Creating and Using Podcasts Stanford University Continuing Studies WSP 124

1
Creating and Using PodcastsStanford University
Continuing Studies WSP 124

• Mark Branom
• markb_at_stanford.edu
• http//www.stanford.edu/people/markb/650.725.1717
  
• Course Web Site (with resources)
  http//www.stanford.edu/group/csp/wsp124/

2
Course Description

• Podcasting has become the most cost-effective and
  efficient way to distribute digital audio and
  video files via the Web. By subscribing to
  podcasts, listeners and viewers can consume
  valuable information whenever they need to, not
  just whenever a broadcaster decides to present
  it.
• In this hands-on workshop, you will learn the
  skills needed to develop, create, and publish
  engaging podcasts. Topics include how to find
  and subscribe to podcasts, how to use software
  (e.g., Audacity) to create sound files for
  podcasts on the computer, how to plan and record
  your podcasts, how to edit, produce and publish
  them, and more. By the end of the course,
  students will know how to create and publish
  their podcasts from start to finish.

3
Administrivia

• You need
• Access to a computer
• Familiarity with computer basics
• Access to the internet (many free ISPs exist)
• A tripod account (well do it in class)
• Access to the following tools
• A text editor (TextEdit for Macs Notepad for
  Windows)
• A web browser (Firefox / Internet Explorer)
• Audacity
• A microphone
• How to reach me
• markb_at_stanford.edu
• 650-725-1717

4
Course Agenda

• Obtaining, Using, Planning for Podcasts
• Recording the Audio Podcast
• Editing the Podcast
• Creating the XML (RSS) feed, Setting Up a Blog,
  and Publishing the Podcast!
• Wrap-up and editing, Video Podcasts

5
Introduction

• What Is a Podcast?
• Podcasting is the method of distributing
  multimedia files, such as audio programs or music
  videos, over the Internet using either the RSS or
  Atom syndication formats, for playback on mobile
  devices and personal computers. (wikipedia.org)

6
Why Use and/or Create Podcasts?

• For Companies, Universities, or
  OrganizationsPodcasts can deliver information
  about a department or group internally (to just
  the department), to the organization as a whole,
  or to the entire world. Podcasts can be used for
  newsworthy events in the department, for
  highlighting special events and/or people in the
  department, and for presenting and disseminating
  other information to the desired audience in an
  engaging manner.
• For Teachers and Other Instructors (or staff
  supporting them)Podcasts can deliver
  educational content for listening or viewing on a
  computer and/or iPod, freeing learning from
  constraints of the physical classroom. Content
  could be anything from curriculum-related
  presentations to professional development ideas
  and used to disseminate best practices between
  other faculty. Instructors can easily create a
  podcast of daily assignments and class lectures
  from class, and publish it for all of their
  students.

7
Why Use and/or Create Podcasts?

• For IndividualsPodcasts allow you to express
  yourself in a less-formal, more friendly manner
  than the written word allows. When communicating
  via the written word (sending email, snail mail,
  blogging, creating web pages, or writing books),
  you are limited by the medium although you can
  indicate emphasis by bolding or italicizing, its
  difficult to indicate such things as sarcasm,
  emotion, or tone. Since podcasting involves the
  spoken word, and since speech is a less formal
  method of expression, you can convey such
  emotional tones more effectively.

8
Locating and Obtaining Podcasts

• Podcast search engines allow you to find
  podcasts
• www.apple.com/itunes/
• www.google.com/Top/Computers/Internet/On_the_Web/P
  odcasts/Directories/
• www.podscope.com/
• getapodcast.com/
• podcast.net/
• podcastdirectory.com/
• www.allpodcasts.com/
• Podcatcher software automatically downloads
  podcasts to your computer and/or iPod or other
  media device
• www.apple.com/itunes/
• juicereciever.sourceforge.net/
• www.podcastingnews.com/topics/Podcast_Software.htm
  l

9
In-class Exercise Using Juice

• Download, install, and run Juice
  Receiverhttp//juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/
• Subscribe to a podcast, such as NPRs Car Talk
• Go to http//www.npr.org/podcasts/
• Click By Title, then C.
• Click NPR Car Talk.
• In the POD section, copy the URL.
• Return to Juice.
• In the Subscriptions tab, click the plus sign.
• In the URL field, paste the link from step 4.
• Click Save.
• Click the Check for New Podcasts button.
• Double-click the podcast to listen.

10
In-class Exercise Using iTunes

• Open iTunes.
• In the Store section, click iTunes Store.
• In the iTunes STORE section, click Podcasts.
• Click Todays Top Podcast.
• Click Subscribe to subscribe to the podcast.
• To listen to the podcast, in the Library, click
  Podcasts. Then, double-click the podcast.

