podcasting
Latest
PodCamp
You've heard of SpaceCamp. You've heard of FatCamp. Now, discover "PodCamp". MSNBC posts about this latest kind of retreat. PodCamp offers BarCamp-style off-site conferences allowing people to learn about how to create video and audio content for sharing over the Internet. Recent sessions have been held in Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Berlin. MSNBC reports that about half the participants were new to podcasting, attending so they could pick up basic skills like creating notes in advance and learning not to say "ummmmmmm" a lot.
GarageBand podcasting tutorials available
Let's say you've made a few podcasts that you're proud of...mostly. There's always room for improvement, right? If you use GarageBand as your main podcasting tool, check out these tutorials at MacProVideo. Tips include using the right EQ settings for your voice, volume management and getting the most out of your remote Skype and other over-the-net sessions. It's $29.50US for nearly two hours of video (you can view two demo videos at the website). Check it out, and bring your podcasts to the next level.
Podcasting do's and don'ts
Sharon Housley of Best Syndication has published a very practical guide on the do's and don'ts of podcasting. Her suggestions range from providing show transcriptions and iTunes support to adding useful metadata tags and providing enough bandwidth to handle your downloads as you grow your audience. In addition to the points she's laid out, let me emphasize the utility of a good outline and short punchy segments. And don't forget that podcasts do not have to be recorded all in one take. Programs like Fission and Garage Band can help you trim and assemble your final product and eliminate the segments that didn't quite work.
Apple Online Seminar: Using FCP to Create a Rich Media Podcast
Apple is offering a free 47 minute online seminar on using Final Cut Pro to make a "rich media podcast." They say that you will learn: How to combine digital photos, audio, and video in Final Cut Pro How to create a universal master to deliver news in any format, from HD broadcast to podcast How to record sound to amplify a story How to use Final Cut Pro to create an immersive rich media experience The seminar is given by Brian Storm, president of MediaStorm, who "shows news professionals how to use Final Cut Pro to take digital storytelling to a whole new level with rich media podcasting." The seminar is free but you do have to register.[Via MacVolPlace]
TUAW Tip: Use ambient noise reduction for chats and sound recording
I do a decent amount of audio recording and chatting, but I don't ever remember seeing this option in System Preferences until last night. Turning on the "Use ambient noise reduction" feature under the Input tab of the Sound pane can help cut out the TV or dogs barking in the background, though it obviously isn't an end-all solution. A quiet, sound proofed setup is still ideal, but this setting should help for those times when 'ideal' just isn't possible. The setting should work with your Mac's built-in microphone, as well as any external mics you plug in.[Update: From the comments, it sounds like this might only be an option on Apple's Intel-based notebooks. Readers are reporting that PowerBooks, iBooks, G5 iMacs and even Core Duo Mac minis (an Intel non-portable) don't have the feature. This is very interesting, and suggests that it could be due to an actual update to the microphone hardware in the MacBook/Pros since, as far as I know, noise cancellation typically involves a dedicated chip for this kind of functionality. Only certain mobile phones, for example, actually have noise cancellation, and I believe that is also due to the presence of a specific chip.]
Gear Media Tech podcast from the Pixel Corps
Leo and his growing band of merry podcasters can *not* stop generating media, and one of their latest efforts just might give the rest of us a smoother ride while hopping on the bandwagon. Gear Media Tech (iTS podcast link) is a new podcast headlined by Leo Laporte, Scott Bourne and Alex Lindsay (whom you may also know from such stellar podcasts as This Week in Media and MacBreak Weekly), delving into the tools, tips and techniques of producing media for the web. I haven't gotten around to listening to an episode yet; I just stumbled across this and subscribed to download their first two episodes (it's brand-spanking new). Judging from the quality of the other TWiT empire shows, however, I'm sure this one will be a valuable resource to any aspiring pod and vidcasters, yours truly included.
MAKE's guide to PDF podcasts
My Make-buddy Phillip Torrone tipped us off on his recent PDF-in-iTunes guide. As you might already know, there are more and more PDFs appearing in iTunes, usually as support material for podcasts but they're starting to become a desirable product in and of themselves. Philip and his crew have put together as complete a PDF podcast guide as possible, to help people locate and download iTunes-available PDF podcasts from sources like CRAFT, SkyMaul (*hee*!), Rick Steves and more. Lots and lots of cool stuff to explore.
