
- GoDaddy (url registration, hosting) $8 per year for your url (or less with promo codes). $3.99 a month hosting. Can’t beat it.
- WordPress (blogging software) simple to use perfect for web noobs like me.
- PodPress (plugin for WordPress that generates feeds and puts a player on your website)
Mixin, Encoding & Uploading
Check out James Kennisons podcast setup for information on how to mix, encode and upload your podcast. He uses audition instead of sound forge but the process is very similar so rather than copy and paste it over here I’ll just let you go and check it out yourself! There is also alot of stuff related to skype casting that will be useful if your cohost is not in the same room. I dont use skype at the moment but it will be used in future episodes.
Conclusion
This probably doesn’t cover everything but I hope this can help you find your way into the world of podcasting. If you do decide to have a go I am happy to help in anyway I can.
Send your questions to podhammer@gmail.com