11
Creating a Podcast

• Planning a Podcast
• Research your topic.
• Write out what you plan to say.
• Block out the segments of your podcast.
• Typical 60-minute radio show
• Introduction and hook (a snapshot of what is
  covered and why listeners would want to listen)
• Segment 1
• Break
• Segment 2
• Break
• Segment 3
• Break
• Final points and summary of podcast
• Typical 10-minute podcast
• Introduction and hook
• Main segment
• Summary of segment
• Final points

12
Recording and Editing Podcasts

• To record a podcast, youll need
• A computer (any modern computer will do Mac,
  Windows, Linux)
• A microphone (a good microphone will cost around
  100)
• http//radio.about.com/od/podcastin1/a/blcomparemi
  kes.htm
• Software to record and edit the podcast. For
  audio podcasts, Audacity is a good choice. For
  video podcasts, Windows Movie Maker (Windows) and
  iMovie (Mac) are good choices.
• Storage for the audio file you create (a web
  server such as Tripod, a free podcasting service
  such as Podshow or Podbean, etc.)

13
Software Audio

• Audio Software
• Free tools
• Audacity (Mac/Windows) http//audacity.sourceforg
  e.net/
• GarageBand (Mac only its part of iLife, and is
  free with new Macs) http//www.apple.com/ilife/ga
  rageband/
• Other tools (35 - 500)
• Audition (Windows only) http//www.adobe.com/prod
  ucts/audition/
• Soundbooth (Mac/Windows) http//www.adobe.com/pro
  ducts/soundbooth/
• SoundEdit Pro (Windows only) http//www.rmbsoft.c
  om/sep.asp

14
Software Video

• Video Software
• iMovie (Macintosh only) http//www.apple.com/ilif
  e/imovie/
• Windows Movie Maker (Windows only)
  http//www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemake
  r/create/
• MovieWorks (Mac/Windows) http//www.movieworks.co
  m/
• Quicktime (Mac/Windows) http//www.quicktime.com/
  
• Director (Mac/Windows) http//www.adobe.com/produ
  cts/director/
• WindowsMedia http//www.microsoft.com/windowsmedi
  a/

15
In-class Exercise Mapping Out a Podcast

• Pair up with the person sitting next to you.
• Map out a one-minute podcast with your neighbor.
  Dont record it (well do that later) just plan
  what you will say.
• Introduce yourself
• Hello, and welcome to the YourName show. Im
  your host, YourName. Today Ill be
  interviewing NeighborName.
• Interview the person sitting next to you
• So, NeighborName, please tell the listeners a
  little about yourself.
• I see, and where do you live?
• What exciting things are going on in the
  neighborhood?
• Anything else you would like to add?
• Closing remarks
• Well, NeighborName, it looks like weve come
  to the end of time for the show. Thank you so
  much for allowing our audience to learn a little
  more about you and your neighborhood. This is
  YourName, and youve been listening to the
  YourName Show, brought to you by Stanford
  University and the Continuing Studies department.
  Until next time, thanks for listening.
• Then, you will switch roles with your neighbor
  and practice again.

16
Obtaining Audacity

• Audacity is a free, open source software for
  recording and editing sounds in Linux, Mac OS X,
  and other operating systems, and is great for
  creating audio podcasts.
• About Audacityhttp//audacity.sourceforge.net/
• Downloading Audacity (dont forget to download
  the LAME mp3 encoder, too)http//audacity.source
  forge.net/download/
• Audacity documentationhttp//audacity.sourceforg
  e.net/help/documentation

17
In-class ExerciseRecord a Podcast

• Using Audacity, record the interviews you and
  your neighbor worked on in the Mapping Out A
  Podcast exercise. One interview should be
  recorded on your computer, the other on your
  neighbors.
• To record
• Launch Audacity.
• Click the Record button.
• Start talking!
• When finished with the first interview, click the
  Stop button.
• Save your sound file in the Audacity Project
  format (.aup) on the desktop (using the filename
  yournameinterview.aup).
• Repeat steps 1-5 to record the second interview
  on your neighbors computer.

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Minor Editing Using Audacity

• After you record a podcast, you will need to edit
  the sound file before publishing it. The handout
  Sound Editing with Audacity Basic Instructions,
  which we will use in class, was developed by
  Stanfords Center for Teaching and Learning. It
  details the basic steps for editing sound files
  using Audacity, and is available
  athttp//ctl.stanford.edu/Podcasting/audacity.pd
  f
• In-class Exercise Minor Editing of the Podcast
• In Audacity, listen to the podcast.
• Remove any large pauses, and alter the sound
  using one or more of the Effects, if appropriate.
• Export (save) the interview as an MP3 file to the
  desktop (using the filename interview.mp3).