Digg Podcasts
Digg just went through a interface overhaul, adding a few new features and surprises to its collection of user-powered ranking tools. A new "Podcasts" ranking area joins the News and Videos sections, allowing users to view and rank popular audio broadcasts, as well as link to those podcasts for download. Unfortunately, this new feature proves to be less compelling than News and Videos because of the relatively stagnant nature of the listings. Unlike the other features which ebb and flow over time, few new podcasts are introduced on a daily or even weekly basis and the popular items tend to float to the top of the list and just stick. Digg's strength lies in tracking trends, and podcasts, unfortunately, don't seem to have trends.Update: read more about Digg's new features here.
DotMac offers Podcast Pack audio downloads
Reader Eric C. gave us the heads-up on a new member offering on .Mac: the .Mac Podcast Pack. This assortment of ten loop sets for GarageBand provides royalty-free themed jingles (Alternative Rock, Country, Urban, etc.) and professional voiceover by master narrator Joe Cipriano to spice up your recording sessions. The download total comes to over 750 MB, so clear out some space for these. Perhaps you'll hear some of them on the next TUAW podcast.I haven't explored the world of podsafe music yet, so let us know in the comments: where do you go for your royalty-free tracks? PMN? Stockmusic.net? Podsafeaudio? This post at David Holmes' blog has a pretty comprehensive listing of resources for podcast music. We look forward to your suggestions!
Free Apple seminar - The Podcast Recipe
Podcasting is all the rage nowadays with the kids. It is easy to create a podcast, but it isn't easy to create a great podcast. Luckily, Apple has a free online seminar that will give you some tips and tricks to make your podcast sing (get it?).Joe Cipriano gives you some pointers on how to make your voice sound best, Paul Garay shares his Garageband secrets, and Pete Alcorn spills the beans on how to leverage the iTunes Podcast directory to make your podcast super popular (popularity levels may vary).
Man requests "podcast license"
In October, the Global Geek Podcast network became concerned about Apple's cease and desist letters regarding the phrase "podcast". So podcast host Dave Gray wrote a letter to Steve Jobs. In the letter, he included a check for AU$1 to cover any royalties for the use of the phrase. This week, he received a reply from the Apple Trademark Department. Apple, according to this letter, does not object to third party use of the phrase podcast nor does it license the term. Apple also returned the check.
Happy birthday to podcasting on iTunes
Has it really been a year of sweet, sweet podcasts in the iTunes Music Store (and 'podcatching' abilities in iTunes itself)? Yes, it has and for the occasion Apple has created a special celebratory page which lists some of the bigger and better podcasts out there (TUAW's seems to have been overlooked).Check out our own coverage of iTunes 4.9's release and then listen to a podcast or two in honor of this milestone.
NPR starts a gaming podcast
National Public Radio in the U.S. has started a fortnightly podcast on the topic of video game culture called Press Start. Kyle Orland, the guy that runs VGMWatch, is one of the hosts of the show along with Ralph Cooper, an ex-NPR staffer and current stand-up comedian, and Robert Holt, NPR's server guy who also reviews games for All Things Considered. Their first show, which runs for a short but sweet 15 minutes, covers that time old topic "video games as art". Some choice quotes:Kyle - "You really need to know what art is before you can determine whether video games are art".Ralph - "I feel like a lot of video games, at least right now, they're not really trying to make statements".Rob - "When I was in Grand Theft Auto... I was driving through the city and listening to the radio and I drove over a hill and I saw... this huge moon rise over the horizon, I was just in it at that point. I just knew that this was not your normal game. Of course, I could have just been beating up hookers..."If you're up for some interesting and to-the-point video game culture commentary but want to skip on the usual "I like to hear the sound of my own voice" crap from the host(s), then make sure to add Press Start to your player of choice (iTunes link, My Yahoo! link, generic podcast RSS feed).
Belkin's TuneTalk Stereo does 16-bit iPod recording
We've already seen XtremeMac step up and court the mobile podcasting community with its 16-bit MicroMemo microphone adapter for the iPod with video, and now Belkin has announced a similar product with CD-quality audio recording, the TuneTalk Stereo. Like the MicroMemo, Belkin's omnidirectional model also clips into your device's dock connector, and includes a 3.5-millimeter jack for hooking up an external mic, if that's your thing. You also get a little stand for looking more professional in those sit-down interviews for your podcast, and the design ensures that you can leave your 'Pod's fancy case on while recording. Seventy bucks will get us lucky North Americans one of these units -- in either black or white -- sometime this month, but the rest of you suckers will have to wait just a little bit longer.
