Podcasting 101 tutorial: How to create a podcast

Tutorial: How to create a podcast

By the Ourmedia staff

Starting a podcast is easy. More and more people are taking it up every day. Just turn on your computer’s built-in microphone, fire up your audio software, select “record" and you’re off! Just follow the following steps.

What do I need to get started?

First, you need an idea. Most podcasters begin by talking about a subject they love and know well. Podcasts come in all shapes and sizes, from a one-minute commentary on the topic of the day to a more traditional radio-like program that lasts a few minutes to an hour or more. The beauty is, you decide how long your podcast is, and you program the "content."

Which format should I use?

Some podcasters prefer to go it alone. Others interview guests, either in the home studio or by phone. Others team up with a spouse and friend for some friendly banter or sparring. Decide which approach works best for you.

What equipment do I need?

Here is a list of basic gear to select from:

Many computers have built-in microphones as well as stand-alone mikes that sell for $10 and up. Expect to spend $50 to $150 for a microphone that does a better job of improving sound quality and reflecting the richness of a voice.

If you do any recording in the field rather than in the studio, a mobile audio recorder is a must. Podcaster Chris Ritke (TowerPod) uses an iRiver iFP-899; with 1GB of memory, it can record 16 hours of high-quality 44kHz stereo. Scout around and look for user reviews on commerce sites before buying a recorder that's right for you.

Audacity is the most popular free audio recording and editing program around. It’s open source.

The Apple program GarageBand, which comes as part of the iLife suite in new Macs, sells for $79 as a stand-alone purchase.

A lot of podcasters get by without a mixer. A basic version, at about $65, creates a smoother sound when combining audio sources like two mikes.

More advanced podcasters rely on a mixing board, such as one from Alesis.

Headphones
These help monitor how well the microphone is picking up your voice. A good pair can run $40-$100.

Podcasting with video and more

Podcasting isn’t limited to sharing and receiving audio files. You can share the video files you make, too. Theoretically, you could share all kinds of multimedia files, no matter the file format (eg., MP3, MOV, OGG, WMV, etc.)

You don’t need an MP3 player or iPod to listen to or make podcasts. You can listen to them right on your computer.

Today a lot of podcasts follow the style of talk radio. Some podcasts include music. If you plan on using copyrighted music regularly in your podcast, consider purchasing a license from ASCAP, BMI or SESAC. If your podcast is a noncommercial hobby but you plan to include full songs, be aware that copyright law applies even when you’re using music just for fun.

See the Learning Center’s Law, copyright and grassroots media section for more info.

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