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Establishing a Tripod Account Step 1

• Youll need a web server to host your podcast
  once it is finished. Tripod is a free web
  hosting service that well use in class.
• To establish a Tripod account, go to
  http//www.tripod.com/ and click Start Now!

20
Establishing a Tripod Account Step 2 Choose
the free version

• Under Tripod Free, click Sign Up

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Establishing a Tripod Account Step 3

• Select a member name and password
• Personalize your account with your information
  (if you feel uncomfortable giving out personal
  information, use fake information)
• Required fields are
• Title, First Name, Last Name, Zip Code, Email
  address, Birth Year, Birth Month, and Birth Day
• Choose the type of ads you wish to appear on your
  site
• Uncheck the Tripod Terra Lycos Network Offers
  you dont want
• Enter the confirmation code
• Press the I Agree button

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Establishing a Tripod Account Step 4

• Unless you want to take advantage of the special
  offers, scroll down and click No Thanks.

23
Establishing a Tripod Account Step 5

• Click Im an experienced site builder and want
  to upload my files take me to the File
  Manager, then click Next.

24
If all has gone well

• You should see the following screen. You may
  now quit Internet Explorer. Be sure to keep
  track of your Tripod username and password!

25
Obtaining Music For Your Podcast

• http//www.podsafeaudio.com/
• http//www.beatsuite.com/
• http//www.royaltyfreemusic.com/
• http//www.magnatune.com/info/podcast
• http//www.uniquetracks.com/
• http//www.productiontrax.com/
• http//commons.wikimedia.org/

26
Adding ambient music as a new track

• Obtain ambient music or other audio you wish to
  add to your podcast and save it to your desktop.
• In Audacity, open the main podcast audio file.
• Under Project, choose Import Audio.
• Locate the ambient music you obtained in step 1.
• Add silence (Generate gt Silence), or other
  effects to the new track as needed.

27
Editing Using Audacity

• In Audacity, the sound is represented by a wave
  form. This wave form clearly indicates all words
  and pauses in the audio content. This
  representation is used to edit the sound file.
• Before editing, save your master file (it will be
  a .aup format).
• There is a time line above the wave form that
  indicates the length of the recording, and the
  cursor provides a mark on the wave form that
  indicates a point of time in the time line. Using
  the cursor, highlight any section of the wave
  form. You can cut, copy, or use one of the
  Effects to change the way the section sounds.
• You can be more precise in selecting sections
  (words) if you stretch the wave form by selecting
  View gt Zoom in. The words then appear very
  distinct and allow you to make very fine edits.
• It's important when making fine cuts that you
  keep the rhythm of the conversation. Don't delete
  the word (um or ah) and not allow a natural pause
  (a breath or silence) between the words. This
  will otherwise sound very unnatural. In cutting
  ums and ahs, use your discretion. If it is
  preventing the flow of the information, cut them
  out.
• When selecting a word or phrase or sentence you
  wish to cut, highlight it, and then play it
  before making the cut, just to ensure your
  selection is right. If you made a mistake, you
  can undo (Edit gt Undo).
• For detailed instructions, including screenshots,
  see the Audacity Reference book
  (http//audacity.sourceforge.net/onlinehelp-1.2/re
  ference.html).

28
Adding New Dialog (to fix problems)

• If you need to re-record a portion of your
  podcast, simply press the Record button and begin
  speaking. A new audio track will be created. Be
  sure to add silence or other needed effects to
  the original section you want to replace and the
  newly created audio track (to lead in).
• Keep in mind that when you speak, you have
  different inflections in your voice, and
  different tones, depending on the topic and the
  previous words. For this reason, if you need to
  re-record something, try to re-record the entire
  sentence, not just the errant word.

29
Publishing Your Podcast

• Once you have finished creating and editing the
  audio or video files that will become your
  podcast, you need to publish them to the
  Internet.
• There are several ways you can accomplish this
• Publish to a web server (Tripod, Geocities, a
  computer you have set up to act as a web server,
  your personal or company web sites web server,
  etc.)
• Publish to one of the Podcasting Services (such
  as PodBean.com, MyPodcast.com, or
  PodcastPeople.com)
• Publish to the Internet Archive
  (http//www.archive.org)
• Publish to a blog (http//www.blogger.com,
  http//www.typepad.com, http//www.wordpress.com,
  etc.)