MyTunesRSS
MyTunesRSS turns your copy of iTunes into a podcasting machine. But Scott, I hear you say, iTunes already does podcasts, stupid. Yes, iTunes received podcasts but what if I told you MyTunesRSS can take your iTunes library (MP3's and unprotected AAC's) and create an RSS feed with enclosures (aka a podcast). You can podcast your entire library, or playlist by playlist. Pretty sweet.I'm not sure how useful this is, but it is very cool. You can make your very own podcasting radio station. MyTunesRSS is written in Java, is cross platform, and is donationware.[via Scripting News]
Sandvox 1.0 official release
I'm really glad to see all this innovation in WYSIWYG web editing software, and from my experience, Sandvox from Karelia Software is poised to lead the pack. Yes, I've been going on about how excited I am about the iWeb 1.1 update, but after playing with Sandvox's beta editions, I'm going to give this official 1.0 release a good run-through, as it offers quite a bit of power and some nice tricks that other products like RapidWeaver and iWeb can't claim.The feature that impresses me the most about Sandvox is their innovative "Pagelets" feature. Pagelets are small chunks of rich content that you can simply drag and drop around your site's theme. Don't like where your blogroll is? Just drag its pagelet somewhere else. Pagelets in the pro version can also allow you to insert your own HTML and even PHP code into any portion of your site or sidebar. Speaking of site themes: Sandvox's are stellar, and a bit more creative than iWeb's. Sandvox comes with two dozen themes, with more available.Sandvox also does a lot of the, dare I say, 'standard' WYSIWYG web design-ish stuff that I've come to expect on the Apple platform. You can drag your audio podcasts into a Sandvox site and get them submitted to the iTMS, as well as drag images from iPhoto, etc.Overall, despite lightning striking twice for Karelia Software, Sandvox looks like a solid product that presents a strong array of features for the WYSIWYG designer that demands a little more from their web design app.
Duke no longer giving students iPods
You may remember that last year Duke gave every incoming Freshman an iPod on which to listen to course podcasts and the like. Duke soon changed the program to give the iPods only to students who were taking 'iPod approved' classes. This has worked well since the number of 'iPod Approved' classes has gone from 19 to 47 in recent months, and that means Duke needs to give out an increasing number of iPods with the same old budget.Something had to give, and now the program is no longer giving the iPods away. Instead students have two options: they can borrow the iPod for free for the entire semester, or buy it out right for $99.
The iPod creates a job market
There's no denying the iPod's influence on the market place. Everything (and we mean everything) has been designed and sold for the little device: Cases, special clothing, kits for your car, integrated golf bags and toilet paper dispensers, toys for the bedroom, speaker systems, furniture and so on. What's left? Jobs. The iPod is now creating jobs. I don't mean the obvious, like factory workers, resellers and so on. Instead, I mean the type of unusual jobs that Podcasting News is pointing out today. For instance, the Paparazzi Bridal Podcast is looking for "...Females of all types 18 - 55 to play bride. Must have Gown or Wedding type dress." Timberwolf Entertainment is looking for a "buff male actor" for a two-episode podcast commitment. Now, don't start to think that the actor/model types are the only ones in demand. There are other listings for an animator and a podcaster who is "...personally offended when tables are used incorrectly." I'd like to meet that particular person.[Via Micro Persuasion]
Podcast tips from the Mothership
Millions of people have iTunes running on their machines (Windows and Mac people), how many of those folks really know what to do with podcasts? I'm betting a very small percentage of them, and it seems Apple agrees because they put together some Podcast tips for people to look at, and learn from.If your computer illiterate Uncle wants to know what all the hubbub about these 'podcasts' are, I would send him to that tutorial (though you should give it a glance over yourself because you might learn something. Hey, it could happen).
Podcast audience growth
Remember when podcasts were modest audio files created and distributed by a handful of enterprising geeks? My, how times have changed. I still find it odd when I'm listening to a show on NPR or watching ESPN and I hear the announcer say, "You can hear more on our podcast." It's surreal.Research firm eMarketer has released projections of what the future podcast audience might look like, in size at least. Citing the portability and "...anywhere, anytime" aspect of podcasting as catalysts for continued growth, they expect to see numbers around the 80 million mark for active listeners by 2010. Wow. Of course, this can only mean advertisers will become interested, creating more podcasts. It's a runaway train.[Via Micro Persuasion]