30
Advertising Your Podcast Using RSS

• What is RSS (Really Simple Syndication)?
• RSS is a family of web feed formats used to
  publish frequently updated content such as blog
  entries, news headlines or podcasts. An RSS
  document, which is called a "feed," "web feed,"
  or "channel," contains either a summary of
  content from an associated web site or the full
  text. RSS makes it possible for people to keep up
  with their favorite web sites in an automated
  manner that's easier than checking them
  manually. (wikipedia.org)
• An excellent 2-minute video explaining RSS in
  plain English is at
• http//www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english

31
RSS Feeds, continued

• RSS feeds are XML files. For a detailed
  explanation of what iTunes requires for the RSS
  feed, go to http//www.apple.com/itunes/store/podc
  aststechspecs.html
• The Apple/iTunes FAQ on Podcasting
  http//www.apple.com/itunes/store/podcastingfaq.ht
  ml
• Here is a sample RSS feed
• lt?xml version"1.0"?gt
• ltrss version"2.0"gt
• ltchannelgt
• lttitlegtTitle of Feed Goes Herelt/titlegt
• ltdescriptiongtDescription of Feed Goes
  Herelt/descriptiongt
• ltlinkgtLink to the Feed Goes Herelt/linkgt
• ltitemgt
• lttitlegtTitle of Podcast Goes Herelt/titlegt
• ltdescriptiongtDescription of
  Podcastlt/descriptiongt
• ltlinkgtLink to Podcastlt/linkgt
• ltguidgtLink to Podcastlt/guidgt
• ltenclosure url"Link to Podcast"
  type"audio/mpeg" length"file size in bytes" /gt

32
Submitting RSS Feeds

• Doing it yourself

33
Submitting RSS Feeds, continued

• Using a service
• http//itunes.apple.com/
• http//www.submitrssfeed.com/
• http//www.feedsubmitter.com/
• http//www.dummysoftware.com/rsssubmit.html
• http//allrss.com/rsssubmission.html

34
Creating a Transcript

• Be sure to create a transcript of your podcast.
• Having a transcript is important for
  accessibility reasons, but also since some people
  might not have the time to listen to the entire
  podcast, they might prefer to skim through the
  transcript to see what your podcast contains.
• Further, if you add a transcript to your podcast,
  you can make searching through your podcast much
  easier by search engines as well as human beings
  (i.e., at timestamp 3 minutes, 22 seconds the
  speaker begins talking about the influence of
  computers on society).
• While it is time-consuming to do it yourself,
  here are some places you can go to have
  transcripts created for you
• http//castingwords.com/
• http//www.docsoft.com/
• http//www.automaticsync.com/

35
Video Podcasts

• Creating a video podcast and creating an audio
  podcast involves the same process.
• Research your topic, and plan what will be filmed
• Film the video
• Upload the video to a server
• Create an RSS feed to advertise the podcast
• Upload the RSS feed to a server
• Notify search engines about the RSS feed

36
Filming Resources

• Hardware
• Digital Camera Product Reviews
  http//www.dpreview.com/reviews/
• Consumer Reports
• Digital Cameras http//www.consumerreports.org/c
  ro/electronics-computers/digital-cameras-photos/
• Camcorders http//www.consumerreports.org/cro/el
  ectronics-computers/camcorders/reports/
• Software
• Handbrake (to convert DVDs to podcast-acceptable
  format)http//handbrake.m0k.org/
• Vixy (to convert flash movies to
  podcast-acceptable format)http//vixy.net/

37
Film Editing Software

• Windows Movie Maker
• http//www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemake
  r/
• Getting Started Manualhttp//www.microsoft.com/w
  indowsxp/using/moviemaker/getstarted/
• iMovie
• http//www.apple.com/imovie/
• Getting Started Manualhttp//manuals.info.apple.
  com/en/iMovieHD_Getting_Started.pdf

38
RSS Feed for Video Podcasts

• After you have shot, edited, and uploaded the
  video, you need to add the RSS feed to make it a
  podcast.
• The format is exactly the same as for an audio
  podcast, except that the ltenclosuregt tag will
  point to a video instead of an audio file.
• .MOV
• ltenclosure url"http//username.tripod.com/coolmov
  ie.mov" length"15421821" type"video/quicktime"
  /gt
• .WMV
• ltenclosure url"http//username.tripod.com/coolmov
  ie.wmv" length"15421821" type"video/wmv" /gt
• .MP4
• ltenclosure url"http//username.tripod.com/coolmov
  ie.mp4" length"15421821" type"video/mp4" /gt
• For a PDF file in your Podcast feed, the
  ltenclosuregt would look like this
• ltenclosure url"http//username.tripod.com/HowToPo
  dcast.pdf" length"449914" type"application/pdf"
  /gt